What's on at Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Latest from the museum
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
Latest Exhibition
Victory!
It is 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Our Victory exhibition, upstairs in the atrium, marks this significant milestone in world history, and the story of the RNZAF.
Victory includes images and memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day which have been sourced from photographs, letters, postcards and personal histories in our collection.
Victory includes insights into how Kiwis celebrated, and how they felt.
Many found it difficult to rejoice after so much loss and suffering.
You’re welcome to come along and learn all about the end of World War Two with us.
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.
Learn More
Update
Overseas visitor charge
A $15 entry charge was introduced for all international visitors to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand from 31 March 2025. Tickets available online or from our Welcome Desk on arrival.
The charge is required to cover rising costs and to contribute to our new $20 million extension to house the newest members of our collection – our historic Hercules and Orion aircraft.
Learn More
Our Aircraft
Explore AircraftMore to explore
GULF WAR ONE: Back in March 1991 the RNZAF's No. 40 Squadron was deployed to the Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm.
Fast forward 35 years, and the RNZAF's No. 40 Squadron has deployed again, this time to help with evacuations as Operation Epic Fury rages in the region.
Read Simon Moody's blog on what happened first time round.
airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/operation-desert-storm-the-rnzaf-and-the-gulf-war-1991/
Image 1: Crew of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
L-R: Back; Flight Sergeant Bruce Melvin, Sergeant J Buchler, Wing Commander Robert Henderson (Detachment Commander and aircraft captain)
Front; Flying Officer Kevin McEvoy, Sergeant Ty Cochran, Flying Officer M Morgan.
Image 2: Flight Sergeant Stephen Skudder (left) and Flight Sergeant Daryl McGifford (right) discussing details of their next mission in front of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. AlQaismah Airport, Saudi Arabia.
Image 3: Sergeant Phil Lane, wearing a gas mask and carrying a Steyer rifle, on security duty on the tarmac in front of No. 40 Squadron Hercules NZ7003. Believed to be at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Image 4: Kidnap victim No. 75 Squadron Mascot Henry Fanshaw lands at Riyadh. ... See MoreSee Less
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Read our Research Curator Simon Moody's blog on the RNZAF's role supporting Operation Desert Storm here: airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/operation-desert-storm-the-rnzaf-and-the-gulf-war-1991/
Old Bruce, top man and by recall a dead ringer for Fred Schneider of the B52’s 😂😂🍻🍻
Actually, Gulf War 2 (at least). The first was the one between Iran and Irak
We sent 4 Hercs 90% of the Fleet! could've sent 6 newly upgraded Kahu A4's they would have been quite effective, as more advanced avionics than RAF Tornadoes at the time.
Has it ever been revealed how many spare parts and repairs were involved with this deployment. Perhaps an engine or two, don't be shy its not top secret. Yet l support the idea NZ sent a boat anchor to a sinking ship
Was this a special scheme? or the green green grey scheme?
Photos by Paul Stein.
So when a Herc deploys does it have its own ground security ?
This is rediculous nz does not have a real airforce any more ..the shame of this lack of support and the reliance on australia and usa for el cheapo cover ...hang ur head nz we are scroungers
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CONGRATULATIONS SARGE! It was a proud day for our team member Sergeant Zach Hollis and his family last week when he was presented with the New Zealand General Service Medal (Korea) by Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Commodore Peter Gibson.
Sergeant Hollis earned the medal in 2024 when he was posted aboard HMNZS Aotearoa during an 'Operation Whio' three-month patrol.
The Aotearoa patrolled off the coast of the Korean Peninsula where North Korea and South Korea are technically still at war after 76 years. The Aotearoa was there to detect and deter evasions of United Nations Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea.
At the time he was an aircraft technician, looking after a No. 6 Squadron Kaman Seasprite aboard the Aotearoa.
Zach has served in the RNZAF for 12 years, including six years with No. 6 Squadron at Whenuapai.
He joined our museum team as an RNZAF reservist last year and his skills are a great addition to our Peter Adamson Conservation Centre team.
He’s currently working on a Tiger Moth – which is a wee bit different to keeping a
Seasprite serviceable on a long patrol 9,600km from home in the world’s never-ending war zone!
No less stressful though – Tiger Moths are tricky beasts.
Zach is pictured with Air Commodore Gibson, his wife Charlie and his parents Joce and Kit.
#rnzaf #operationwhio #kamanseasprite #no6squadronrnzaf ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations Zach! Well deserved x
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations Zach! Deserved honour.
Well done Zach!!
Yes Zach Hollis
Congrats Zach 😊
🙏🇮🇳
Shot Zach!! Well deserved
Congratulations
Congratulations well done 👏
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YOU CAN'T PARK THERE MATE! Back in 1971, Bell 47G Sioux NZ3711 got a bit too close with its rotor blade when it parked beside a shed at Waiouru.
The pilot and passenger were unharmed, the Sioux and the shed were not so lucky. The Sioux, which was just one year old at the time, was judged to be a write-off after the flames were dous#youcantparktheremateemate ... See MoreSee Less
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The day the shed got a name as Jamieson Shed.
So many stories (Yarns) flew around about this when I was a young troopie. One was he tried to fly it inside the shed and turn it around.. Cool story....at the time.
I remember that day that was the gym shed for basic trainees
Whoops, bugga, good work no one was hurt
Jamieson shed
Pilot K F Byrne ????
Sadly Lt/Col Michael McRobie Jameson passed away at the end of 2022. He was a cousin of my wife. Never got to meet him - would have loved to know about his time with the Air Cavalry in Vietnam.
You know who was flying that Sioux? M McR Jameson!
I think that shed was behind my barracks in waiouru on way to firing ranges
Tis but a scratch….
That's not gone well...
Always wondered why it was called Jamieson Shed.
Been a long time... looks near the training barracks?
Attended that drom tankie barracks. Heard bell 47 fly over, then when it hit the training shelter. Might have gotten away with it except the rotor struck a steel girder having sliced through the aluminum cladding, that threw the tail rotor in to the wall. Caught fire . Hovered a little too close
There were several stories about how this crash occured. One was that the pilot was tired of having to push the helicopter into the hanger after each flight. He carefully measured the rotars and the dimensions of the hanger and determined that there was enough room to fly the chopper inside. It turned out not to be a working proposition. He managed to escape from the wreck, and ran all the way down to the fire station to report it. Though the photos do suggest it was well outside the building when it crashed.
I saw the wreck as I was doing National Service. Our barracks were behind that shed. Must have been October or November.
A lucky escape for both crew. Neil Blackford ??? Was the passenger if I recall correctly.
We were tasked with pushing arriving sioux into the hangar and watched as this prang occurred. A sheet of cardboard flew up in front of the machine and appeared to distract the pilot. One of our brightest ran down to the fire station passing one or two fire boxes on the way. Wouldnt have made much difference. I have some good colour slides of the fire somewhere.
I have the similar photo. I took my photo when I was serving in Waiouru for my compulsory military training ASC
Fascinating, the helicopter looked the same before and after the crash
OC 1 MP Pl ,Papakura, tried hard not to talk about it. Amazing boss, great guy, RIP.
Only a year old?
Can only imagen the writers cramp from the pages of please explain reports
Carlos Robertson
Butch's mistake.
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