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Old 13th May 2019, 04:10
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Kiwithrottlejockey
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Masterton, NZ
Age: 70
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The Vintage Aviator doesn't open their hangar up to visitors any more because there are so many aeroplanes crammed in there that it is impossible to allow members of the public to wander around in there.

They hold flying-weekends on the last weekend of each month from October to April, so you'll need to wait until October when they start up again. Officially, those flying-weekends aren't open to the public, but you can view the action from the Kittyhawk Cafe which is immediately adjacent to the hangar housing most of The Vintage Aviator's airworthy collection.

However, plans are afoot to build a huge new aviation heritage centre at Masterton on land immediately adjacent to Hood Aerodrome. The land has been purchased by Masterton District Council (who also own the aerodrome) and applications have been made for government funding towards the project. NZ's Minister for Regional Development, Shane Jones, has indicated he is looking very favourably towards the proposed aviation centre. It will house, not only The Vintage Aviator's huge collection of airworthy restorations and reproductions, but also aircraft owned by the NZ Sport & Vintage Aviation Society, as well as other privately-owned classic aeroplanes based at Hood. It is also proposed that the aviation centre feature a conference centre and a cafe, as well as engineering facilities and an educational centre to teach young aircraft engineers the skills necessary to work on vintage and classic aeroplanes.

While completion of the proposed aviation heritage centre is still a few years down the track, it has the potential to become a major tourist attraction once it is all up and running, with the entire Vintage Aviator collection on display.
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