Aviation museums

[jb747]

The B52s and their refueller aircraft KC135s (I think) were regular visitors to Darwin in the mid 1980s, hence a B52 was donated to the museum. Also of interest was a 75 squadron Mirage fighter that was recovered many years later after flaming out circa 1985, just prior to FA18s came to Darwin

OT....but the Mirage in question was one of the dual seaters. The bloke in the back seat at the time was a navy pilot, who had orginally been posted to the A-4, but when the government decided to can them, he was amongst the group that moved to the RAAF. I don't know whether he ever flew the Mirage, but he did fly the F18.

 

[jastel]

I've long wanted to visit the Udvar-Hazy Centre at the Smithsonian and, finally, I should be able to wrangle a visit next week. Can't wait!

Did you see my post on the previous page? Pretty current info.

Pictures etc in the Trip Report

You will enjoy it.

I'll explane my North American Trip

I have posted this in the Aviation Museum Thread last week but did not include any pictures...so I will try to add some in here and make it a trip report. We all know pictures are better. Its my first report on here so apologies in advance for any stuff ups...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[jastel]

Well a recent trip ticked three more museums off the list.

South Australian Aviation Museum is near the port area of Adelaide, There are buses going nearby but I had a lift with a new friend. I went to ADL to meet the son of my Grandfathers Bomber Crew Captain from WW2, who I had recently found on Facebook. We spent a couple of days together swapping stories and photos etc.

F111 - this was swapped since my last visit about 10 years ago, the previous camouflage coloured plane was the only F111 that had seen action so Canberra took it. This white one was exchanged for it, but this plane was based at RAAF Edinburgh so it is more SA themed anyway.



F18 Hornet



The Great Air Race, some original artifacts



Mezzanine view, note the white F111



A model of a Halifax III, like my grandfather flew in. This plane is actually painted in HIS squadron colours and codes...he flew this plane "C". Well not this plane but the real one.



A life sized F35 Model used by BAE for radar and missile testing.



Caribou

 

[jastel]

The Vickers Vimy Museum is at Adelaide Airport, on the ground arrivals level you walk away from the Taxi rank end and towards the Artura Hotel end of the building. It is in a room down there, it is outside the main terminal building just a bit further around.
This is the WW1 Bomber that Ross and Keith Smith, with mechanics James Bennet and Wally Schiers flew from England to Australia in 1919 in under 30 days and won 10000 pounds and worldwide fame.



G-EAOU God Elp All Of Us...as the crew said on leaving.



Sir Ross Macpherson Smith, WW1 Hero.



Sir Keith Smith, his older brother.



James Bennett



Wally Schiers



The Outside area

 

[jastel]

We also visited the graves of the Smith Brothers and Schiers, these 3 were locals from Adelaide so that is why the plane is here...the AWM DIDNT want it back then.

Statue of Ross outside the Adelaide Oval, others names are on the back








Sir Ross Smith Grave



Sir Keith Smith, family plot next to Ross's.



Wally Schiers

 

[jastel]

Then to Perth and amongst other things saw the West Australian Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek.
This is very easy to get to, take Mandurah train line to Bull Creek and then walk a few hundred metres to the museum.

This Spitfire is at the entrance, it is fake...the real one is inside. Lots of memorials behind.



Lancaster



Engine cover removed showing the Merlin



In the Tail Gunners seat - I did the inside tour...it cost extra.



coughpit



Painted as JO - D for "Digger" of 463 Squadron, actual plane never flew in the war but was used by the French in the Pacific for search and rescue. NX622 is only a few serials number away from NX611 Just Jane in England that does taxy rides with the engines running.



A Copy of the Book of Rememberance of 466/462 Sqns which was my Grandfathers one in WW2



F18 Hornet



Tornado from RAF, only one outside of UK supposedly.

 

[kookaburra75]

A little museum in the US that I hadn't heard of before. Definitely on my list with gliders and motorbikes too

Home - Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

WAAAM - Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum

www.waaamuseum.org

 

[jastel]

Saw a brochure about this one when I was at the Sprucegoose. Ran out of time even thought it was sort of on the way back to Seattle, would have a been a more scenic drive as well I assume.

 

[markis10]

NZ flew their first C130H into Wigram yesterday to join their museum, the airfield closed many years ago and left them with 500ft of grass……not bad for an old girl of 60

 

[jb747]

I’m going to Christchurch in a couple of weeks. I’ll have to get out to Wigram.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I’m going to Christchurch in a couple of weeks. I’ll have to get out to Wigram.

