The collection is managed by the 14-18 Aviation Heritage Trust, which is chaired by film director Peter Jackson, and has been brought to life in a series of theatrical dioramas constructed with the artistic talent and technical expertise of some of New Zealand's most talented storytellers.
Now I spent a number of years working in the museum world (specifically in the technology heritage area), and have visited many museums both in New Zealand and through Europe. Frankly this is one of the best I have seen. All but two of the aircraft are replicas, and the replica fleet includes three airworthy Dr1 Fokker Triplanes. The presentation is absolutely top class, and it is easy to see the Peter Jackson/Weta Studios influence in the quality of the interpretive dioramas that have been created around a number of the aircraft.
A Taube monoplane - I hadn't realized how large these are in real life.
A fantastic diorama of the recovery of a wounded airman form a crash landed Morane Saulnier. The mud and water effects on the ground are so realistic....
The trio of Triplanes..... yup, these are great!!
One of my all time favourite WW1 aircraft: the DH2.
And the diorama of the end of von Richtofen... Australian troops recovering the Red Baron's body and along the way helping themselves to a few mementoes.
I was going to publish more photos, but am conscious of the copyright issue.. hopefully Omaka won't mind these, as a blatant plug for the whole complex. There are so many more aircraft, mostly WW1, but you are greeted at the entrance with a Ju87, and a Hurricane.
Blenheim isn't exactly on the main tourist routes, but it is in the heart of one of the premier wine producing regions of New Zealand, and here, bang in the middle of such epicurean delights, lies a truly wonderful aviation museum. If you are ever visiting, this is worth detouring to make the visit. I picked up a copy of 'Aces High' on DVD, and the cafe serves great coffee.. I was like a 'pig in sh**'... sigh!!!
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