Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

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The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre is an aviation museum located at the Omaka Air Field, 5km from the centre of Blenheim, New Zealand.HistoryA resurgence of heritage aviation interest began in the Marlborough area in the late 1990s when a group of enthusiasts imported two Chinese Nanchang CJ-6 trainers and established the Marlborough Warbirds Association as a way to foster interest and provide a social network of support. As increasing numbers of aircraft began to base themselves at Omaka and word of their existence lead to increasing number of tourists visiting the facilities. In 1997, a small group of aircraft owners and enthusiasts established the New Zealand Aviation Museum Trust to provide a means of making the aircraft accessible to the public on a more practical and sustainable basis while acting as catalyst to attract aviation business and investment to the Marlborough region and at the same time grow the public understanding and appreciation of aviation.A decade of collaborative activity lead to the establishment of the Marlborough Aviation Cluster, incorporating an aviation business park and the heritage centre. The initiative received support from the Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Regional Development Trust. In addition NZ Trade and Enterprise in 2004 contributed NZ$2 million in funding as part of a Major Regional Initiative grant towards stage 1 of the heritage centre.Stage One of the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, which occupies some 3,000 sqm of purpose-built display area was officially opened on 9th Dec 2006. Stage Two is currently under construction and July 2016 is the forecast opening date.