Located at Dubbo Airport, just a ten minute drive from town, the Flying Doctor Visitor Experience is easy to get to. From the entrance to the airport, simply follow the signs to the visitor centre, where a large car park allows easy parking.
Flying Doctor Visitor Experience
Housed in a modern building, the museum uses state of the art audio visual displays to explain the history and operation of the RFDS.
RFDS History
The first room contains a large central audio visual display, surrounded by information boards. These detail the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which gives you a great insight into what the RFDS has achieved.
The History of the RFDS
Information Board Detailing the History of the RFDS
An Information Board Detailing the History of the RFDS
Information Board Detailing the History of the RFDS
Walk Through Displays
Just outside the history display is a replica of a King Air interior. This is a great display because it allows you to see what the RFDS aerial ambulance looks like. The interior is all set out, including the beds, medical equipment and pilot’s seat.
Replica Interior of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air
Interior of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air Replica
Replica Interior of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air
Replica Interior of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air
Items on Display
Several display cases show some of the older equipment used, which contrasts with the latest technology on display.
Old Radios on Display
Medicines and Old Radios on Display
RFDS Treatment Room
Aircraft on Display at the Flying Doctor Visitor Experience
A retired Beechcraft Super King Air takes up one corner of the large auditorium, showcasing the main tool of the RFDS. A barrier surrounds the plane, but you are able to climb stairs to see into the interior.
In the Outback Trek Café, a de Havilland Fox Moth biplane replica contrasts with the modern King Air, demonstrating how far things have come since the early days of aviation.
Beechcraft B200 Super King Air VH-MVY of the Royal Flying Doctor Service
de Havilland Fox Moth VH-UQM Replica
Audio Visual Display
The centrepiece of both main rooms is an audio visual display. In the entry room, an interactive display allows you to hear people’s stories, while using headphones and a touch screen. In the large auditorium, a huge visual display runs a video, detailing medical emergencies and how they were treated. This gives a great insight into the RFDS operations and how important they are to remote locations around Australia.
Interactive Display
Large Visual Displays in the Auditorium
Outback Trek Café
After looking around the displays, the Outback Trek Café has a range of meals and refreshments, which is a great way to finish your visit. This area is spacious and provides a nice place to sit down and relax. An EH Holden used in the fund raising Outback Trek is on display here, along with the de Havilland Fox Moth biplane.
EH Holden at the Outback Trek Café
What Did We Think?
We though this was a great place to visit, because it shows the full history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in a modern setting. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in aviation or the RFDS.
Located at Albion Park, near Wollongong, HARS (previously Historical Aircraft Restoration Society) is a volunteer based aviation museum, housing one of Australia’s best collections of aircraft.
Well sign posted, with on street parking outside the entrance, it is easy to find, with the massive Boeing 747 being visible from some distance. Guarded by a Macchi MB 326 mounted on a pole, the actual entrance is also easy to find. As driving by we noticed that the museum had a tarmac day and took advantage of it. We had no regrets, great time!
Tours Available of HARS Aviation Museum
Open daily from 09:30 to 15:30 (except Christmas Day), the HARS Aviation Museum is different to others you may visit. Admission includes a guided tour through the premises, which owing to them being “working” hangars, requires an escort. The advantage of this approach is that you will not be hampered by barriers and you will be able to experience the aircraft and other displays in a way that is not possible elsewhere.
Several different tours are available, depending on tour preference. Current tour costs are found on HARS web site.
Museum Only
Admission to the museum with a guided tour through all the displays and hangars, with limited access to our Boeing 747-438.
Tarmac Days
Held outside the HARS hangars on the weekend of the second Friday of the month, Tarmac Days involve the static display of some aircraft. Members of the public are able to board and sit in some of the aircraft including the cockpits of aircraft like the F-111C fighter bomber and Neptune submarine hunter.
We chose this tour, as it enabled us to see all of the aircraft HARS own, including the B747.
B747 Premium Tour (includes museum tour)
Hosted by experienced former engineers and operating crew of this aircraft – Pilot, Engineer and Cabin Crew, this is a comprehensive tour of the record-breaking VH-OJ.. This is a detailed exposition of the aircraft and involves exploration of the cargo holds, electronic equipment centre and a “power on” tour of the Flight Deck. It is not suitable for children.
B747 Cockpit Tour (includes museum tour)
Enjoy an hour in the cockpit of VH-OJA hosted by a pilot who will explain the cockpit in detail and will take you through normal and non-normal procedures. Sit in the front seat and actually handle the controls. Limited to two guests per tour, it is not suitable for children.
