Air Force Museum of New Zealand Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Museum entrance
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Former name	Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
Location	Wigram, Christchurch

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand is a cool place to learn about New Zealand's military aviation history. It used to be called the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum. You can find it in Wigram, Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand. This spot, Wigram Aerodrome, was actually the very first working base for the RNZAF!

The museum first opened its doors on April 1, 1987. This was part of a big celebration for the RNZAF's 50th birthday. Its main goal is to keep and share the stories of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). It also covers the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, which came before the RNZAF. Plus, it tells about New Zealanders who flew in the Royal Air Force. The museum wants to help people remember, learn, get inspired, and have fun with New Zealand's air force history.

Discover the Air Force Museum!
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Discover the Air Force Museum!

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand is home to the country's official collection of RNZAF history. This amazing collection shows how military aviation in New Zealand grew over time.

What You'll See at the Museum

Explore the Collection

The museum's collection covers many exciting periods. You can learn about the early days of New Zealand military flying, even before World War I. There are also items from during this huge conflict. The years between the two World Wars are covered, including when the RNZAF officially started in 1937.

You'll also find stories and objects from New Zealanders who fought in the RAF. Many also served in other Allied air forces during World War II. The museum highlights the RNZAF's important work in the Pacific during that time. Finally, it shows the history from after the war all the way up to today.

The collection isn't just about New Zealand's forces. It also includes items from former enemy forces. You can see real aircraft, parts of planes, and powerful aircraft engines. There are also large objects, uniforms, art, and special souvenirs. The museum also has a huge collection of old papers and photographs.

Fun Activities for Visitors

Want to see more? You can join a half-hour guided tour. This tour takes you to special 'behind the scenes' areas. You'll even get to see the Reserve Collection hangar. A recent project, an Airspeed Oxford plane, has been on display since February 2016.

The museum also has a cool Mosquito Flight Simulator. You can fly a mission based on a real event. This mission involves Allied planes bombing German battleships in the fjords of Norway. It's a great way to experience what it might have been like!

A Look Back: Museum History

The museum has an interesting history of its own. It has grown and changed over the years.

Important Events

After the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the museum helped other places. It opened its storage areas to other cultural groups. Their own buildings had been damaged by the earthquake.

In February 2017, the museum opened a brand new Technology Centre. This large building is about 6,500 m² (70,000 sq ft). It helps the museum care for and display its collection even better.

In 2021, one of the museum's Canberra planes was moved. It went to Ardmore, New Zealand for restoration work. It was being changed into a special B(I).12 version.

A C-130H Hercules aircraft arrived at the museum on February 19, 2025. This was an exciting addition to their collection of large planes.