What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
Latest Exhibition
Tall Tails
Our Tall Tails exhibition features the mounted tails of the C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion, this new exhibition brings visitors closer to two extraordinary aircraft and the stories they carry. It also highlights the importance of finding a permanent home for them, as the Museum continues to fundraise through the Home for Heroes project.
Tall Tails is on display in our Thérèse Angelo Wing.
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Exhibition
The Mighty Hercules
The Mighty Hercules exhibition is on in the Cochrane Gallery upstairs in our atrium. Come and visit and learn all about this extraordinary aircraft.
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Support Us
Home for Heroes
Join us in building a forever home for New Zealand’s C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion – icons of service.
For more than half a century, these legendary aircraft carried our nation’s courage across the world – in peace, crisis, and discovery. Now, they need a home worthy of their legacy, where their stories of service, innovation and humanity will continue to inspire.
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Birthday Parties
Mission: Best birthday ever
Zip up a flight suit, grab your dog tags, and dive into a fully hosted birthday “mission”. From air & sea adventures for preschoolers to rescue and cadet challenges for older children. Our Programmes team runs the activities, the children get awesome photo moments (and party bags), and you can add catering through our café.
Book a birthday party
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
BEAR POST: Henry Fanshaw was opening his mail this morning and was pleased to get a nice letter and picture from Ella Brogan.
Thanks Ella ❤!
Henry's post cubby hole is usually full of bills, and the odd police summons, so it was nice to get some fan mail.
In regards to the summons, it dates back to Henry's days as a young Bear on base at Ohakea in 1972.
The Bear has no futher comment t#criminalbeari#fanmailr #fanmail ... See MoreSee Less
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❓DOUBLE MYSTERY COMPETITION:❓ This week's competition combines aircraft recognition skills with airfield recognition skills - otherwise known as a double trouble puzzler.
To recap:
❗Can you name the aircraft?
❗Can you name the airfield?
Do both and you go in the draw to win an Air Force Museum of New Zealand roundel mug.
Made of space-age ceramic material, they are round and have roundels. They make the perfect vessel for dunking, or if you have other mugs, a gift for an unsuspecting relative.
Answers in the comments below or, if you are feeling shy, you can email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz for a confidential service.
Good luc#mysteruyaircraftc#mysteryairfieldfield ... See MoreSee Less
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B-47 is the plane
Boeing B-47 Stratojet at Harewood (CHC)
Boeing B 47 at Christchurch Airport. I recall it being in support of some Lockheed U2 research flights.
Dave, the plane looks like a Dave
B 47 predecessor to the B52
It’s the Boeing B-47. It’s the start of a long line of Boeing aircraft with swept wings and podded engines. A direct lineage right through to the 787 and the 777X. It was originally quite a different design. Until captured German designers were brought in after WW2 and brought there designs with them. Swept wings, antiskid brakes etc.
B-47 at Harewood. Gate #6 was a bit of a clue...
Not Ohakea with the civilian gate number s d airline staff. Terrain looks more like Harewood too.
Boeing B47 Ohakea
B47 at Christchurch airport
Boeing JB-47E Stratojet. Christchurch Airport (Harewood).
Boeing B-47 Stratojet at Chch international airport
B-47 at Harewood
Boeing B-47 at CHC
Boeing B-47 Stratojet at Harewood.
B-47 Plane, Harwood airport
B-47E 52-0514 at Harewood Christchurch.
Boeing B47. Harewood.
Boeing B-47 Stratojet Harewood/Christchurch airport
Air Force One at Rangiora air field
Definitely a B-47, possibly at Christchurch Airport.
It’s a B-47 Stratojet at Harewood
Boeing JB-47E Stratojet at Christchurch at the time of the RNZAF 21st anniversary Ohakea Airshow.
Boeing B-47 at Harewood.
The interesting thing about this photo is the B-47 doesn't have the under wing tanks fitted. Seems a bit odd given would be a long distance flight for it, even with aerial refueling.
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Today we recall Sergeant Ronald West Taylor, killed when his aircraft was shot down 85 years ago on 19 July 1941.
Ronald Taylor was the pilot of a Bristol Blenheim MkIV of No. 105 Sqn V6039 which took off at 11.22am on an anti-shipping raid off the coast of the Netherlands.
The squadron attacked a convoy of 14 ships, and the Blenheim crashed after being hit by anti-aircraft fire.
Also lost were navigator/bomb aimer Sergeant Reginald Withrington, RAF and wireless operator and gunner Sergeant Selwyn Sparkes, RAF.
Their bodies were washed ashore and Ronald is buried at Noordwijk cemetery.
Ronald was born in Christchurch and went to St Andrew’s College in Strowan. He was an insurance clerk in Wellington prior to volunteering for pilot training.
He was only 25 years old when he was lost. We've placed a poppy by his name today.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
📸RW Taylor, front row far right. Image: MUS9410110a
📸A Bristol Belnheim, from No. 113 Squadron RAF, over teh water. Image: 2019-190.73 ... See MoreSee Less
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There's my father in the photo who survived the war with DSO DFC MiD. As regards the above history, my namesake ( Fathers brother) David Starky left New Zealand in 1938 for a career in the UK RAF. He was commissioned and won his wings at 19. He was sucked into the debacle in France where he was shot down a couple of times flying - as above - Blenheim Mk IV. Then in July 1940 he was also shot down off the Dutch coast. He had just turned 20, and his body was never found. He is remembered on the wall at Runnymede and on the War plinth in the main street in Opotiki.
The Blenheim came down in the Northsea near Goeree. (Zeeland).
RIP my namesake
LEST WE FORGET.
Lest We Forget
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