B747 Wing Walk (includes museum tour)
View the 747 from a completely different perspective. With the beautiful Illawarra escarpment in the background, the walk will take you about 16 meters (52 feet) along the right wing. Limited to six guests, it is not suitable for children.
HARS Aircraft Collection
Auster J5G Autocar
Acquired by the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross and originally owned by Kingsford Smith Aviation, Auster J5G Autocar A11-300 represents one of the 2 Autocars the RAN owned.
In addition to its beautiful restoration,it is fully airworthy.
Auster J5G Autocar HARS Aviation Museum A11-300 Royal australian Navy
Boeing 747
HARS acquired The City of Canberra on 8 March 2015 as a gift from Qantas after Qantas cancelled a plan to retire her to an ‘aircraft graveyard’ in Victorville, California and instead donated the historic aircraft to HARS to be preserved.
The City of Canberra was in service for 25.3 years, flew 13,833 flights, carried 4,094,568 passengers and has flown nearly 85 million kilometres, which is equivalent to 110.2 return trips to the moon.
Manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1959 and 1963, the Commonwealth Aircraft CA-28 Ceres was a crop-duster aircraft. The aircraft was a development of the Wirraway trainer of World War 2.
The 35th aircraft manufactured, A84-435 entered service with the RAAF in late 1956. Serving with No 1 Basic Flying Training School at Point Cook until 1968 she was then transferred to 76 Sqn as a Forward Air Control aircraft.
This airworthy aircraft serves for flight training HARS pilots.
The second Avon Sabre built after the prototype, A94-901 was the first Sabre in RAAF service in July 1954.
A94-901 served with various RAAF Squadrons and was part of the 76 Squadron RAAF Black Panthers Aerobatic Team from 1961 to 1965 based at Williamtown. Before restoration to static display by Hawker De Havilland at Bankstown and sent HARS, A94-901 was a gate guardian at Fishermans Bend.
Part of the Boeing de Havilland Collection it is on permanent loan to HARS.
Built in 1945 by Consolidated at its New Orleans plant, this PBY-6A c/n 2043 and delivered to the US Navy in 1945. It was later sold as surplus to the Aircraft Instrument Corporation and placed on the US Civil Register as N9562C. Transferred to Chile it flew with several companies until placed in storage in 1960 for twenty years. Retrieved from storage it began operations as a water bomber with registration CC-CCS. While firefighting in 1985 it sank into a lake, followed by salvage and a rebuilt. After several more owners it joined the HARS collection.
The Corby CJ-1 Starlet is a single seat, amateur-built aeroplane designed in the 1960s by Australian aeronautical engineer John Corby. The CJ-1 Starlet’s structure is primarily wood and finished with fabric. Although mostly built from plans,some parts are available as well.Additionally Aircraft Spruce & Specialty offer materials kits for the design.
Delivered on 1st August 1966 A3-42, an IIIO(F) interceptor served with 75 Sqn at Butterworth, Malaysia until late 1969. The aircraft then went to 76 Sqn at Williamtown before allocation to 2OCU (Fighter Operational Conversion Unit). It then underwent conversion to a ground attack variant. Following service with 77 Sqn it was retired in October 1987 and used as an apprentice training aid to RAAF Base Wagga Wagga. All Mirages were retired and replaced with F/A-18 Hornets by 1988.
HARS acquired the aircraft in March 2015 and whilst airworthy the intention is to restore it to a taxi able condition.
Built in 1957 from a mix of new spare parts and an older fuselage at Archerfield QLD, HARS Tiger Moth (VH-DHV) is part of the Boeing Havilland Collection on permanent loan to HARS.
Construction of both of HARS Vampires (A79-637 and A79-665) was in Australia at de Havilland’s Bankstown factory in the 1950s. Intended for training prospective fighter pilots both are both two seater versions.
Both aircraft were in RAAF service through the 1950s and 1960s which included time with the RAAF Aerobatic Team,the TELSTARS. The RAAF disposed of them in the early 1970s.
Previously owned by Father Jeremy Flynn and purchased by HARS in 1997, A79-637 is undergoing restoration to airworthy condition. Owned by several museums after RAAF disposal, A79-665 became part of the HARS collection in 2007. Although not airworthy, it is taxi-able.
