Get the most out of your Air Force Museum experience, by taking our special 45 minute guided tour to learn more about the Museum’s work and discover the aircraft, vehicles and engines in our Reserve Collection.
Tours are $5 per person, kids under 12 FREE. Tours run daily at 11:00am, 1:30pm and 3:00pm
We offer a range of fun Museum Hunts suitable for 4 – 12-year-olds, with changing themes and challenges every school holiday. Each hunt also enters you in the draw for an awesome prize!
Discover our hunts now.
One of the stars of Warbirds over Wanaka at Easter will be de Havilland DH98 Mosquito NZ2308. To get you warmed up ahead of the show we thought it would be nice to provide a few historic shots from our collection. As our shot from RNZAF Taieri Open day in 1950 shows, NZ2308 is no stranger to the public circuit! And, as the Des White collection pictures show, NZ2308 has come a long way since some tough days of early retirement! Well done to the team at Avspecs on a 15-year restoration. #warbirdsoverwanaka#dehavillandmosquito #dehavilland#RNZAF#avspecs
Images: MUS130141: Air to air view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z. Unknown location. WgG1644-50: Open Day at RNZAF Station Taieri. No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308 taxiing in front of members of the public. 2015-268.33: Image from the Alexander MacDonald MacKenzie personal collection. Mosquito A52-1054 (NZ2308) at RNZAF Station Wigram. Wing Commander JM Checketts delivered this aircraft to Wigram from RAAF Amberley, via Brisbane, Sydney and Ohakea, arriving on 11 June 1949. DWNZ2308a: Image from the Des White personal collection. 3/4 front view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location. DWNZ2308c: Image from the Des White personal collection. 3/4 rear view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location. NZ2334 in the back at right. DWNZ2308b: Image from the Des White personal collection. Distant view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, in a sheep paddock beside a farm house, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location. ... See MoreSee Less
Only thing that sounds better than one rolls Royce Merlin....is 2 Merlin engines... lol.... gotta be worth the price of admission alone.... going to be a show of the stars this year....rest easy sir Tim
I didn't realize it took 15 years to get this aircraft restored . I am sure the other Mosquitos didn't take as long to get restored .
Great photos thank you for showing them
Is she going to stay in NZ?Or is this lovely bird going overseas to a overseas owner?
Jim and Jennifer Glenn from Thames were in the museum yesterday when they spotted a glimpse of Flight Sergeant William (Bill) Jardine in one of our films, grinning from the cockpit of his Corsair while serving in the Solomon Islands in 1944. It was indeed Bill, Jim’s uncle. His name is recorded on our Roll of Honour. Bill died after colliding with another pilot on landing at Torokina, Bougainville on 15 September 1944. He was only 20. It will be the 80th anniversary of Bill’s death this year, and it was nice to be able to honour his memory with his family. The images are of Bill's class photo, a Corsair similar to Bill's taking off from Torokina, and a pilot climbing into an aircraft at the airfield.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.
Ugly and always underrated – the Bristol Freighter is arguably one of the finest aircraft to serve in the RNZAF. Come to our latest Short Talk Series and learn why the Freighter deserves another look! Guide Alan Turner – who first flew aboard the aircraft as a five-year-old and then later served as a Freighter navigator during the Vietnam conflict – will tell the story of this extraordinary workhorse that served New Zealand in Thailand, Brunei, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam. Alan will also tell the tale of how, in April 1975, our Freighter became the final RNZAF aircraft to leave Vietnam. Beauty is only skin deep – and Alan will tell you why!
What: Short Talk Series: The Bristol Freighter in Asia When: Sunday 7 April at 10am – in front of the Bristol Freighter. Where: Air Force Museum of New Zealand 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram. Cost: Free – but koha kindly accepted!
For quite a while , around 1974, I would drop my husband off at Whenuapai in the morning and he would go on the weekly freighter run to Wigram. I’d then go out and pick him up again the next evening. He was with Mobile Air Movements team at the time.
I flew in one from Wellington to Wigram in 64 when I was on a recruit course at Wigram. Great fun!
We have one on display at Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne Australia
I had two flights in Bristol Freighters while a member of #7 ATC squadron in Hamilton. The first was in 1970 a 30 minute flight over Hamilton and surrounding towns and in 1972 a return trip to Rotorua. On Departing Rotorua the pilot took off very steeply which was very thrilling. An unforgettable and wonderful experience.
