If you love aircraft, particularly early ones, then Omaka aerodrome near Blenheim in the South Island of New Zealand is a place that you MUST visit. The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre houses part of Sir Peter Jackson's collection of WW1 aircraft and memorabilia. The aircraft, original or replica, are not just parked on display. Many are set into sensational dioramas. Peter Jackson's movie director's skill has produced a museum that blew this small bear and his Dad away. Here are just 4 of the dioramas. Top left is an Etrich Taube being pursued by a French scout. Top right is an AIRCO dH-2, one of the first British fighters. I really love these old pusher aircraft with their maze of struts and wires. In fact, if you look carefully, you can me checking one of the struts and wires on the lower wing. The pilot is looking at a Fokker E.III Eindekker that is coming in on his left side. Bottom left is the wreck of Baron Manfred von Richthofen's Fokker Dr.1 Triplane. A group of Australian soldiers is removing the body and stripping bits of the aircraft for souvenirs. Bottom right is an RAF SE-5a that is about to crash after colliding with another aircraft. The pilot, Keith Caldwell, managed to climb out of the cockpit, balance the tumbling aircraft, fly it (standing on the wing) long enough to get back over the lines, and jump clear before it finally crashed. My visit to Omaka was far too short and I will be back. Sir Peter has the remainder of his collection at Hood aerodrome, near Masterton on the North Island, so I will definitely be dragging the Oldies back to NZ.
Labels: aircraft, New Zealand
# posted by Bart Bear @ 12:10 pm