A79-637 De Havilland DH-115 Vampire T-35 in RAAF Aerobatic Team Colours TELSTARS
de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover
Built in 1951, the HARS Drover and had many owners over the years before Hawker De Havilland purchased it back in 1981 as an apprentice restoration project. She flew again in July 1986 and is airworthy.
Boeing placed the aircraft in the operational care of HARS in 2000 following its acquisition of Hawker De Havilland.
The museum has two de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou, A4-210 and A4-234, which entered RAAF service in late 1964 and 1965 respectively. Both are Vietnam veterans where they were part of RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam.
A4-234 was the last RAAF aircraft out of Vietnam and flew home to Australia in February 1972. Retired from the RAAF service in late 2009 both aircraft have around 19,000 flight hours each. Both aircraft are airworthy and are a flying memorial to all Australian Service personnel who served in the Vietnam War.
The HARS DC4 was built by Douglas Aircraft Company Inc. at Santa Monica and delivered to the U.S.A.A.F. (US Army Air force) on 14/5/1945 seeing war service as 44-9126 and used for troop and cargo transport till 1971, when she was retired and stored at Davis Montham Air Base in Arizona. She was sold in 1975 and she had many subsequent owners, including being impounded twice – once in the USA for non-payment of fees and once in the Bahamas for alleged smuggling. Ultimately brought to Australia in 1995 for Pacific island freight operations, until being stored at Archerfield and donated to HARS in 2008. Flown to Albion Park in December 2009, HARS plan is to restore her to full airworthiness in a passenger configuration.
The museum’s Canberra was built in Britain in late 1955 as a T4 Trainer and used by the RAF as WT492. She was transferred to the RAAF in mid-1956 and became A84-502. As a Trainer, she has a solid nose, while the operational Canberra bombers had a Perspex blister for the bomb aimers.
She spent time with 2 Sqn RAAF, ARDU (Aircraft Research and Development Unit), Woomera and 6 Sqn RAAF. Retired from front line service in 1964 it was then used as a training aid until 1983.
Acquired in 1983, it was stored in the open at the Australian Aviation Museum Bankstown until brought to Albion Park Rail in 2010 for complete static restoration.
Southern Cross is a flying close replica of the famous record breaking Southern Cross Fokker FV11B of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith from the 1920s and 1930s.
Built in South Australia in the period 1980 to 1987 as a tribute to Smithy, the aircraft toured Australia during the 1988 Bicentenary raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
She is a faithful replica built to modern standards using the traditional aircraft construction of steel tubing and timber with doped Irish Linen for the fuselage and an all wooden (spruce and plywood) wing. She is the largest “exact replica” aircraft in the world and has the largest one piece wing ever made in Australia.
On the 25th May 2002 at Parafield South Australia she lost a main wheel on takeoff. Landing on the one good wheel and the tail, the pilot kept the damaged wheel off the ground by keeping its wing high in the air. When the aircraft stopped the high wing came down and snapped off ~3m of the wing tip.
After considerable negotiation HARS acquired the aircraft from the SA Government in 2010. It is being restored to full airworthy status.
Bought by the RAAF as an “attrition replacement” in 1982 and re-built as an F-111C, A8-109 started life as an F-111A, built in 1967 for the USAF (Serial # 67-0109) and served in Vietnam.
Built in 1966 the HARS Tracker served on board the aircraft carrier USS Hornet during the Vietnam War, followed by the USS Ticonderoga and USS Kittyhawk.
She came to Australia in 1977 as one of a number of replacement Trackers to replace the nine destroyed in a hangar fire at HMAS Albatross (Nowra) in December 1976. She operated from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross at Nowra and lastly for coastal surveillance of the North West Shelf of Western Australia..
2006 HARS acquired Tracker #851 in 2006 from Qantas, where it was an apprentice training aid. The museum is in the process of rebuilding it to flying condition.
One of 50 Hunters delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1956 as XF437, it was originally an F6 fighter. In the early 1960s it was upgraded to a ground-attack capable FGA.9. This involved a more powerful Avon 207 jet engine of 10,500lbs, plus a new wing carrying hard points to for rockets or bombs.
Retired from RAF service in 1970 and refurbished by Hawker as a photo reconnaissance capable FR-74S it was one of four reconnaissance Hunters bought by the Singapore Air Force in 1971.
Retired in 1992 from the Singapore Air Force, it is airworthy and still fitted with a live Martin Baker ejection seat.
Built at Lockheed’s Burbank plant in California, USA., Neptune A89-273, a P2V-7 (later designated SP-2H) entered RAAF service in Townsville on the 10 March 1962.
