Post by ZacYates on Jul 31, 2015 8:40:28 GMT 12
Hi all,
Each morning when I get to work I have a look at the NZHerald and Stuff websites before heading to the various forums, and today I found this: www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/70434627/1-million-needed-for-marlborough-helicopter-museum
A museum specialising in the history of helicopters in New Zealand could become a reality for Marlborough.
However, the Helicopter Industry Museum Trust needs to raise about $1 million to make the dream come true.
Trust secretary treasurer Derek Cordes said they had started applying for grants.
A committee was set up and had spent more than three years sourcing helicopters, photographs and memorabilia, Cordes said.
They also developed mock building plans and determined rough costings, he said.
"It will be the first museum of its kind in New Zealand that we know about. It will cover all aspects of helicopters in New Zealand including defence, commercial, rescue and even Life Light medical transport, dating back from the 1960s."
They had secured four helicopters, one of which was an Airforce Iroquois, which would be restored to display condition. The plan was to build the museum near the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre and construct displays similar to those in the Knights of the Sky exhibition at the centre.
"We have approached Weta [Workshop] who have agreed to help us out with the displays by building them at a reduced cost," Cordes said.
Although he was not a pilot himself Cordes had spent 40 years in the forestry industry and worked closely with helicopter operations.
It was through this he developed a love for the machines, he said.
He also had an involvement in the once thriving deer recovery industry, which used helicopters to hunt or capture deer for venison. The story of the industry would be a prominent feature in the museum, Cordes said.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre chief executive Jane Orphan said she would welcome the addition of the helicopter museum to the heritage precinct at Omaka.
However, as the centre was in the process of expanding there would not be any space on their grounds.
"We haven't met with them for a few years, but they would probably have to talk to the [Carlton] Corlett Trust who own the land. There is other land [around the centre] which they could approach them about," she said.
Cordes said they had approached the trust, but were not in a position to enter into any formal negotiations until they had started to raise money for the museum.
"It's a big project [and] we need to get some money into the bank before we can start to look at final site for it."
He was still optimistic the dream could become a reality, he said.
---------------
I commented that I hoped they'd talked to the NZ Helicopter Heritage Museum crew in Ashburton, New Zealand's other "first" helicopter museum.
This is a great idea and a central-NZ location is ideal. I think it's phenomenal they've secured an Iroquois and I'd love to know what else they have.
Also, I really wish reporter Sven Herselman would read up/proofread any aviation articles, he always seems to have a misstep or two in them.
Each morning when I get to work I have a look at the NZHerald and Stuff websites before heading to the various forums, and today I found this: www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/70434627/1-million-needed-for-marlborough-helicopter-museum
A museum specialising in the history of helicopters in New Zealand could become a reality for Marlborough.
However, the Helicopter Industry Museum Trust needs to raise about $1 million to make the dream come true.
Trust secretary treasurer Derek Cordes said they had started applying for grants.
A committee was set up and had spent more than three years sourcing helicopters, photographs and memorabilia, Cordes said.
They also developed mock building plans and determined rough costings, he said.
"It will be the first museum of its kind in New Zealand that we know about. It will cover all aspects of helicopters in New Zealand including defence, commercial, rescue and even Life Light medical transport, dating back from the 1960s."
They had secured four helicopters, one of which was an Airforce Iroquois, which would be restored to display condition. The plan was to build the museum near the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre and construct displays similar to those in the Knights of the Sky exhibition at the centre.
"We have approached Weta [Workshop] who have agreed to help us out with the displays by building them at a reduced cost," Cordes said.
Although he was not a pilot himself Cordes had spent 40 years in the forestry industry and worked closely with helicopter operations.
It was through this he developed a love for the machines, he said.
He also had an involvement in the once thriving deer recovery industry, which used helicopters to hunt or capture deer for venison. The story of the industry would be a prominent feature in the museum, Cordes said.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre chief executive Jane Orphan said she would welcome the addition of the helicopter museum to the heritage precinct at Omaka.
However, as the centre was in the process of expanding there would not be any space on their grounds.
"We haven't met with them for a few years, but they would probably have to talk to the [Carlton] Corlett Trust who own the land. There is other land [around the centre] which they could approach them about," she said.
Cordes said they had approached the trust, but were not in a position to enter into any formal negotiations until they had started to raise money for the museum.
"It's a big project [and] we need to get some money into the bank before we can start to look at final site for it."
He was still optimistic the dream could become a reality, he said.
---------------
I commented that I hoped they'd talked to the NZ Helicopter Heritage Museum crew in Ashburton, New Zealand's other "first" helicopter museum.
This is a great idea and a central-NZ location is ideal. I think it's phenomenal they've secured an Iroquois and I'd love to know what else they have.
Also, I really wish reporter Sven Herselman would read up/proofread any aviation articles, he always seems to have a misstep or two in them.
