Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) event manager Mandy Deans said the Strikemaster was a "very important" acquisition for Warbirds and Wheels, which replaces the disbanded New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, and is expected to open in November this year.
"It's all part of the RNZAF history and this [aircraft] has flown at Warbirds Over Wanaka so it has double meaning, really, for us," Ms Deans said.
A Strikemaster will be part of the aerial demonstration at the 2012 show, "so there will be one on static display and one flying, which will be superb".
The Strikemaster, which weighs 2810kg and has a maximum speed of 835kmh, was used mainly as a training aircraft, although it took on a combat role in some countries.
Strikemasters were bought by the New Zealand government to replace the then ageing Vampire fleet. Sixteen were acquired for the RNZAF, the first batch in 1972, the remainder in 1975. All the aircraft were operated by No.
14 Squadron, based at Ohakea, and were used for jet conversion and advanced pilot training. The Strikemaster fleet was withdrawn from service in 1991 and replaced by the Aermacchi MB339CB.
Most of the ex-RNZAF Strikemasters form part of the Australian warbird community, and one is flying in the United States.
NZ6374 is on permanent loan, from the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram, to the Warbirds over Wanaka Community Trust for its Warbirds and Wheels attraction.
A de Havilland Vampire has also been provided on loan at Wanaka by the museum and a Skyhawk fighter jet is to be delivered at a later date.
