Wigram 23 Open Day

[Dave Homewood]

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE PERMANENT AIR FORCE (PAF)

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as we know it today became an independent service in 1937, but the full story of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Air Force is longer than that. June 2023 marks the 100th anniversary since the birth of New Zealand military aviation at Wigram.

This is your chance to see more than 100 years of aviation technology – in one day – at the place where it all began.



The Museum will play host to a variety of activities on Saturday 17 June 2023 including historic vehicles and aircraft, lots of fun and lots to learn, all with a 1920s theme.





You can look forward to:

• The NZPAF100 exhibition and film

• 1920s and 30s Vintage Car Club vehicles

• Kids themed hunts ($6 each, EFTPOS available)

• Live music

• The Vickers Vildebeest aircraft restoration project

• Dress-up photo opportunities (gold coin donation)

• Chats with the Air Force Museum team and RNZAF personnel



Please join us and bring your family and friends along to the Air Force Museum to learn about how military aviation began in New Zealand 100 years ago.


FLYPAST OF CURRENT RNZAF FLEET

In addition to the points mentioned above, there will also be a flypast of current RNZAF aircraft fleets in formation overhead of Wigram (Approx. 2pm). Spectators will be treated to a Helicopter formation (NH90 and A109), T-6C Texan IIs, King Air 350, C-130H Hercules, Boeing 757, P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a parachute jump by the RNZAF Parachute Display Team, Kiwi Blue. Subject to weather on the day.

[Dave Homewood]

I hope Wigram has good weather for this event?

[johnnyfalcon]

Ceiling has lowered and begun drizzling. Cold... After weeks of mild, sunny weather, Winter descends!

[Dave Homewood]

That is a shame. I guess the flypast will be cancelled, or at least curtailed.

[skyhawkdon]

I've just been over for a look and the displays are very good. Most are inside. They made an announcement while I was there that the helicopters will be doing a display at 1.30pm hopefully followed by the T-6s, weather permitting. Not sure about the heavy metal from up north? The rain is more drizzle and is coming and going. Fingers crossed.

[Dave Homewood]

I guess it might be the weather in between Wigram and where the aircraft have to depart from that is the issue.

They might not want to get a brand new P-8 wet, too.

[tbf2504]

Heaven forbid that a maritime aircraft would get wet!! What is the world coming to, which raises the question does Ohakea have a bird bath yet for the P-8's

[skyhawkdon]

In the end only the NH-90 and A-109 did a flypast and only because they were already at Wigram on static display. The cloud ceiling was only about 300ft so too low for the rest of the planned fly pasts. A real shame as there was a 757, P-8, Kingair and 6 Texans all sitting over at Harewood. They all taxied and we were told were doing an "elephant walk" for photos before taking off for the flypast. But unfortunately it was cancelled before they took off.

[curtiss]

Jun 17, 2023 12:58:47 GMT 12 tbf2504 said:

Heaven forbid that a maritime aircraft would get wet!! What is the world coming to, which raises the question does Ohakea have a bird bath yet for the P-8's

I hope they dont get a birdbath for the P-8 unless they tow the aircraft through with engines shut down. The bird bath at Whenuapai caused a significant amount of corrosion damage to T56 engines.

[Dave Homewood]