Originally established by a small group of passionate aviation enthusiasts, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim has grown to become a site of national significance.
Today, the centre houses one of the world’s largest exhibitions of World War One aircraft, both static and flyable, as well as rare memorabilia from Sir Peter Jackson’s personal collection.
The Knights of the Sky exhibition brings human stories from the Great War to life with dioramas featuring lifelike mannequins and captivating scenes created by local film heroes Weta Workshop and WingNut Films.
Discover the stark contrast between the harshness of the trenches compared to the chivalry and the bravado of the fighter pilots flying above.
The Dangerous Skies exhibition takes visitors into on a journey through lesser-known stories of World War II, including the only female fighter aces.
But to get a true appreciation of the remarkable vintage aircraft you can take to the skies with a joy flight in an open-cockpit Boeing Stearman, or really push your limits with some aerobatics in the Yak-3, a Russian WWII fighter plane.
