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Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum

Fleet Airm Arm Museum Coat of Arms www.destinationsjourney.com

Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra

The Royal Australian Navy has its Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra NSW. It is adjacent to the naval base HMAS Albatross.  When we arrived at 2:00 PM there were only four other people visiting. Effectively we had the whole museum to ourselves.

Propeller From HMAS Sydney Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Propeller From HMAS Sydney

The Collection

The museum has an almost complete collection of the aircraft operated by the RAN.  This ranges from the early 1950s when HMAS Sydney and Melbourne were acquired to a recently retired Seahawk helicopter.  A purpose-built air-conditioned building houses all of the displays. Inside a raised mezzanine floor provides an excellent overhead perspective of the displays.  This is something that many aviation museums are lacking.  There is also plenty of space between each display so that they can be seen easily without the crowding that some museums use.

The 1950s

The Hawker Sea Fury, Fairey Firefly and Fairey Gannett represent the 1950s. All three are camouflages in Dark sea grey with sky undersides.  The Firefly is also wearing Korean War black and white stripes.

RAN Fairey Firefly AS.5 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
RAN Fairey Firefly AS.5
RAN Fairey Gannet AS.1 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
RAN Fairey Gannet AS.1
Hawker Sea Fury Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Hawker Sea Fury

The Modern RAN Fleet Air Arm

The jet age is represented by the Douglas A4G Skyhawk, de Havilland Sea Venom FAW Mk.53 and Grumman S2G Tracker..  Training aircraft from this period include the Macchi 326, Vampire T.22 and Skyhawk 2 seat trainer.

De Havilland Sea Vampire MK T.22 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
De Havilland Sea Vampire MK T.22
De Havilland Sea Venom F.A.W. MK 53 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
De Havilland Sea Venom F.A.W. MK 53
McDonnell Douglas A4G Skyhawk Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
McDonnell Douglas A4G Skyhawk
Grumman S-2G Tracker Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Grumman S-2G Tracker

Drone Collection

Drones have formed an important part of the Fleet Air Arm, removing the risks involved in towing targets for Royal Australian Navy Ships. On display is an old Radioplane MQM-33 propeller driven drone. The Australian designed Turana (based on the Ikara anti-submarine missile) and the Jindivik are also on display.  The more recent US designed BAE Kalkara is located next to the Skyhawk.

BAE Kalkara MQM-107E Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
BAE Kalkara
Radioplane MQM-33 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Radioplane MQM-33
GAF Turana Target Drone Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
GAF Turana Target Drone
GAF Jindivik Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
GAF Jindivik

Fleet Air Arm Museum Helicopters

There is an impressive helicopter collection, which includes a large display to the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam.  In line with the rest of the museum, the helicopter displays are well set out and have explanatory boards. This provides you with a thorough history of the types use within the Fleet Air Arm.   

Bell UH-1B Iroquois Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Bell UH-1B Iroquois
Bristol 171 Sycamore HR.50 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Bristol 171 Sycamore HR.50
Bell 47G Sioux Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Bell 47G Sioux
Bell UH-1H Iroquois Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel
Westland Wessex Mk31B Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Westland Wessex Mk31B
Westland Sea King Mk 50 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Westland Sea King Mk 50
RAN Bristol 171 Sycamore HR Mk 51 Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
RAN Bristol 171 Sycamore HR Mk 51
Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk

Other Displays

In addition to the aircraft of the FAA, the Fleet Air Arm Museum has some other excellent displays. A Sopwith Pup fighter from World War Two shows the beginnings of aviation.  Nearby two six-inch guns from the original HMAS Sydney (a cruiser) illustrate what the aircraft have replaced.

HMAS Sydney the aircraft carrier, is represented by its bell, 32 foot cutter and a propeller (outside near the entrance).

A unique aircraft in the CAC Winjeel is also on display.  This particular aircraft is the prototype for the design that went on to become the primary trainer for a generation of Australian military pilots.

An unusual inclusion is a MiG-15 UTI in Polish colours. A very interesting aircraft to see, but its inclusion here seems out-of-place.

Sopwith Pup Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Sopwith Pup
6 Inch Gun From HMAS Melbourne (I) Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
6 Inch Gun From HMAS Melbourne (I)
HMAS Sydney Bell Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
HMAS Sydney Bell
CAC CA-22 Winjeel prototype Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
CAC CA-22 Winjeel prototype
HMAS Melbourne 32FT CutterFleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
HMAS Melbourne 32FT Cutter
Douglas C-47A Dakota Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Douglas C-47A Dakota
Aermacchi MB-326H Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Aermacchi MB-326H
Polish MiG-15 UTI Fleet Air Arm Museum Nowra HMAS Albatross www.destinationsjourney.com
Polish MiG-15 UTI

 

All of the displays are accompanied by descriptions and a detailed history of the FAA is provided as you progress around the museum.

There is a gift shop that also caters to the local RAN base so there is a good selection of merchandise available.

A great place to visit if you are interested in aviation or naval history.

Wings Over Illawarra 2018

RAAF F/A-18 Hornet Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com

Wings Over Illawarra 2018

This amazing Airshow was held at the Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park Rail. Located just south of Wollongong in  Shellharbour the setting was beautiful with the amazing Illawarra Escarpment providing a great backdrop to the show. Wings Over Illawarra 2018 had an excellent combination of warbirds, aerobatics and modern RAAF aircraft

We stayed in Wollongong the night before at Sage Hotel. Located near Wollongong Beach. We had a leisurely evening and morning before driving to the Airshow. Parking was well organised with two off site areas and shuttle buses running to the event.

