Featured Exhibition
P-3 Orion
Located upstairs in our Cochrane Gallery, our Orion exhibition traces the origins and service history of the RNZAF’s fleet of maritime aircraft which performed exceptional service for almost 60 years.
The exhibition includes a scale model of the aircraft dating back to 1968, and a 13-minute documentary featuring interviews with pilots and crew, and a yachtie rescued by the aircraft back in 1994.
P-3 Orion: The story of an extraordinary aircraft is not to be missed!
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The exhibition includes a scale model of the aircraft dating back to 1968, and a 13-minute documentary featuring interviews with pilots and crew, and a yachtie rescued by the aircraft back in 1994.
P-3 Orion: The story of an extraordinary aircraft is not to be missed!
Short Talk Series
Bringing history to life using restored World War Two radios
Put that smart phone down and join us for a trip back in time to the 1940s and the world of military radios! Specialist Kelvin Barnsdale will explain the challenges of bringing 80-year-old radios back to life in a fascinating talk that is both technical and historical in equal measure.
If you’re curious, love history and technology and want to rediscover a whole world of lost skills – this is not to be missed!
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If you’re curious, love history and technology and want to rediscover a whole world of lost skills – this is not to be missed!
Our Aircraft
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Time is running out to visit our troupe of toys and mascots, on display together for the first time in our balcony case.
Not just cute and cuddly, each of these quiet companions tells a bigger story that links it to a RNZAF person or event.
They’ll be moving on in the next few days to make way for something new, so come in and meet them before they part company once again.
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I've got a teddy in RNZAF overalls & wearing a cap.
485 Squadron pilot Johnnie Houlton's Elephant mascot was on his motorbike at our local RAF Tangmere in 1944 i have a photo of it they were based for D-DAY on our RAF SELSEY ALG with two more Squadrons RAF 222 and Belgian 349 .will post it .
We've had to shuffle our Wasp around and it was looking particularly fine this morning, so we've made a video so you can appreciate its full beauty.
And if you can name the 1970s television show we've borrowed the Wasp's theme tune from please comment below and go in the draw to win an Air Force Museum mug. Winner announced Friday - will will courier anywhere in New Zealand.
The Westland Wasp HAS.1 was the backbone of the Royal New Zealand Navy for more than 30 years. Based aboard Leander class frigates, it was designed primarily as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Jointly operated by the RNZN and the RNZAF, eight Wasps served until 1998, when they were replaced by the Kaman Seasprite. Wasps were flown by mostly RNZN aircrew, but training and servicing was provided by the RNZAF through the Naval Support Flight of No. 3 Squadr#westlandhelicopters##WestlandWaspo#rnzafmemberspastandpresentemberspastandpresent ... See MoreSee Less
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Warship - a great series that also has a connection with the RNZN. One of the ships representing HMS Hero was HMS Dido, which later became HMNZS Southland.
Can remember when they fished one out of the drink just minutes after taking this... Its not every day you go wasp fishing Rare occasion.Four frigates actually operational as one was always in refit.
Warship! Great programme, RN provided Leander class frigates for filming, from Portland. The guy that wrote it did some novels but seemed to mysteriously disappear a few years later.
Did she go to the Falkland Islands 🇫🇰 ? .
Warship - I loved that show!
Warship - featured ship became HMNZS Southland
In 68/70 whilst serving on 3BSS at Hobby as an airframe mechanic I got to do a famil flight in the Wasp with a Navy pilot. All went well until we arrived back over the pad at Hobby in the high hover & the call was practice eng out landing. We thumped onto the ground very hard with the LH oleo taking the punishment & suffice to say the aircraft was grounded for a substantial repair... suffice to say I never flew with the Navy again! 😆😆😆
Warship. Great little chopper the Wasp
Warship loved watching it when I was a child.
Warship. Loved it as a kid, if I was well behaved I was allowed to stay up and watch it with Dad. IIRC the Captain was a former Phantom pilot.
Warship. 1973.... I was 4 lol
youtu.be/FLZsDh0uR6A?si=cys9qU2OX-uZtGoF Warship, great series
Warship - HMS Hero great show.
Warship, I remember watching it as a kid
Warship would be great to see again
Warship was the series
Warship! Found the episodes online during lockdown and binged them. Loved it as a kid.
BBC-Warship...great Chopper great Series..
And without cheating, that would be "Warship"
British TV program Warship
Warship, great old series
Definitely Warship.
Warship. When TV had stuff worth watching.
Definitely from Warship.
Definitely Warship
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The artist who painted the cover art of magnificent Airfix kitset model kits that delighted modellers around the world has died.
Roy Cross passed away in the UK last month just one day after his 100th birthday.
Between 1964 and 1974 Roy was responsible for painting cover art across the Airfix range.
The box art for iconic kitset models of Sunderlands, Spitfires, Mustangs, Wellingtons, Ansons, B-17s and Lancasters were all the work of Roy.
Roy also painted cars, locomotives and ships, as well as publishing books during his more than 75-year career.
But he will be best remembered for painting aircraft in vivid action scenes that inspired generations of people to have a go at modelling.
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The Airfix box art was always a perfect example of effective advertising to lure in and inspire the budding modeler. Sadly my inept skills never matched the inspiration of the box lid!
He was responsible for images from my youth that are ingrained in my memory. Rest In Peace Roy Cross.
I have both of these books, signed by Roy Cross, he inspired me to study technical illustration at art college, although I was a pro illustrator for many years, I never achieved anything like his brilliance, he began as a tech illustrator but became a fantastic artist. I have three of his books, signed, he continues to inspire me today, 60 years after I first saw his artwork on an Airfix kit.
RIP Roy.
James Stokes James Stokes - Ironhorse Art
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