Aviation Museums › Air Force & Military Aviation
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand holds the national collection of Royal New Zealand Air Force artefacts and aircraft at the former Wigram Aerodrome in Christchurch. It opened on 1 April 1987 and continues to expand its collection with recently retired RNZAF aircraft.
Notable Exhibits
- Supermarine Spitfire XVI — WWII fighter aircraft in the museum's historic collection.
- Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk — WWII fighter flown by the RNZAF in the Pacific.
- Lockheed P-3K2 Orion (NZ4203) — Retired RNZAF maritime patrol aircraft, arrived at the museum in 2023.
- Lockheed C-130H Hercules (NZ7001) — Retired RNZAF transport aircraft, arrived at the museum in February 2025.
After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the museum offered storage space to other city cultural institutions whose own facilities had been damaged.
Verified 2026-09-18 · Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Home - Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Air Force Museum To Mark 100 Years Of New Zealand Military Aviation