Air Force Museum of New Zealand 

The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, formerly called The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, is located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base in Christchurch.  Opened on 1st April 1987 as part of the celebrations for the RNZAF's 50th anniversary, the Museum houses the national collection of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Photographs of aircraft below include those from the 'behind the scenes' guided tour that includes the Reserve Collection hangar.

jet trainer and light attack aircraft retired from RNZAF 2001

(on-loan from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum)

The RNZAF operated 299 Oxfords, their 2nd largest fleet of training aircraft.

New Zealand used Austers for army co-operation work in the immediate post-war period. They were fitted with either floats or skis.

Avro Tutor development featuring a third cockpit with scarf ring and designed to enable training of all aircrew positions. 

Used in World War II as navigation trainers, supplementing the Airspeed Oxford. After the war advanced models were used for communications work.

 'Blunty' was used by the RNZAF as an advanced jet trainer for pilots progressing onto the A4 Skyhawk in the 1970s and 1980s

Helicopter trainer entered service in 1965 and was retired in 2013

NZ acquired UH1Ds in 1965, and subsequently added UH1Hs. Iroquois served in Vietnam, the Sinai, Antarctica and East Timor. 

The RNZAF Iroquois fleet was officially retired on 30/05/2015 and withdrawn from service by 01/07/2015

NZ first military aircraft the Bleriot arrived in 1913 and was flown in New Zealand for 2 years before being returned to the UK in 1915.

The Bristol Freighters served the RNZAF for nearly 26 years

 (Displayed to represent aircraft flown by NZ pilots on attachment to USAF during Vietnam War. On loan from USAF Museum)

Restored to represent RNZAF P-40E NZ3000 in the Pacific theatre of operations

Manufactured in Wellington at Rongotai, the Tiger Moth was the RNZAF's primary trainer throughout World War II.

The RNZAF first used the Vampire in Cyprus in the 1950s and continued as a trainer into the early 1970's .

A militarised version of the de Havilland Dove, and replacement for the Anson, used as a navigation and multi engine trainer. 

The original NZ6001 was 1 of 2 antarctic aircraft serving on the ice from 1956 and was lost in an accident on the Beardmore Glacier in January 1960.

Displayed in the scheme as it was retired from VIP service in 1977

Gifted by the RAAF in 1984 in a trade involving the RAAF museum's acquisition of Harvard NZ1034

Displayed as NZ2521

Donated by the Kaman Aircraft Corporation, having been written off following an accident whilst in service with the RNZN

Underwent major restoration involving its' complete reconstruction. Displayed in its' 1942 colour scheme.

Acquired and converted to early RNZAF A4K specification. Displayed as the first RNZAF Skyhawk lost in an accident in 1977

Displayed as NZ948 / 48 of No.2 SFTS Woodbourne 1943

Displayed as NZ2410 of No.4 Squadron Territorial Air Force, Taieri, 1951-55

Served as an ab-initio trainer from 1978 to 1993. It was transferred to the museum for preservation after retirement.

Replica, built by Skysport Engineering in the UK (G-BIAT), suffered a crash landing on its maiden flight in 1985. Acquired by the museum in 1995. 

(Relocated to the museum in 1984 after being mounted outside the Christchurch Brevet Club since 1963. Displayed as a 485 (NZ) Squadron aircraft) 

Used by the RNZN from Leander and Anzac frigates