Classic Flyers Museum
| The Classic Flyers Museum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Established | 2005 |
| Location | Tauranga Airport, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand |
| Type | Aviation Museum |
| Director | Andrew Gormlie (CEO) |
| Website | www.classicflyersnz.com |
The The Classic Flyers Museum is an aviation museum located at the Tauranga Airport, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, owned by a registered New Zealand charitable trust, the Bay of Plenty Classic Aircraft Trust.[1][2][3][4]
The museum has a range of flying and static aircraft displays as well as a cafe. The museum features a Hawker Hunter.
History
The museum was started in 2000 when several local businessmen, who were also aviation enthusiasts, decided to see if an existing World War II-era hangar at the Tauranga Airfield could be renovated for use. The hangar proved to be unsalvageable but the group decided to build a new facility instead and formed the Bay of Plenty Classic Aircraft Trust. The new hangar is at the entrance to the Tauranga Airport, on Jean Batten Drive, Mount Maunganui.[1]
The founders decided to focus on creating a flying museum, as opposed to one that just had static displays, with the intention of having a high number of museum aircraft movements.[1]
The museum was officially opened on Saturday 28 May 2005 with an air display and fly-past.[1]
Aims
The museum aims are:[1]
- Preserve classic and historic aircraft
- Support the retention of New Zealand’s aviation history
The Trust focuses on preserving aircraft and memorabilia that has a connection to the Bay of Plenty area or New Zealand generally.[1]
Collection
The museum aircraft collection includes:[5]
- Cessna A-37 Dragonfly[6]
- de Havilland Devon - 2
- Fletcher FU24 300
- Hall Cherokee II[7]
- Hawker Hunter T75
- North American Harvard - 2
- Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT-4B Airtrainer
- Van's Aircraft RV-3[citation needed]
- Supermarine Spitfire Mk V - replica
Moreland Collection
The museum also has exhibits on loan from Andy Moreland's Tauwhare Military Museum in a "M*A*S*H Chopper Hangar" that is located behind the main museum building. This collection includes Unimog vehicles, Jeeps, uniforms and weapons.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Classic Flyers Museum (August 2004). "About Us". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage (2006). "Classic Flyers Museum". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ Tourism Bay of Plenty (undated). "Classic Flyers NZ". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ totaltravel (undated). "Classic Flyers NZ". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ Classic Flyers Museum (September 2007). "Aviation Museum". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ Classic Flyers Museum (January 2009). "Cessna A37 Dragonfly Flies Again". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ↑ Pardon, Leo (March 2007). "Hall Cherokee II aircraft". Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ↑ Classic Flyers Museum (October 2007). "Military Museum". Retrieved 2009-07-24.
External links
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Coordinates: 37°40′04″S 176°11′52″E / 37.6678°S 176.1977°E