Mount Maunganui’s iconic classic aircraft museum is celebrating 20 years by giving away prizes to the public this weekend.

People who pay to enter the 20-year-old museum from May 31-June 2 will go into a draw to win one of three prizes.

First prize is a Classic Adventure Flight voucher valued $600; second prize is kid’s party voucher for six kids with adults valued at $160, and the third prize is an AvGas Café Loyalty Card valued at $50.

The museum will also host a kids’ treasure hunt – where youngsters can search for chocolate fish –from 9am-3pm daily throughout the weekend.

The early days of the Classic Flyers aircraft museum. Photo / supplied

The on-site AvGas Café will run specials through the long weekend too, with items priced at $20 each – to align with the 20-year celebration.

For those keen to see how the museum has grown since it opened in – a coffee table tribute book filled with fascinating highlights from the last two decades will be on offer to view, said the museum’s marketing manager Corey Tyler.

“This will be a neat way to look back at the crew, some of their achievements and the journey so far. The keepsake will be for sale at the gift shop.”

Classic Flyers sales & marketing manager Cory Tyler and the founder, CEO and trustee member Andrew Gormlie in front of the CT-4B Airtrainer. Photo / Brydie Thompson

The museum was just an idea in pilot Andrew Gormlie’s head 21 years ago, when the Mount Maunganui businessman still had a head of hair.

A group of classic aircraft and artefact collectors had banded together and Gormlie decided it was time to show off their collection. A year later, 50 aircraft collectors found a location for their display.

“We wondered what it would look like in 20 years and it’s like everything you can never quite tell, but we expected some growth. We didn’t expect this much growth,” said Gormlie.

“It went from 50 people to about 3500 members now and 180 volunteers as opposed to the initial 20 odd,” he said, and the double building site turned into a five-building complex.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the festivities this weekend via paid entry to the museum, which is located at 9 Jean Batten Drive. For more information, visit: www.classicflyersnz.com