Ambitious plan for Waharoa aviation museum

A proposed aviation museum and cafe at the Waharoa Airfield would bring the “stagnated” area to life, says Te Aroha local Peter Ryan.

He and business partner Chris Haynes have spent 12 months developing the idea of a military and aviation museum at the aerodrome, which he says will attract passing traffic and promote the flying clubs who meet there.

Ryan says the airfield services the whole district, but deserves more community interest.

“A lot of flight training goes on out there, but the airfield itself doesn’t have a lot going on.”

The idea involves erecting an interactive “live museum” with a viewing area, gift shop and playground.

The proposal includes building a hangar about 50 metres long by 15 metres deep, to house vintage planes and
memorabilia.

Regular displays of machinery, including aerobatics shows, could be watched from the cafe, and equipment would be changed on a regular basis.

“The museum would be a focal point, it would mean people would be [going there] for reasons other than flying.”

The estimated cost is under $1 million, and the pair plan to set up a trust to fund and run the project once they have approached councils and groups in the area for consent.

“We have a lot of avenues to explore and people to talk to.”

Most memorabilia would come from Tauwhare Military Museum, courtesy of Tauranga collector Andy Moreland, but Ryan also has a couple of his own aeroplanes to show off.

His vintage Tiger Moth was part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the 1940s and has been restored, while
an old friend recently purchased a Chipmunk.

These planes would be pulled out of the hangar and put on display during the day and occasionally involved in air

shows.

A Tauranga contractor experienced in building hangars had been approached for a tender, but the initiative needs resource consent from the district and regional councils before it goes any further.

Details have not been outlined to groups at Waharoa airfield, but Ryan says those who have heard were “absolutely bewildered” by the idea. Haynes does not expect support from these groups until the project has
been explained in detail.

“You can’t just go out and say, ‘give us your money’; organisations need to know what we’re going to do with their funds”

Investors must believe the museum will look after itself financially, and Haynes says the cafe will help fund on-going costs.

Bill Mace, president of the Matamata Soaring Centre that operates at the airfield, has not been briefed on the idea but has a welcoming attitude.

“You’ve got to approach these things with an open mind.”

Aerobatics shows have been popular at the airfield, with last year’s Matamata Airfield Carnival, partly organised by Ryan, attracting over 2000 people.

Ryan and Haynes are planning next year’s show for March 18.

The proposal will be outlined to the Waharoa Airport Users Committee on Monday, June 13.