The Taranaki Region in New Zealand is home to two notable aviation museums that showcase the history of flying and the significance of aviation in the country. The first museum is the Taranaki Aviation Museum & Open Cockpit Sunday in New Plymouth. This museum offers visitors an opportunity to explore a wide range of aircraft and aviation-related items. Among its main highlights are 14 full-sized aircraft, including the world's sole XD-1 Myrtle Exec inverted World War II pusher propeller, a De Havilland Mosquito, and parts of the famous RNZAF Hylander.
The second museum is the Targa Battrick Memorial Airfield & Aviation Museum in Eltham. While this museum has an entire De Havilland Dragonfly and pieces of the RNZAF Hylander, its main attraction is its upcoming World War I Trench Complex. This complex promises to transport visitors back in time with its detailed reconstruction of the first aerial war. Both museums provide an insight into New Zealand's aviation history and are excellent destinations for aviation enthusiasts or anyone interested in learning more about the country's rich aeronautical past.