Omaka Aviation Heritage Center

Thomas Fife · 12 February 2008, 07:00 PM

I was just sent a link to this site and wanted to share. I'm sure I'm not the first. HOLY COW! I wish I lived in New Zealand!

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

Russell Smith · 13 February 2008, 04:51 AM

Thomas - the OHC is indeed home to the most impressive collection of WW1 aircraft, memorabilia and artwork (

) in the world. Well worth the trip if you can dig up the funds. The best time to visit is during the Classic Fighters Airshow, which is held every other year right on the OHC's doorstep:

Classic Fighters Marlborough 2009

next show is in 2009.

Russ

Ronny Bar · 13 February 2008, 06:29 AM

Thomas...

I was there..! And I swear it's worth any sacrifice to see that..!

The Museum... It's the best aircraft museum in the world... Not just one plane besides the other as in other museums I've visited (RAF Museum at Hendon, RAF Duxford, Deutsches Museum at Munich, etc...), but each plane is displayed in a scene with all the necessary artifacts to make it an absolutely reallistic scene from the WW1 period..! And the figures are a chapter apart in themselves... You'd swear they're alive..!
You can see the talented hand of Peter Jackson in each of those scenes...

Regardings the planes they exhibit... Water will fall from your mouth..! Etrich Taube, Albatros B-II, Fokker E-III, DH-2, DH-5, Morane BB, RE-8, Brisfit, Several Nieuports and Dr-1s, SSW D-IV, and a lot more...

And if you go at the time of the Classic Fighters Airshow you can bet all your fantasies will be fulfilled... I expected to see a Fokker Triplane flying, OK... But never a whole Jagdstafell..! Seven Fokker Dr-Is finished in Jasta 11 livery, together with a Fokker D-VII, a Pfalz D-III, dogfighting a Camel, an SE-5a, Nieuports 11 and 27, etc... Authentic rotary engines... You can hear its distinctive sound... You can almost smell that castor oil..!
All that surrounded by a beautiful landscape of hills and vineyards...

Man, it's worth the travel and any effort..!

Ronny

David_Layton · 14 February 2008, 08:24 AM

In the last Windsock, it is mentioned that Karl Mayerhofer built two Albatros DII fuselages for a "customer in New Zealand". Is Peter Jackson doing a movie or are they going to make a display in the museum of the Boehm / Boelcke collision?

With the backing of Mr. Jackson, this museum has probably the greatest WWI authenticity and a the best theatrical presentation.

Der Grüne Flieger · 14 February 2008, 06:16 PM

That is yet another great reason to visit NZ.

Phil

ericfry@westnet.com.au · 20 April 2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Fife

I was just sent a link to this site and wanted to share. I'm sure I'm not the first. HOLY COW! I wish I lived in New Zealand!

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

I've just returned from a N.Z. holiday. I can thoroughly recommend the OMAKA museum. But the question is when is a museum, not a museum ?
The answer is OMAKA. It's an experience! Let your imagination take you back in time, and wonder at the ingenuity of man, and the combination of canvas, string, wire and wood that took human beings into the air.
There are no gimmicks, but the display constructions are magnificient.
GREAT !!

Cigogne · 22 April 2008, 08:29 PM

You mean linen, not canvas, right? Canvas was used for tents, linen for aircraft.

David_Layton · 22 April 2008, 08:59 PM

"Linen Falcons"? Sounds a bit dainty if you ask me.

Nieuport Lace?

goslow · 24 April 2008, 08:29 AM

I contacted the museum via the web asking if they could possibl

y produce additional photos of given aircraft and received a "nope" can't be done !! They have flying replica aircraft that are truly unique in the world. How I wish they would get someone to make DVD's to study, like other folks have done.

It would be a great way to increase their income and greatly aid scale modelers. Sure would cut down on the bus fare to get down there to see for myself.