The towering tails of 2 of New Zealand’s most iconic military aircraft have gone on public display in Christchurch as part of a new exhibition at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

The exhibition, called Tall Tails, features the giant tail sections from the retired Lockheed C 130 Hercules and P 3K2 Orion aircraft, both of which served the Royal New Zealand Air Force for decades.

The Orion arrived at the museum in 2024, while the Hercules made its final flight into Wigram in 2025, landing on a temporary runway in front of thousands of spectators.

Because of their size, the aircraft tails had to be removed before the planes could be placed into storage hangars.

Air Force Museum of New Zealand Director Brett Marshall said the storage challenge inspired the exhibition.

“They’re massive which just happens to make them the best possible demonstration of the difficulties we face to house aircraft of this scale and so we think they’re the perfect cheerleaders for the campaign.

“Now everyone can come and see the tails, be awed by their size and the scale, and the challenge to build an exhibition space large for the complete aircraft.

“We know there is huge public interest in them and this is a way people can get a glimpse of at least part of them and get in behind our Home for Heroes campaign to build them a permanent home.”

The Hercules and Orion are among the largest objects held by any museum in New Zealand and are considered national treasures after decades of service around the world.

Together, the aircraft recorded more than 60,000 flying hours between 1965 and their retirement.

The Hercules, known as NZ7001, was the first RNZAF Lockheed C 130H Hercules built in Georgia in 1965.

It later became the final operational H model Hercules in RNZAF service before retiring after 60 years and 33,000 flying hours.

The Orion, NZ4203, entered service in 1966 and completed 27,000 flying hours during its 54 year career as a maritime patrol aircraft.

Both aircraft are the only examples from their respective RNZAF fleets to be preserved.

Christchurch City Council has committed $5 million towards the museum’s campaign to build a permanent exhibition space for the aircraft, with further funding being raised through a public campaign.

Tall Tails is free for New Zealanders and is open daily from 9.30am until 4.30pm at the Air Force Museum in Wigram.