Built by Avro at Woodford for RNZAF in 1935 as NZ203. Sold post-war on civil market as ZK-APC. Acquired by the RNZAF Museum and restored as NZ203 and flown for several years but is now a static exhibit.

Built in New Zealand in WW2 as NZ1481. Displayed in the RNZAF Museum near Christchurch.

Built as an A4D-2N Skyhawk Bu 149516. Redesignated A-4C in 1962. Subsequently converted to A-4L. Civilianised as N402FS in Jan 1977. Provided to RNZAF Museum, Wigram, in 1987 from stock at Davis Monthan AFB on long term loan from the US Navy in an agreement arranged by McDonnell-Douglas. Reconfigured by the Museum's Technical Section to early A-4K specifications as operated by the RNZAF in the early 1970s. Displayed as NZ6207 - the original having been lost following engine failure in Oct 1974.

This is a replica of 'Britannia', New Zealand's first military aircraft. The original was presented to the NZ Government by the Imperial Air Fleet Committee in 1913. The aircraft made its first flight in Jan 1914 when Lt Joe Hammond took aloft Miss Esme McLennan of the Royal Pantomime Company. Hammond was sacked and the aircraft put in storage before being returned to the UK in Oct 1914. Replica built by David Comrie of Dunedin and displayed in the RNZAF Museum.

The forward fuselage of Vampire T.55 is preserved at the RNZAF Museum. It was one of six T.55s operated by the RNZAF between 1952-72. This one was operated from Ohakea by 14 and 75 Squadrons and the Fighter OCU before becoming instructional airframe INST187.

The Avro Prefect was a development of the earlier Tutor with a third cockpit, to which could be fitted a Scarff ring for gunnery practice. This aircraft was one of four purchased by the RNZAF in 1935 and it served with 1FTS. After the war it was sold and became ZK-APC in 1948. It was purchased by the RNZAF Museum in 1980 and restored at Ohakea where it made its first flight on 8 July 1985. After several years flying an engine problem grounded it and it was put on static display at Wigram.

Out for an evening jolly! This 1979-model Tomahawk is registered to an owner in Timaru but appears to be on line with a flying school at Wigram.

Nav station on the Andover.

Built to an RAF order as WA311 and delivered on 21 January 1951. Allocated to 93 Squadron but SOC with the RAF on 20 May 1953. Purchased by the RNZAF as one of 8 attrition aircraft and shipped to New Zealand on the "Hororata". BOC 12 September 1953 and served with 75 Sqn. Retired as INST193 with No. 4 Technical Training School, Woodbourne, on 5 April 1964. To Central Institute of Technology in 1965. Returned to the RNZAF in 1972 and now on display in the RNZAF Museum.

By the time I took this photo in 2008, Wigram Tower was closed but the aerodrome itself, once home to the RNZAF's Central Flying School, was still active. Unfortunately the aerodrome closed to all aircraft movements the following year.

NZ1806 was retired in 1980 and sent to Woodbourne as an instructional airframe. Peter Ricketts photo