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
📢WHOOP WHOOP - GET THE KETTLE ON - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!📢: Come on down and enjoy your moment in the sun ✨Matthew Simmonds✨ - winner of our mystery control column competition.
Matthew correctly wspotted that the mystery was really no mystery at all - it is a control column from a Westland Wasp HAS.1 helicopter.
In fact, as many of you pointed out, it is a cyclic control column from NZ3906!
Our Wasp is one of the stars of our collection. The Wasp, or Parafin Parrot, was the first aircraft to be jointly operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
This little blue beauty first entered service in 1964 with the Royal Navy.
In 1982 it was sold to New Zealand and began its RNZN career about the HMNZS Wellington.
It was retired in 1995. Wasps were superceded as Navy helicopters by Kaman Seasprites.
Judging by the number of correct answers this competition proved a bit too easy so we are going in search of something tougher. Please stay alert!
Matthew Simmonds - please email communications@airforcemuseum.co.nz and supply your address so we can fly the mug out to you using our Bristol Freighter - because nothing is greater!
#MysteryObject #wedonthaveaclue #ImpossiblePuzzle ... See MoreSee Less
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Holly smokes thought I would never win 😁😁😁
The year is 1969, and 17-year-old Cheryl Butt from Invercargill is dreaming of a career as a pilot in the RNZAF.
Her father and grandfather served in the RNZAF, and she grew up as a brat on base.
She applied to join and is told no chance - no ‘lady pilots’.
But luckily for her there are openings for telephonists, clerks, mess stewards or medical orderlies.
She said no, she wanted to be a pilot and that was that.
A week later the recruiter called back to say, actually, there might be something.
They were experimenting with taking women into trade training.
“I said no, I want to be a pilot. My mum said: ‘don’t be so silly, it’s a foot in the door,’’’ and her mum was right, it turned out to be a great decision.
She was a duck to water, passing her electrical trade exam with a distinguished pass, and joining No. 1 Maintenance Depot at Woodbourne.
She was the only woman in the electrical trade, and she had a uniform issue to solve.
“In those days pantyhose weren’t a thing and I wore a brown dust coat, bloomers, suspenders, stockings and a skirt. One day I had to go up the ladder in the Bristol Freighter. After a while a crowd gathered beneath and an officer came along to find out why. I was ordered down and had to wear flight suits after that.’’
She also persisted with flying and learned to fly privately at Omaka in a Piper Cub, although ultimately being a pilot wasn't for her.
After three years at Woodbourne, she had been promoted to temporaray corporal and was keen, with the support of her superiors, to go on a mechanics course as this was the best way to advance her career.
But the RNZAF said no, it was not for her. Around this time, she’d met Sergeant George Gardiner, they’d married and their first son was on his way.
After having two boys she tried to return to uniform, but was told no.
That RNZAF training came in handy however, and she picked up civilian work using her skills, ending up working on the electrical systems on the Anzac Frigate project.
She's now retired to Invercargill.
“When I look back, I wouldn’t change a thing,’’ Cheryl says.
“I guess it seems chauvinistic in some ways but that’s how it was. The guys I worked with at Woodbourne were highly protective of me and like a family. If anyone affronted me, they dealt with it.’’
We’re glad you joined and called by Corporal Butt.
Thank you for your service!
📸Cheryl is in the back row on the right. Group. No. 65 Airwoman recruit course RNZAF Base Wigram 1969. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you, an excellent telling of some history.
A great story. Thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you Cheryl from me too. I love hearing stories from about the women that went before me. I joined in 1995 and I’m still serving as an Aircraft Technician. Women like you paved the way.
Awesome story my first flight from Whenuapai to Christchurch was in a Bristol 1976
Yep, we had one girl on our recruit course (Jan 1975) who also wanted to be a pilot, had all the right academic qualifications but still not allowed :-(
Thank you for blazing a trail for those who followed. Former armourer here.
Great story Cheryl, thank goodness times have changed, thanks to the members like your self 👍
My 14yr old granddaughter is in the Air Cadets, already understanding her career choices through the Airforce. Couldn't be more happier. I will show her this article. Thank you🤗
As an ex-Air Force veteran, thanks for sharing this inspiring story...🥰
Had the privilege of going to school with Cheryl. She was also a mighty speedy runner in those days. Hi Cheryl from Paula Holding :)
An enjoyable read and what determination.
Fantastic best wishes from the RNZAFA Canterbury branch 👏
Thank you for your service Ma’am….Respect 🇳🇿🇳🇿
An awesome career ,good on you for joining up from a veteran
I love hearing these stories!! Thank you!
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LAST DAY: It was Squadron Leader James Laurence's last official day in the RNZAF today - and he used it to visit the home of the air force here at Wigram.
James spent 20 years in the RNZAF, serving most of his time as a No. 40 Squadron navigator on the mighty C-130H Hercules.
He loved his time in the RNZAF, which included flights all over the globe, from Antarctica to Afghanistan.
"For me it was all about the flights all over the world and the crews I flew there with.''
He said some flights were 'trickier' to navigate than others, and flying down to Antarctica beyond the point of safe return was a combination of extremely busy and tricky at the same time.
So was he ever worried?
"No, I always knew we had a good navigator on board,'' he laughs.
James, who you may have guessed is a Hurricanes fan along with his sons Ben and Henry, said his feelings were mixed about leaving but he was looking forward to the next chapter of his career.
Thanks for visiting and for your service James.
#rnzaf #hurricanes ... See MoreSee Less
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Great work Cletus! You were an asset to the RNZAF. Enjoy the next adventure mate!
Great work Cletus 20 years! They say time flies but a Navi would say to which waypoint?
Cletus! Happy days working with you at LSV after your knives & forks Cse, and awaiting wings. But that can't have been 20yrs ago.....ohhh hang on a minute....🤔 All the best mate....
Good work Cletus. Best of luck with your new adventure.
All the best Cletus. Smartest navigator I ever had the pleasure or working with.
A true gem of a human- best of luck on your next venture!!🤗🤙🏽🌷💙🩵💙
All the best in the next career chap
Nice work bro
Tyfys Cletus!
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