Permanent Exhibition

MOTAT Taiwhanga Rererangi - Aviation Hall

Visit the MOTAT Aviation Hall at Motions Road and discover the exciting stories of aviation in Aotearoa.

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Date & Time

Permanent Exhibition

Location

MOTAT Aviation Hall

Bomber Command

The Aviation Hall is home to the mighty Avro Lancaster, on loan from the New Zealand Bomber Command Association. Restored to represent a Lancaster of the 75 (NZ) Squadron, this aircraft anchors a dedicated display honouring the New Zealanders who served in Bomber Command during the Second World War. This is a place of reflection as much as discovery, telling the stories of the crews who flew these missions and the significance of Bomber Command's role in New Zealand's wartime history.

360-degree Photography

This immersive visual experience provides visitors with a detailed view of the interior of various aircraft using 360-degree photography of collection cockpits. Visitors can explore the cockpits of a wide range of aircraft from the extensive MOTAT collection through high quality panoramic images that offer insights into the intricacies and technology of aviation design and control systems.

Visiting with kids?

Forces of Flight

Ngā hau a Tāwhirirangi Forces of Flight uncovers the invisible powers that make flight possible. Explore how lift, thrust, drag and weight work together to keep everything from birds to jumbo jets soaring through the sky.

With hands-on experiments and interactive displays that let you test the forces yourself, feel the balance of physics in action - push against air, shape wings, and see what it takes to fly.

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Te Kōtiu: Stories from the Skies

Be surrounded by the sights and sounds of flight in New Zealand with Te Kōtiu, an award-winning immersive digital experience.

From the migration of our native Kuaka, to celebrating the growing diversity within the aviation and space industries, Te Kōtiu brings history to life by showcasing key moments in aviation in Aotearoa through audio and stunning projections.

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New Zealand Police helicopter interactive

The New Zealand Police helicopter is favourite with families and offers a hands-on experience for children. Providing a closer look at the operational aspects of police aviation, the NZ Police helicopter is a fun and engaging way for kids to learn about the important role helicopters play in law enforcement and public safety.

Did you know?

Short Solent Mk 4, ZK-AMO "Aranui"

Passengers were advised to pack their swimsuits in their carry-on bags. When the aircraft stopped at lagoons to refuel, they could boat to shore and enjoy a swim before continuing on their journey.

About the Aviation Hall

Aviation Hall is as remarkable as the aircraft it houses. Designed by Studio Pacific Architecture and completed in 2011, it holds the largest clear-span timber structure in New Zealand, with laminated veneer lumber portal frames arching 42 metres unsupported and wide enough to encompass the wingspan of the aircraft within. The design is a deliberate timber interpretation of the hangar form, and the roofline has been described as a "folded wing," a quiet architectural echo of the collection it shelters. Built sustainably on a former landfill site and reliant on natural ventilation and daylight, the Hall has since won multiple architecture and sustainability awards.

With a 155 space carpark right outside the door, and heritage trams to take you around Western Springs, it's never been easier, or more exciting, to visit MOTAT.

The DIY aircraft

The flying flea ("Le pou-du-ciel") 1935

This plane was created as a build-it-yourself kitset for the public, but when inexperienced builders took to the skies, the consequences could be severe. It just goes to show that pilot licensing exists for a reason.