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