Home - Air Force Museum of New Zealand

airforcemuseum.co.nz

Hercules Open Day Line Up - Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Located upstairs in our Cochrane Gallery, our Orion exhibition traces the origins and service history of the RNZAF’s fleet of maritime aircraft which performed exceptional service for almost 60 years...

airforcemuseum.co.nz

We are delighted to let you know that members of No. 40 Squadron will be our special guests at our Hercules open days from 11- 15 April.Members of the flight crew and the planning team behind the historic landing of NZ7001 in February will deliver special talks twice a day in our Theatre so you will be able to hear about all the planning and practice that went into preparing our airfield to land the Hercules safely for the final time.They’ll also be able to answer any curly questions you may have about the Herc – within reason!

NZDF press release

NZ7001 was the first of three C130H Hercules aircraft to arrive at RNZAF Base Auckland,Whenuapai in 1965 and the fleet was quickly put to work transporting personnel from NZ Army161 Battery and aid to Vietnam
<snip>
NZ7001 has earned a special place in New Zealand aviation history, serving the RNZAF at homeand around the world, delivering troops, cargo and humanitarian aid for the past 60 years. Theaircraft has clocked up more than 33,000 accident-free flying hours and 20,000 landings
<snip>

 

[PERLHR]

Heading to Darwin early May. I think from what I see on line, the museum by the airport is rather good. Anyone been?

 

[jrfsp]

Heading to Darwin early May. I think from what I see on line, the museum by the airport is rather good. Anyone been?

Would have been about 15 years ago now, wasnt bad, but cant remember too much, probably kill an hour or two

 

[TonyDoh]

Heading to Darwin early May. I think from what I see on line, the museum by the airport is rather good. Anyone been?

It is quite a good museum, situated in a hangar on the RAAF side of the airfield. It has a fairly comprehensive aircraft display. The centrepiece is the USAF B52 bomber, with the rest of the aircraft collection displayed around it. The display includes an F111, F/A 18, Mirage, and many more, including an old AH 1 Huey Cobra. With the hangar being quite full, they have a P3 Orion on the tarmac outside.

They also have a major theme around World War 2 and the bombing of Darwin with quite a few artefacts, along with smaller displays relating to Vietnam.

I have visited this museum quite a few times over the years, and would recommend it.

 

[straitman]

It is quite a good museum, situated in a hangar on the RAAF side of the airfield. It has a fairly comprehensive aircraft display. The centrepiece is the USAF B52 bomber, with the rest of the aircraft collection displayed around it. The display includes an F111, F/A 18, Mirage, and many more, including an old AH 1 Huey Cobra. With the hangar being quite full, they have a P3 Orion on the tarmac outside.

They also have a major theme around World War 2 and the bombing of Darwin with quite a few artefacts, along with smaller displays relating to Vietnam.

I have visited this museum quite a few times over the years, and would recommend it.

The last time I was there was about 7-8 years ago. I was very impressed.

Whilst looking at things a sweaty guy wandered up and said hello. It was someone (Ian Taylor) who I had flown with years earlier in No 9 Sqn RAAF. He had just gone for a run as he had flown a QF 737 into Darwin and was staying the night at the same hotel as us.

Whilst chatting we looked down and saw a memorial for another friend (Ross Fox) who had been killed in an F-18 midair collision. Tails had been best man at Ross Fox's wedding. We did catchup later that night. He is also deceased now unfortunately.

Small world isn't it.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Visited the Wigram CHC RANZ museum for a few hours around mid day Monday. Been ~7 years since I last visited. At that time a storage hanger with unrestored aircraft and other items was available to view, but not this time.

For 4 days the Wigram museum, had the C130 on display in a WW2 hanger and talks by crew (pilot & navigator) in a theatre. After this will be unavailable to view, as is the P3 Orion, for a long time. To get into this old hanger the C130 (tall) tail has been removed.

The ~60min talk by the pilot who landed the C130, and navigator, on the planning and execution for the last flight was very technical. Probably too technical for most, but I found it very interesting. Was only the day was it decided to land, based on weather. They left Woodbourne at 15:00 and arrived at Wigram ~14:00

Such is the sad lack of capability for RNZAF that the AU RAAF did a 3 day survey Dec 2023 of Wigram. The RAAF produced map and landing approach charts. Are 25ft obstacle (trees) and the start and end of the grass landing strip. Some work was done on the strip to level it out.

Normally about 3000 ft is needed for a C130 to land. The RAAF plotted out 2034 ft available. Planned was ~1200 ft needed. Due to the head wind and better braking that they stopped in 897ft with a 97 kts indicated air speed. Ground is rock hard under the small layer of grass/soil. They had a planned touch & go, before the full stop landing.

Practices landings were done at Whenuapai (Auckland) on hard seal and Woodbourne (Blenheim) on grass. Planned was a 6° approach slope instead of the more normal 2°. On landing they had all 4 engine prop’s in reverse pitch, where as normally they only have 2. They reduced the weight by 7000lbs for the landing. All that weight is now back in the aircraft.