Discover the Thrills of Dangerous Skies

Opened in November 2016, the exhibition Dangerous Skies broadens the Omaka experience into the more familiar territory of World War Two, even while breaking new ground. As well as the Battle of Britain, visitors are taken on a journey through the lesser-known stories of the war on the Eastern front, including that of the world’s top-scoring female fighter ace Lydia Litvyak and the most famous of all women regiments, the Soviet 588th Night Bombers or ‘Night Witches’ as the Germans called them.
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Like World War One’s Knights of the Sky, Dangerous Skies features mannequins made by Wētā Workshop, and original, static and flyable aircraft in larger-than-life dioramas, capturing specific snapshots in history. Dangerous Skies underwent a refresh in 2019, with further alterations since. The main exhibition area now holds four additional aircraft, all originals and never seen before at Omaka. The first a Messerschmitt Bf108 once owned and flown by German ace Franz Stigler, the second a Lockheed Hudson, an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft which has been suspended in a dramatic crash scene in the depths of a Pacific island jungle. Two aircraft from the John Smith Collection have also joined the exhibition; the magnificent de Havilland Mosquito and the famous ‘Gloria Lyons’ P-40 Kittyhawk.

Russian Yak-3UA 'Full Noise' is an example of the new production run of the type, which began in Russia in the 1990s. After initially being based in the USA, the aircraft was involved in a takeoff accident at Reno in 1999. Subsequently, the wreck made its way to New Zealand and underwent a rebuild, including the installation of a second seat for joy flights. Under new ownership, Full Noise has since gained considerable fame on the international stage, having competed twice at the prestigious National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, USA.

One of the highlights of Dangerous Skies is the Stalingrad Experience, which utilises CGI, laser projectors, surround sound and lighting effects to immerse the visitor in one of the most brutal battles of the Second World War. Considered by many historians to be the turning point of the war in Europe, visitors will find themselves looking out at a heavily damaged Stalingrad from within a ruined factory building as it is bombed by the Luftwaffe. This immersive experience is followed by an excerpt from Neil Halloran’s SXSW award-winning data driven documentary highlighting the ‘Fallen of the Second World War’, particularly those of the Eastern Front.

For admission details, click here.

If you're interested in hosting an event in the Dangerous Skies Exhibition, visit the Venue page for more information.