HARS Aviation Museum honours those who serve

Serving military personnel, veterans and civil emergency service members are invited to a special event featuring historic military aircraft planned for the April Tarmac Days staged by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in the run up to Anzac Day commemorations.

Up to five former Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy aircraft will power up to stage a ground parade on Friday, 10 April from 11 am to midday with another three former warplanes on static display.

In the lead-up to Anzac Day organisers Professor Michael Hough and John Stead, both Army veterans, have arranged the special day to honour those who serve through both military and civil support.

HARS Aviation Museum is the only location in Australia able to start up and parade a C-47/ Dakota transport (World War 2 era), Grumman Tracker submarine hunter (Cold War era), De Havilland Caribou transport (Vietnam War era) plus Lockheed Neptune and Orion marine surveillance (1960s to 2000s). It’s hoped also a former Vietnam era Huey helicopter from the HARS fleet can fly for the event.

Other HARS military warbird jets available for inspection, but not running, will be a Vampire, an original Avon Sabre and a supersonic swing-wing F-111C. 

Prof Hough said RSL sub-branches and clubs from the Illawarra, South Coast and Sydney have pledged donations to cover fuel costs for the Anzac Day flights and tarmac displays.

“Anyone wearing service medals will be admitted free to the Tarmac Day (the usual admission fee is $A35/ head for the day),” Prof Hough said, “and any service as well as military is to be recognised. 

“A simple morning tea will be offered to those a wearing medals as they arrive. From 1100-1230 HARS will operate a range of military heritage airframes which correspond to different eras of service.

“At each stage anyone wearing military or service medals will have the opportunity to have a group photo taken with that airframe.”

The HARS Tarmac Day event will finish at 1230 so organisers can join guests from the southern RSL network sub-branches and clubs for a lunch at Albion Park RSL Club.

Warbirds to fly an Anzac Day aerial salute

Under a longstanding tradition, HARS Aviation Museum provides an historic aircraft flyover of Anzac Day assemblies.

Subject to operational and air traffic control issues the aerial parade will fly above Anzac Day marches at Shellharbour, Kiama, Kangaroo Valley, Nowra, Wollongong and southern Sydney suburbs

The parade will comprise a Caribou, C-47 Dakota, former Iroquois “Huey” helicopters, the Neptune and Orion.

Noting that the Dakota is more than 80 years old and the Caribou was built over 60 years ago, history can attest that these historic aircraft may not always cooperate on the day, despite the dedicated and experienced contribution of volunteer maintenance engineers at HARS

Due to the number of aircraft with vastly different performance parameters and operational capability, they will take off from HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport at staged times before forming up to conduct circuits over the locations at different times.

After the flights the aircraft will return to Shellharbour Airport to form part of the display of heritage aircraft for visitors to HARS Aviation Museum.

Prof Hough said HARS is seeking additional donations to offset the cost of this year’s Anzac Day flyovers.

“Due to the rapidly rising fuel costs, HARS is requesting donations towards covering the steep and still unpredictable fuel costs for the Anzac Dey events. If you can help please go to hars.org.au/donations,” Prof Hough said.

Visit HARS

Closed only on Christmas Day, HARS Aviation Museum offers a largely undercover and hands-on experience for visitors at its Shellharbour Airport hangars.

HARS Aviation Museum is open from 9.30 to 3.30 daily for tours hosted by informative volunteer guides (last tour 2 pm). It is located at Shellharbour Airport, off the old Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail and just a short walk from the railway station.

Visitors can make a meal of it when they drop into Café Connie (9.30 am to 2 pm) where the menu offers a great value selection of delicious home-made hot and cold foods plus excellent coffee.

Details of check-in at HARS Aviation Museum at www.hars.org.au