With winter sliding slowly away towards spring we have decided to get away for a few days to Nelson at the top of the South Island. The last time we visited Nelson was March 2021, but the deciding factor for visiting was not only the length of time between visits, but also that my last long service recognition trip (from my airline service) expires in December so it needed to be used and Nelson being a single sector destination so it is easy to get to.
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| Clearing the Red Baron's crash |
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| A difficult landing... |
The WWII section has a smaller number of aircraft, but is just as impressive.
We had been here before, some five years ago, but it was well worth a return visit.
This looks like a great air museum!
ReplyDeleteIts a really well presented museum. There is also a well done presentation on Stalingrad with movie standard special effects and an excellent collection of uniforms.
DeleteNice, Mark. I have been to Blenheim once overnight for work but didn't see much and have never been to Nelson, but I think we have a kinda, sorta plan to "do" the top of the S Island - plus most of the W Coast (we have been to Hokitika and Greymouth but little else.)
ReplyDeleteHow was the weather - I heard it was heavy rain and flooding in Wanak area today......?
It is a nice part of the country. Back in 2020 we did a great trip from Nelson, down the Coast, to Wanaka and onto Akaroa. The weather was OK...the worst was much further south...we had a bit of a drizzly day on Thursday then it poured down just as we boarded our plane to come home.
DeleteWWI is my favourite era for planes, so nice to see those. Have a great holiday.
ReplyDeleteStephen
Thanks Stephen...it was a nice few days away.
DeleteThat is a great museum, so thanks for the photos Mark:)! Some years ago I did watch a programme on WWI aircraft, which heavily featured Jackson's outfit that were building new planes using as many of the original drawings they could find. Seeing them fly too was pretty special.
ReplyDeleteI saw them all once in a magazine article. I think most of the aircraft may be in hangars there.
DeleteInteresting area, a very museum for the aircraft .
ReplyDeleteIts an interesting spot Joe
DeleteQuite the well put together display! Enjoy your break away Mark.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is...the break is over and now we are back home to a day of rain!
DeleteSome great aircraft on display
ReplyDeleteCertainly are Neil.
DeleteImpressive collection.
ReplyDeleteSure is
DeleteFantastic looking museum Mark and thank you for the photos. No surprise it is visually impressive with Peter Jackson involved! Very kind of him to lend his money and skills for the museum.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo evokes the crashed plane in the "Madagascar" movie!
I understand that many of the uniforms and memorabilia are from his collection.
DeleteSome great exhibits there. Peter Jackson really has done some wonderful stuff to preserve history. I like the Stuka and Mosquito (if that is what it is).
ReplyDeleteHe certainly has. Yes that is a Mosquito. You know the is a company here building replicas of the Mosquito. Made from plywood like the originals and the only significant difference is that they have given it a glass cockpit (using LED displays instead of dials). The first one made came into the AirNZ hangar for some avionics work and I was lucky enough to get to see it up close.
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