The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, located at Wigram, Christchurch, is the national museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing New Zealand’s military aviation history. Situated on the historic Wigram Aerodrome, the birthplace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), the museum offers a comprehensive look into the nation’s aviation heritage.
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
45 Harvard Ave.
Wigram, Christchurch 8140
+64 3-343 9532
Daily 09:30 – 16:30
Free admission
Gift shop
Aircraft collection
Lockheed Hudson III NZ2013/R Royal New Zealand Air Force
| NZ6460 NZ1948 PK286 NZ1707 NZ203/A3 NZ406/G NZ6373 NZ3705 NZ3800 NZ3801 – NZ5903 69-7639 VH-SBV NZ3000 NZ-825 NZ1803 NZ5757 NZ5767 NZ5710 NZ5704 NZ6001 NZ6205 NZ6254 NZ6207 NZ3551 NZ5037 A84-240 NZ2504 NZ7621 NZ3442 NZ7001 NZ2013/R NZ6207 NZ948/48 NZ1050/50 NZ2410 NZ6440 TE288/OU-V NZ102 NZ3906 | Aermacchi MB-339CB Aerospace CT/4B Airtrainer Airspeed AS10 Oxford I Auster T7C (Antartic) Avro 626 Avro Anson I BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 Bell 47G-3B-1 Bell UH-1H Iroquois Bell UH-1H Iroquois Bleriot X1-2 Britannia Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31 Cessna O-2A-CE Skymaster Consolidated PBV-1A Catalina Curtiss P-40E Warhawk de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth de Havilland DH.104 Devon NT.1 de Havilland Vampire FB.5 de Havilland Vampire FB.5 (fuselage) de Havilland Vampire T.11 de Havilland Vampire T.55 (nose) de Havilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver Douglas A-4K Skyhawk Douglas TA-4K Skyhawk Douglas A-4K Skyhawk (cockpit) Douglas C-47B Dakota Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless (wreck) English Electric (GAF) Canberra Mk.20 Grumman TBF-1C Avenger Hawker Siddeley Andover C.1 Kaman SH-2F Seasprite Lockheed C-130H Hercules Lockheed Hudson III McDonnell Douglas A-4L Skyhawk North American Harvard II North American Harvard IIa North American P-51D Mustang Sopwith Pup (replica) Supermarine Spitfire LF XVIe Vickers Vildebeest III Westland Wasp HAS.1 |
Exhibitions and Collections:
Visitors can explore a diverse collection of military aircraft, including:
- Airspeed Oxford PK286: A World War II-era trainer aircraft.
- Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk.XVIE: A variant of the iconic British fighter.
- McDonnell Douglas A-4K Skyhawk NZ6205: A jet used by the RNZAF.
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand also features immersive exhibitions that highlight the stories of the men and women who have contributed to New Zealand’s military aviation journey. Interactive displays, personal stories, and historical artifacts provide a comprehensive understanding of the RNZAF’s evolution.
Activities and Tours:
For a more in-depth experience, the Air Force Museum of New Zealand offers guided “Behind the Scenes” tours, providing access to areas not typically open to the public, including the reserve collection hangar. Families can engage in museum hunts designed for children, and aviation enthusiasts can test their skills in the Mosquito Mission flight simulator.
Aermacchi MB-339CB NZ6460 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Aerospace CT/4B Airtrainer NZ1948 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Airspeed AS10 Oxford I PK286 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Auster T7C (Antartic) NZ1707 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Avro 626 Prefect NZ203/A3 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Avro Anson I NZ406/G Royal New Zealand Air Force
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88 NZ6373 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Bell 47G-3B-1 NZ3705 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Bell UH-1H Iroquois NZ3800 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Bleriot X1-2 Britannia
Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31 NZ5903 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Cessna O-2A-CE Skymaster 69-7639 USAF
Consolidated PBV-1A Catalina VH-SBV
Curtiss P-40E Warhawk NZ3000 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland Canada DHC.2 Beaver NZ6001 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth NZ-825 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland DH.104 Devon NT.1 NZ1803 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland Vampire FB.5 (fuselage) NZ5767 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland Vampire T.11 NZ5710 Royal New Zealand Air Force
de Havilland Vampire T.55 (nose) NZ5704 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Douglas A-4K Skyhawk (cockpit) NZ6207 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Douglas A-4K Skyhawk NZ6205 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Douglas TA-4K Skyhawk NZ6254 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Douglas TA-4L Skyhawk NZ6207 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Douglas C-47B Dakota NZ3551 Royal New Zealand Air Force
English Electric (GAF) Canberra Mk.20 A84-240 Royal Australian Air Force
Grumman TBF-1C Avenger NZ2504 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Kaman SH-2F Seasprite NZ3442 Royal New Zealand Navy
Lockheed Hudson III NZ2013/R Royal New Zealand Air Force
Lockheed P-3 Orion model
North American Harvard II NZ948 Royal New Zealand Air Force
North American Harvard IIa NZ1050 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Auster T7C (Antartic) NZ1707 and North American P-51D Mustang NZ2410 Royal New Zealand Air Force
North American P-51D Mustang NZ2410 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Sopwith Pup (replica) NZ6440 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Supermarine Spitfire LF XVIe TE288/OU-V Royal New Zealand Air Force
Vickers Vildebeest III NZ102 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Bristol Pegasus IIM3 engine Vickers Vildebeest
Westland Wasp HAS.1 NZ3906 Royal New Zealand Navy
Wright Cyclone 1820 engine of Lockheed Hudson III NZ2034 Royal New Zealand Air Force
Photos Les Spearman