Aviation Museums that didn't happen

[Dave Homewood]

Which aviation museums in NZ just didn't quite make it?

I recall in 1995 Gail 'somebody' who owns the famous Gails of Tamahere (where they have gardens, dry flowers, weddings and all sorts of girly stuff) announced she planned to open an aviation museum, and there was even talk that some of the Motat collection would come down to Tamahere (which is between Cambridge and Hamilton).

I just read too that Sir Len Southwood announced in 1974 that he planned an aviation museum. He already by then his Tiger Moth, Bleriot replica and Vampire that are in the car muiseum. It seems he planned to buy more aircraft and have a dedicated aircraft museum. what a shame i didn't happen as his car collection is world class.

There was also the Marlborough Aviation Museum that didn't get anywhere (I hope Omaka's new museum and aviation centre does better).

Were there any others planned that didn't come to fruition?

[Bruce]

In the early 1990s there was a museum of agricultural aviation planned for Rotorua, on land jsut opposite the airport gateway. Local Ag pilot Hamish Ross was behind the venture, and had moved a Fieldair DC3 (possibly ZK-CAW from memory- now at Taupo) a Pawnee, Airtruck and some Fletcher components on site. Unfortunately Hamish was killed in a topdressing accident about 1991 and the estate decided not to proceed with the venture.

Silverstream aeronautical Society (Wellington) was setting up a museum in the 1980s which also had a DC3 (the example that was subsequently at Ohakea and now Gisborne) and some Harvards, including NZ1057. Some of the members recovered components from the NAC DC3 crash site at Port Underwood to assist with rebuilding the DC3, but it seems like there was an excess of enthusiasm over capital, and after some key people left even the enthusiasm dried up.

Of course there was also the Clydesdale Museum (Aka Farmworld) at mystery creek Hamilton which although to an air museum was setting up and ag aviation section around James Aviation Ag Dak ZK-AZL, nothing much came of that idea and it appears as though the whole Farmworld complex is virtually closed (although the fire brigade club are still based there) and AZL is now a giant (and badly decayed) billboard for McDonalds Lime and Race Rock.

[Dave Homewood]

Silverstream also had the Avenger that went to the RNZAF Museum and subsequently to the No. 30 Squadron Association at Gisborne. Didn't they have other transport stuff too, like trains, etc? I'm not sure on that but something in the back of my mind gives me that impression.