Skyhawk to be assembled live at MOTAT

A new RNZAF Skyhawk will soon be welcomed to the vast aviation collection at MOTAT.

Due to arrive on 27 October, visitors who attend from 28-30 October will also have a rare opportunity to see the RNZAF Skyhawk being re-assembled by members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

This once in a lifetime opportunity will give visitors a chance to see a giant of New Zealand aviation history brought to life and to ask the experts from the Royal New Zealand Air Force questions as it is assembled.

The Skyhawk will be a highly sought-after addition to the collection at MOTAT's newly opened, multi-award-winning Aviation Display Hall. MOTAT visitors will be able to see the Skyhawk being re-assembled live from the 28-30 October as part of their MOTAT entry fee.

MOTAT Museum Director, Jeremy Hubbard says it is a great honor for MOTAT to be selected as the new home for the RNZAF Skyhawk, which is on loan from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

"We have wanted a Skyhawk at MOTAT for quite some time. They are beautiful planes and we are looking forward to telling the stories of the Skyhawk's pilots too," says Mr Hubbard.

RNZAF Project Manager Chris Calvert says that this particular Skyhawk is very special.

"This Skyhawk, NZ6206, is the only RNZAF Skyhawk to have ever fired a shot in anger and it is certainly fitting to be displayed in the new Aviation Display Hall where New Zealanders can see an important piece of NZ aviation history," says Mr Calvert.

The RNZAF NZ6206 Skyhawk shot 20mm cannon rounds over the bows of an illegal Taiwanese fishing boat plundering the West Coast of the North Island's huge squid populations in 1976, sending a clear message that New Zealand was serious about protecting its borders.

The Skyhawk is available for display following the decommissioning of jet fighters in 2001 by the previous Labour government. While original plans were to sell them to the American Tactical Air Service, the sales fell through.

Mr Hubbard says the Skyhawk will fit perfectly in MOTAT's new Aviation Display Hall.

"The Aviation Display Hall is a fantastic attraction for both local and international visitors where they can come and learn about New Zealand's aviation history and the stories associated with our magnificent aircraft collection, housed in a world class structure," says Mr Hubbard. "We're working towards getting more and more activities up and running around it as well, including tours hosted by some of our passionate aviation volunteers."

The 3,000m2 custom designed Display Hall is more than double the size of MOTAT's original Aviation Hangar and currently houses an impressive collection of MOTAT aircraft, including a Lancaster Bomber, Cessna and Tiger Moth.

The collection will continue to grow as Sunderland and Solent Flying boats are also due to be transported inside the Display Hall at a later date.

Editors notes:

MOTAT's Aviation Display Hall has recently won two New Zealand Institute of Architecture (NZIA) Awards for Public Architecture and Sustainable Architecture; and two New Zealand Wood Timber Design Awards for Clever Wood Solution and Sustainability. The Aviation Display Hall was also awarded Highly Commended in the Commercial Engineering Excellence category.

Location

MOTAT, Great North Road, Western Springs.

Costs

There is no extra charge to see the Skyhawk being assembled.

MOTAT entry costs

$14 adults

$8 students/children under 16

$7 seniors

$free children under 5

$35 family pass

$65 MOTAT Mates annual family pass

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