Michael John Green
Visited the RNZAF Bristol 170 on our visit last year to Filton in Bristol UK. She's sitting in the back shed awaiting restoration. Amazing to see it there after they were parked up at Ardmore during my primary school years.
Safe Air used these for freight
I was fortunate to have a few flights in SAFE Air Bristol's flying from Blenheim to Wellington and also to Christchurch. My farther worked for SAFE ground crew operating the Cargon system loading and unloading the freight. Our family like other family members of SAFE employees were able to fly free of charge in these wonderful aircraft. If only one was flying we were allowed up in the dicky seat in the cockpit behind the pilots and had awesome views from that seat. When two of us flew, we were seated behind the freight in the tail of the aircraft and were provided with packets of cotton wool to deaden the sound of those big radial engines.
Good old Bristol Vibrator. I went from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in one back in 1966, and made the mistake of leaving my new Nikon on the floor. The light meter never worked again.....
In the early 1960s before Matamata College dropped Cadets, I went to an ATC camp at Whenuapai. The highlight was a flight over Auckland in a Bristol Freighter. It was fun to visit the flight deck. But the big thrill was lying on the floor in the belly of the aircraft and watching Auckland pass below us through the glass windows. We actually flew over my aunt and uncle's house in Orakei!
I had to guard one at Woodbourne in 1982 all night with my trusty SLR on recruit course...
I remember flying to Auckland from wigwam. My dad was in the airforce based at wigwam and we flew to Auckland.
And that’s for shore it maybe ugly but it was a great Aircraft
What my dad called 60,000 rivets flying in formation.
Saw the last 4 flying at woodbourne before they retired them in formation safe air planes that is. one at omaka airfield Marlborough nz
Reunited, and it feels so good! This image shows that back in 1954, a short 70 years ago, our Bristol Freighter NZ5903 and our Douglas C-47B Dakota NZ3551 bumped into each other during the tour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In the late 1970s they were reunited to form the start of our aircraft collection. And today they're here together at our museum, looking (we think) happy and content with us. NZ5903 looks a bit different these days in a Vietnam-era paint scheme, but NZ3551 hasn't changed a bit. Come and see for yourself!
My father was responsible, in part, for the Vietnam paintwork. Done at Woodbourne.
What a lovely story!
Such good memories❤️
Blue Stripe Airlines. Love those old school RNZAF livery's.
Love the Bristol in the background
Interesting photo of the Bristol and I would like to see more detail because it appears that it had 734 engines since the 734 engines had those spinners on the props in Mk 31 Bristols and the intakes as seen in the photo BUT I can't see the pitot's for ACP (Auto coarse pitching term the Brits used instead of auto feathering) that the din doesn't seem to have the fairing to the fuselage a Mk 31 had but the Mk 21 didn't have along with the ACP pitots. I flew them for 14 years.
6 June 2005.
John White 😉
46000 rivets flying in formation!!!!
I believe NZ5903 was flown on its delivery flight from Britain to New Zealand by No.41 Squadron pilot Geoff White, who not long afterwards ended his time as a pilot with the RNZAF and went to work for TEAL, then Air New Zealand, flying Short S.45A Solent 4 flying-boats, Douglas DC-6, Lockheed L.188 Electra, Douglas DC-8-52 and McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-30 airliners.
Did more than a few flights in Madame Cholet aka 3551 with VIPs.
On one trip with Frank Roach as Captain, we ferried then PM Norm Kirk to Queenstown. Wrote a poem to him about ageing DC3s aka "aero bicycles" while MOT was getting the Fokkers. Frank gave the poem to Big Norm, who wrote a poem in reply "To the Astral Bard" stating how much he enjoyed flying on DC-3s
NZ5903 at what was then the Levels Airport (now Richard Pearse) or for the South Cantabrians amongst you Timaru - I assume it has a Māori name these days - possibly Te Tihi-o-Maru. I understand it was waiting to load the then Governor General’s car. Date 27-June-1964. Not my image.
Did the freighter carry the Royal Limousine?
Gerry Gaston, memories?
Or as some called them, the Bristol Frightener. 10,000 rivets flying in close formation.
