HARS coast flight to mark 90th birthday of the legendary DC-3

A flight along the South Coast and Sydney coast from Shellharbour to Long Reef and back will mark the 90^th anniversary of the legendary Douglas DC-3 airliner on Wednesday, 17 December.

Volunteers from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) plan to use their former (military version) Dakota A65-94 in place of their actual (civil version) DC-3 which is undergoing planned maintenance.

The plan is for the aircraft to depart from HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport for the tribute flight north to Long Reef (Northern Beaches), fly toward the Sydney Harbour Bridge, orbits over the harbour, return to Long Reef and then track back to Shellharbour.

The pilots plan to take off from Shellharbour Airport at 10.30am.

The time and order may change on the day, subject to aircraft serviceability, prevailing weather and air traffic control realities.

HARS Aviation Museum President Bob De La Hunty said the flight will take place in the C-47 / Dakota (registration VH-EAF) which, incidentally, turned 80 this year.  The 17th (if you ignore the date-line) is also the 122nd anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight.

More than 10,000 C-47/ Dakota aircraft were built during the Second World War as a military version of the legendary DC-3, which first flew in 1935 and revolutionised airline transport. HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour has three airworthy DC-3/C-47 Dakotas on show with another undergoing restoration. The museum also has a rare DC-2 with a remarkable history now undergoing restoration.

The HARS Dakota A65-94 was built during World War 11 in Oklahoma City in USA in early 1945 and delivered to US Army Air Force on 20 April 1945 then to the RAAF in May 1945.

It was flown by the RAAF in New Guinea and the South West Pacific theatre during WW11.  On 9 May 1963 A65-94 was part of C flight, 2SQN based at RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia and was used to make the first RAAF operational mission of the Vietnam War, delivering food and medical supplies to refugees fleeing the fighting.

It was obtained by HARS after it was decommissioned from the RAAF in 2000 at 55 years of age with some 14,600 flying hours.

After the tribute flight Dakota A65-94 will be back at Shellharbour Airport on display as one of some 60 aircraft of historical significance for visitors undertaking guided tours at HARS Aviation Museum.

HARS Aviation Museum visitor information

The largely undercover HARS Aviation Museum is open from 9.30 to 3.30 daily, except Christmas Day, for guided tours. It is located at Shellharbour Airport, just off the old Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail and a short walk from the railway station. 

Details of check-in and cost at www.hars.org.au