Tickets

Having purchased tickets on-line entry was quick and easy after which we walked around the static displays dotted around the airfield. Unfortunately, many were parked on the far side of the airfield, so it was difficult to get a good view of them.

Historical Aircraft Restoration Society

The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society is based at the airport and had its hangers open and aircraft on display.  They have an impressive collection including a Qantas Boeing 747, Super Constellation, Neptune, Orion, DC4 and. Southern Cross replica. There was also a Catalina open for a walk through for a small $5 donation. A great experience having never been in one before. Nearby was an F111, Sabre, Hunter and many other aircraft.

Consolidated PBY5A Catalina Historical Aircraft Restoration Society www.destinationsjourney.com
Consolidated PBY5A Catalina

Air Display

The air display followed the advertised program. 

10:10

    • Opening Ceremony

10:30

    • RAAF Roulettes Formation Aerobatic Team
    • 2 x RAAF F/A-18 Hornets Arrive
    • MH-60R Seahawk Romeo
    • RAAF C27J Spartan

11:30

    • RAAF C-17 Globemaster III
    • Beech-18
    • Rebel 300
    • Boeing Stearman
    • North American T-6 Harvard
    • CAC CA-3 Wirraway

12:30

    • Paul Andronicou in the Extra 330SC
    • North American T-28 Trojan
    • Grumman TBM-3 Avenger
    • WWII Fighters
      • Hawker Hurricane
      • Supermarine Spitfire
      • CAC CA-18 Mk21 Mustang
      • Focke Wulf FW-190

13:45

    • Paul Bennet in the Wolf Pitts Pro
    • Marchetti S-211 Formation Display
    • Steadfast Yakovlev Yak 3U
    • Russian Roolettes Formation Team

14:30

    • Pitts Model 12
    • Sky Aces Formation Aerobatics Display Team
    • L-39C Albatros
    • BAC Jet Provost T5A

15:30

    • RAAF Hawk 127
    • Matt Hall in the MXS-R
    • CAC CA-27 Mk32 Sabre
    • RAAF F/A-18 Hornet with “Wall of Fire”

16:30

    • Show Close
RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com
RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 36 SQN RAAF Wings Over Illawarra 2018 DestinationsJourney.com
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III
Aeromacchi S-211 Wings Over Illawarra 2018 DestinationsJourney.com
Aeromacchi S-211
Grumman Avenger Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com
Grumman Avenger
Beech 18 Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com
Beech 18
Beech 18 Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com
Beech 18
RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team Pilatus PC-9 Wings Over Illawarra 2018 www.destinationsjourney.com
RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team

This was an excellent mix of display types and kept everyone entertained for the day. For a better view and good seating next time, we will splash out and buy gold passes. This guarantees front row seats in the grandstand at the centre of the rune way.

Ironfest – Lithgow New South Wales

Steampunk

Ironfest is an annual event held in Lithgow New South Wales. It showcases many genres of cosplay and historical re-enactment. The venue is the Lithgow Showgrounds which gives the event plenty of scope to place similar themes together. We found that it was easy to find a specific performance or theme, using the timetable and map provided on Ironfest’s website.

Cosplay and Steampunk at Ironfest

As you meander around Ironfest, you will meet the characters and participants that make this kind of event special. People dressed as steampunk and wastelanders predominated, although there were plenty of US Civil war veterans and Vikings.

Historical Re-Enactment at Ironfest

World War 2

In the World War Two section, Germans, Russians and American camps were all next to each other and getting on amiably. Even the French Resistance was represented. The detail in the camps was amazing and the historical accuracy is something they were all dedicated to.

Military Equipment

There was a huge section of military vehicles, from World War Two and later. There were several examples of Ferret and Saracen as well as a huge Abbot 105mm self-propelled artillery piece and an M3 Stuart tank.

Vikings

Towards the rear of the show grounds was a Viking camp. Interested people were able to try out Viking chain mail and weapons. The camp was working as a real Viking setting, with cooking and cleaning done historically. Washing was demonstrated using wood ash and lots of physical effort to clean clothes. There was even a minstrel playing a lute.

US Civil War

Near the Vikings was a US Civil War camp, with both sides present. Again historical accuracy was very important from tents to equipment. The first display in the main arena involved these people demonstrating their muskets and canons in a mass firepower display. In addition to the smoke generated the noise was amazing.

Main Arena – Tourney Ground

Major activities took place in the arena. The MC was the Iron Monk, who did a fantastic job, managing to keep things reasonably on time as well as being very entertaining. After the mass firepower display, the knights demonstrated their skill at arms. This was all done on horseback as it would have been in medieval times. They used lances and swords to hit targets, including rings and cantaloupes thrown into the air.

The view from the grandstand was great with no problems being able to see the events.  There was room between the grandstand and the arena, if you wanted to get closer to the action. Neither area was overcrowded and the crowd was very relaxed and enjoying themselves at Ironfest.

Later in the day the medieval foot soldiers put on a display of sword fighting. Initially as one on one and then as a large melee.  They all seemed to be having fun and played the part very well.

If you weren’t keen on the historical food on offer, there was plenty of modern food stalls available. We had a fantastic time at Ironfest and can see why people keep going back each year.  A great day out in Lithgow.

For other places to visit in New South Wales, please read some of our other stories.

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