Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Blenheim, NZ.

As far as I remember, the plan was to taxi the Stuka but it never happened – not sure it ever got an engine.

It is that same Stuka replica, but at some stage it got badly damaged in a storm. It was rebuilt and was purely static after the rebuild. More recently it was completely rebuilt again to much more closely represent the genuine article, so it could go into the new display hall.

Is that Stuka the working replica they made years ago? If so, shame it doesn’t taxi any more. Cool display though!

More photos including the P-40 here

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/24782/omaka-dangerous-skies-opening-photos

Fantastic photos, Mark12! Thanks for the contributions.

Try here:-

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/85809519/Omaka-expansion-to-take-visitors-on-excursion-through-World-War-II

At some point will the P-40 photos be available?

The P-40 is there by special arrangement. I was asked not to publish my images because the aircraft was axle deep in set building and decorating materials.

Images in location with the appropriate lighting cannot be too far away.

Mark

At some point will the P-40 photos be available?

Stunning and awesome are words often over used on line,however,in this case they are justified. Thanks for the coverage.

Wow – great stuff!

I have never been to Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, nor unfortunately, am I ever likely too but despite having never seen the displays in the flesh, when posts like this highlight the museum, I am always impressed (such an unsuitable word) with the quality of the displays and may even go so far as saying that if Omaka isn’t the best Aviation museum, it must be very close to being so and Hendon and the IWM could certainly learn lessons on how to display their wares!

Thanks for the pictures Peter :applause:

The portrayal of the Hurricane is graphic in the extreme. Thank you for the pics Mark12

The Stuka and Hurricane replicas look amazing.

Thanks Mark12, I hope to get there one day not at show time (when Dangerous Skies is closed). I’m sure the presentation is absolutely world-class (as the WW1 area is).
There was a recent P-40 photo on the Classic Wings FB.
https://www.facebook.com/ClassicWingsMagazine/photos/a.441600692547940.92871.251326048242073/1284922514882416/?type=3

At the time of my visit the ‘Dangerous Skies’ WWII exhibit was due to be opened on 1st November. Here a preview of some of the airworthy and replica aircraft in full light amid the chaos of meeting the deadline. Airworthy aircraft can be manoeuvred out of the dioramas. A Yak will be joining Russian pilot Lydia Litvyak, known as the White Rose of Stalingrad.The Canadian P-40 images embargoed by request. 🙂

Mark

They were closed a day or two for earthquake checks. There was a significant swarm of smaller quakes closer to Blenheim in 2013, resilience is well tested. It might have been more exciting if it had happened while the new WW2 section was under construction.
Note that ‘epicentre’ is misleading, large earthquakes by definition take place over a distance, this one started near Kaikoura and moved NNE, most severe ground movement was a lot closer to Wellington (and Blenheim) than Christchurch, which you wouldn’t think from the notional epicentre.

. Good to see that the recent seismic activity has not seemingly affected their efforts.

Tim

Tim,

These shots were taken four weeks before the earthquake. We had stopped with the camper van over night at Kaikoura, close to the epicentre, on our way up to Blenheim.

Mark

Incredible!!!

Thanks for posting!

Great images Peter / Mark. I was fortunate to visit this exhibition last year and my report about it was published in “Pilot” at the time. I was most impressed by the engaging way the artefacts and aeroplanes are depicted to relay their story, it’s context and also explain the technology. Good to see that the recent seismic activity has not seemingly affected their efforts.

Tim

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42