One of the stars of Warbirds over Wanaka at Easter will be de Havilland DH98 Mosquito NZ2308. To get you warmed up ahead of the show we thought it would be nice to provide a few historic shots from our collection.
As our shot from RNZAF Taieri Open day in 1950 shows, NZ2308 is no stranger to the public circuit!
And, as the Des White collection pictures show, NZ2308 has come a long way since some tough days of early retirement! Well done to the team at Avspecs on a 15-year restoration.
#warbirdsoverwanaka #dehavillandmosquito
#dehavilland #RNZAF #avspecs
Images:
MUS130141: Air to air view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z. Unknown location.
WgG1644-50: Open Day at RNZAF Station Taieri. No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308 taxiing in front of members of the public.
2015-268.33: Image from the Alexander MacDonald MacKenzie personal collection. Mosquito A52-1054 (NZ2308) at RNZAF Station Wigram. Wing Commander JM Checketts delivered this aircraft to Wigram from RAAF Amberley, via Brisbane, Sydney and Ohakea, arriving on 11 June 1949.
DWNZ2308a: Image from the Des White personal collection. 3/4 front view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location.
DWNZ2308c: Image from the Des White personal collection. 3/4 rear view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location. NZ2334 in the back at right.
DWNZ2308b: Image from the Des White personal collection. Distant view of No. 75 Squadron Mosquito NZ2308, YC-Z, in a sheep paddock beside a farm house, after being retired from RNZAF service. Unknown location. ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
One of the best fighter bombers ever
Great stuff Air Force Museum of New Zealand
And Mosquito Aircraft Restoration ...
Cam Main
Only thing that sounds better than one rolls Royce Merlin....is 2 Merlin engines... lol.... gotta be worth the price of admission alone.... going to be a show of the stars this year....rest easy sir Tim
I didn't realize it took 15 years to get this aircraft restored . I am sure the other Mosquitos didn't take as long to get restored .
Great photos thank you for showing them
Is she going to stay in NZ?Or is this lovely bird going overseas to a overseas owner?
View more comments
Jim and Jennifer Glenn from Thames were in the museum yesterday when they spotted a glimpse of Flight Sergeant William (Bill) Jardine in one of our films, grinning from the cockpit of his Corsair while serving in the Solomon Islands in 1944.
It was indeed Bill, Jim’s uncle. His name is recorded on our Roll of Honour.
Bill died after colliding with another pilot on landing at Torokina, Bougainville on 15 September 1944. He was only 20.
It will be the 80th anniversary of Bill’s death this year, and it was nice to be able to honour his memory with his family.
The images are of Bill's class photo, a Corsair similar to Bill's taking off from Torokina, and a pilot climbing into an aircraft at the airfield.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them.
#rnzaf ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
Flight Sergeant Jardine your service is greatly appreciated
Thank you for your service. RIP.
I prefer to say " We ARE remembering them "
RIP.Lest we forget.
Ugly and always underrated – the Bristol Freighter is arguably one of the finest aircraft to serve in the RNZAF.
Come to our latest Short Talk Series and learn why the Freighter deserves another look!
Guide Alan Turner – who first flew aboard the aircraft as a five-year-old and then later served as a Freighter navigator during the Vietnam conflict – will tell the story of this extraordinary workhorse that served New Zealand in Thailand, Brunei, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.
Alan will also tell the tale of how, in April 1975, our Freighter became the final RNZAF aircraft to leave Vietnam.
Beauty is only skin deep – and Alan will tell you why!
What: Short Talk Series: The Bristol Freighter in Asia
When: Sunday 7 April at 10am – in front of the Bristol Freighter.
Where: Air Force Museum of New Zealand 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram.
Cost: Free – but koha kindly accepted!
#christchurchnz #bristolaircraftcompany #bristolfreighter #RNZAF ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
For quite a while , around 1974, I would drop my husband off at Whenuapai in the morning and he would go on the weekly freighter run to Wigram. I’d then go out and pick him up again the next evening. He was with Mobile Air Movements team at the time.
I flew in one from Wellington to Wigram in 64 when I was on a recruit course at Wigram. Great fun!
We have one on display at Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne Australia
I had two flights in Bristol Freighters while a member of #7 ATC squadron in Hamilton. The first was in 1970 a 30 minute flight over Hamilton and surrounding towns and in 1972 a return trip to Rotorua. On Departing Rotorua the pilot took off very steeply which was very thrilling. An unforgettable and wonderful experience.