Allocated to 10 Squadron,, as an Anti-Submarine Reconnaissance aircraft, it was one of 24 Neptunes operated by RAAF 10 and 11 Squadrons. Serving with 10 Squadron until its retirement in May 1977, A89-273 logged a total of 5476 flying hours. Placed in storage at Townsville awaiting disposal, it was purchase by a private owner. Acquired from them by HARS in 1988, and restored to flying condition, it has been on the Air Show circuit.
HARS commenced an extensive maintenance program on Neptune A89-273 in November 1996. Declared airworthy again in January 1998 with all maintenance undertaken by HARS own engineering team.
Maintained, operated and crewed by members of HARS, Neptune A89-273 VH-IOY is the only former RAAF Lockheed Neptune flying in Australia. Neptune A89-273 will continue in a flying condition, because of the large amounts of spare parts and engines available.
Neptune 566
Originally allocated to French Marine Escadrille 12, HARS second Neptune, 566 was one of 31 operated by the French armed forces from the late 1950s. The aircraft was eventually flown to the French Polynesian territorial island of Tahiti in the Pacific in 1983 and was stored at Papeete International Airport.
A representative from HARS attended a conference in Tahiti in 1987 and made contact with the French Embassy in respect to obtaining a French Neptune. Three Neptunes were located at Tahiti International Airport, one partially burnt, one stripped of its engines and the other (147566) was intact. These three aircraft were all that remained of Escardrille 12. Although missing some instruments, an inspection revealed Neptune 566 to be in sound condition. The aircraft was located in an area described as a swamp, into which it was slowly sinking.
The original intention was to acquire and dismantle the aircraft as a source of spare parts. HARS’ other Neptune (273) wold use these parts. After viewing the documentation however, the decision was made to restore the aircraft to flying condition in Tahiti and fly it back to Australia. An extensive overhaul just prior to decommissioning meant the aircraft was in excellent condition.
Transferred to HARS after further negotiations, Neptune 566 received the Australian civil register as VH-LRR,. In July 1989.Neptune 566 was ready for the ferry flight to Australia. After several public appearances at air shows, it was placed in storage and care at Tamworth. In September 1999 the aircraft was ferried from Tamworth to Bankstown followed by a flight in January 2003 to the HARS Aviation Museum where the overhaul work continues pending return to full flying status.
Built on 20 May 1978, and delivered to the RAAF on 04 Aug 1978. HARS Orion A9-753, has accumulated some 16,400 hours and participated in most RAAF P-3 operations. These include the search for the missing MH370 Airliner, Operation Gateway and numerous deployments to the MEAO (Iraq & Afghanistan).
Originally built as a C-121C for the USAF and delivered on 6 October 1955, VH-EAG ‘Southern Preservation’ served for 22 years until its relegation to storage at Davis Monthan Air Base at Tucson, Arizona in June 1977.
HARS started a five year project in November 1991 to restore 54-0157 and deliver it to Australia. On 3 February 1996 the Super Constellation VH-EAG arrived in Sydney after an incident free flight over the Pacific of 39.5 hours flying time. Stops on the delivery flight to Australia included Oakland, Honolulu, Pago Pago and Nadi.
Lockheed C-121C Super ConstellationLockheed C-121C Super Constellation
Westland Wessex
First flown in June 1963, Westland Wessex HAS 31B is ex-RAN N7-222 WA222 832. Previously part of the RAN Fleet Air Arm Museum, it was placed in HARS Naval Heritage Flight care along with other ex-RAN aircraft in December 2018. It still bears the name of the last ship it served on, HMAS Success.
It crashed in November 1974 while attached to HMAS Stalwart. Embarked in HMAS Success in 1986 and then used as training aid at RAAFSTT Wagga Wagga. From December 2015 it was at the FAA 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
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
RAN Fairey Gannet AS.1
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
De Havilland Sea Venom F.A.W. MK 53
McDonnell Douglas A4G Skyhawk
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
Radioplane MQM-33
GAF Turana Target Drone
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
Bristol 171 Sycamore HR.50
Bell 47G Sioux
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Aerospatiale AS350 Squirrel
Westland Wessex Mk31B
Westland Sea King Mk 50
RAN Bristol 171 Sycamore HR Mk 51
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
6 Inch Gun From HMAS Melbourne (I)
HMAS Sydney Bell
CAC CA-22 Winjeel prototype
HMAS Melbourne 32FT Cutter
Douglas C-47A Dakota
Aermacchi MB-326H
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.
