Lyttleton, Christchurch

Okay, we give up on what ever time the steward wants to bring our breakfast to the cabin!

Forecast for a cool day but no rain. Julie has headed out on her tour and I'm off to the Air Force museum and Antarctica experience. It's a full day and one I've been looking forward to. it's about 35 minute drive to the museum. It is really well set out on the original airfields that the NZ air force grew from.

Our guide was super informative and we didn't have nearly enough time to see all there was. Never even got up to the mezzanine floor before it was time to get back on the coach for our next stop. Took so many photos that will end up in my photo book but these are a taste of the more than 30 classic aircraft on display. The Bristol Fighter was the show piece.

So many aircraft and stories about each of them.

Great story about Flt Lt Henry Fanshaw who in fact was a bear mascot for 75 Sqn yet was added to the squadron's manifest which meant extra rations, leave, cigarettes, etc were provided until eventually the powers that be realised there was no such person! Here's the abridged story of his 'service'... According to his personnel file, Henry was born in May 1922, his nationality was given as Arctic and his religious affiliation is to the Church of Bears. No next o kin is recorded but there is a reference to him being the father of 10. He joined the RNZAF in 1939, trained as a pilot in Canada later that year and then joined No 75 (NZ) Squadron at RAF Harwell. Fanshaw took part in missions over Europe. He was on a refresher course in 1955 until 1957 and a jet conversion course in 1958. He has since also seen a bit of action while off-duty. There is a New Zealand police charge sheet in his file! Records suggest that he was absent without leave many times over the years, but it appears these are all kidnappings. He certainly looked most at ease in his glass case in the gallery.

A quick walk through the gallery where I would have loved to spend more time seeing all the items on display, and then into a hangar for even more military aircraft.

The Iroquois helicopter brought back memories of 5 Sqn, Fairbairn, Canberra days. On into another original hangar and this is where they hold balls, graduation ceremonies and various events which is where they raise money for the museum ( it is free entry!). They are looking at receiving an Orion and will do it up to original condition, just as they have with all the other aircraft, but they don't have the space for it at this time.

I've had a ball wandering around this museum and am disappointed that our time had come to an end. I truly think I could have spent a whole day here. Only minutes to look in the gift shop but I did manage to snap up a poppy design scarf and badge, plus was given a free chocolate wrapped in the style of the ration packs.

So many photos just for the morning so I had better save this all now and create a part 2 for the Antarctica experience.