Michael John Green
Visited the RNZAF Bristol 170 on our visit last year to Filton in Bristol UK. She's sitting in the back shed awaiting restoration. Amazing to see it there after they were parked up at Ardmore during my primary school years.
Safe Air used these for freight
I was fortunate to have a few flights in SAFE Air Bristol's flying from Blenheim to Wellington and also to Christchurch. My farther worked for SAFE ground crew operating the Cargon system loading and unloading the freight. Our family like other family members of SAFE employees were able to fly free of charge in these wonderful aircraft. If only one was flying we were allowed up in the dicky seat in the cockpit behind the pilots and had awesome views from that seat. When two of us flew, we were seated behind the freight in the tail of the aircraft and were provided with packets of cotton wool to deaden the sound of those big radial engines.
Good old Bristol Vibrator. I went from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in one back in 1966, and made the mistake of leaving my new Nikon on the floor. The light meter never worked again.....
In the early 1960s before Matamata College dropped Cadets, I went to an ATC camp at Whenuapai. The highlight was a flight over Auckland in a Bristol Freighter. It was fun to visit the flight deck. But the big thrill was lying on the floor in the belly of the aircraft and watching Auckland pass below us through the glass windows. We actually flew over my aunt and uncle's house in Orakei!
I had to guard one at Woodbourne in 1982 all night with my trusty SLR on recruit course...
I remember flying to Auckland from wigwam. My dad was in the airforce based at wigwam and we flew to Auckland.
And that’s for shore it maybe ugly but it was a great Aircraft
What my dad called 60,000 rivets flying in formation.
Saw the last 4 flying at woodbourne before they retired them in formation safe air planes that is. one at omaka airfield Marlborough nz
View more comments
Reunited, and it feels so good!
This image shows that back in 1954, a short 70 years ago, our Bristol Freighter NZ5903 and our Douglas C-47B Dakota NZ3551 bumped into each other during the tour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In the late 1970s they were reunited to form the start of our aircraft collection. And today they're here together at our museum, looking (we think) happy and content with us. NZ5903 looks a bit different these days in a Vietnam-era paint scheme, but NZ3551 hasn't changed a bit. Come and see for yourself!
Image: O#C479#bristolaircraftcompanya#douglasdakotaglasdakota ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook
My father was responsible, in part, for the Vietnam paintwork. Done at Woodbourne.
What a lovely story!
Such good memories❤️
Blue Stripe Airlines. Love those old school RNZAF livery's.
Love the Bristol in the background
Interesting photo of the Bristol and I would like to see more detail because it appears that it had 734 engines since the 734 engines had those spinners on the props in Mk 31 Bristols and the intakes as seen in the photo BUT I can't see the pitot's for ACP (Auto coarse pitching term the Brits used instead of auto feathering) that the din doesn't seem to have the fairing to the fuselage a Mk 31 had but the Mk 21 didn't have along with the ACP pitots. I flew them for 14 years.
6 June 2005.
John White 😉
46000 rivets flying in formation!!!!
I believe NZ5903 was flown on its delivery flight from Britain to New Zealand by No.41 Squadron pilot Geoff White, who not long afterwards ended his time as a pilot with the RNZAF and went to work for TEAL, then Air New Zealand, flying Short S.45A Solent 4 flying-boats, Douglas DC-6, Lockheed L.188 Electra, Douglas DC-8-52 and McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-30 airliners.
Did more than a few flights in Madame Cholet aka 3551 with VIPs. On one trip with Frank Roach as Captain, we ferried then PM Norm Kirk to Queenstown. Wrote a poem to him about ageing DC3s aka "aero bicycles" while MOT was getting the Fokkers. Frank gave the poem to Big Norm, who wrote a poem in reply "To the Astral Bard" stating how much he enjoyed flying on DC-3s
NZ5903 at what was then the Levels Airport (now Richard Pearse) or for the South Cantabrians amongst you Timaru - I assume it has a Māori name these days - possibly Te Tihi-o-Maru. I understand it was waiting to load the then Governor General’s car. Date 27-June-1964. Not my image.
Did the freighter carry the Royal Limousine?
Gerry Gaston, memories?
Or as some called them, the Bristol Frightener. 10,000 rivets flying in close formation.
View more comments