MEDIA RELEASE
3 October 2012



MOTAT’S Aviation Display Hall Celebrates Its First Birthday

MOTAT’s Aviation Display Hall is celebrating the milestones that made its first year so successful including welcoming a number of fantastic new aircraft, receiving awards and helping MOTAT reach a record number of visitors.

MOTAT Marketing Manager Deanna Wharton says the new Aviation Display Hall has been a major contributor to MOTAT gaining attention from national and international visitors.

“It’s wonderful to have shared the unique MOTAT Aviation Display Hall experience with record numbers of Aucklanders and tourists over the past year. For the first time ever, we welcomed over 300,000 visitors to MOTAT in the last financial year and the positive feedback we continue to receive on the Aviation Display Hall is outstanding,” says Mrs Wharton.

The impressive, 3,000m2 custom designed Aviation Display Hall is home to one of the largest aircraft collections in the Southern Hemisphere, MOTAT recently undertaking a project to suspend a number of the historic planes from the ceiling.

Mrs Wharton says the suspended aircraft really complete the spectacular exhibition. “The effect of having airborne aircraft in our Aviation Display Hall is that the whole place is brought to life. It’s definitely a must-see.”

Over the past year, MOTAT has received several new aircraft to display in the hall, including a RNZAF Skyhawk, Devon and Aermacchi, of which the RNZAF Skyhawk and Aermacchi were reassembled live for MOTAT visitors by Royal New Zealand Air Force crew.

“The two latest additions to the Aviation Display Hall, the Aermacchi and Devon are both magnificent aircraft that we’re sure MOTAT visitors will love to see. We are delighted to be able to have them on display,” says Mrs Wharton.

“The Aermacchi is a RNZAF aircraft, used to train many cadets over the years. One of the unique features of the purpose-built training aircraft is the dual controls, allowing for both student and teacher to sit in tandem.

“The NZ1813 Devon is also really interesting because it was used as a medical aircraft for years. It flew the first polio victim to be transported by air in New Zealand and also the very first portable iron lung* used in NZ – the unit functioned off the aircraft’s electrical supply,” says Mrs Wharton.

Since opening, MOTAT’s Aviation Display Hall has also been recognised nationally for its design. It has won awards for Public Architecture and Sustainable Architecture in the New Zealand Institute of Architecture Awards and for Clever Wood Solutions and Sustainability in the New Zealand Wood Timber Design Awards.

“We were thrilled to receive so many awards for the architectural elements of the Aviation Display Hall, which was specially designed to effectively display and help the preservation of our aircraft. These elements along with the world-class backdrop of the aircraft also create a wonderful space for a variety of unique functions,” says Mrs Wharton.

Visitors can enjoy the Aviation Display Hall free with normal admission costs to MOTAT. Visit www.motat.org.nz for more information including opening hours plus details on current exhibitions and events.

*a breathing apparatus that helped paralyzed patients breathe before it was replaced by more modern technology in the 1950s.

ENDS

MOTAT entry costs
• $14 adults
• $8 students/children 5-16
• $7 seniors
• $free children under 5
• $35 family pass (2 adults, 4 children)
• $65 MOTAT Mates annual family pass

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