Historic military aircraft to stage HARS salute to ANZAC Day

A parade of former military aircraft will stage a series of overflights along the South Coast, Illawarra and Southern Sydney as members of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) stage an aerial salute to Anzac Day assemblies. 

HARS aircraft planned for the flights are two World War Two former RAAF Dakota transports, a former RAAF marine surveillance Orion and two Iroquois “Huey” helicopters which have RAN, RAAF and Army service. They will be accompanied by a former military L39 Albratros fast jet.

Noting that the Dakota is more than 80 years old and the Huey helicopters were built over 50 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 HARS Anzac formation flights the aircraft will return to Shellharbour Airport to form part of the display of heritage aircraft for visitors to HARS Aviation Museum. 

HARS President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Hunty thanked RSL clubs and RSL sub branches which helped make the flypasts possible through contribution to the cost of fuel for the HARS aircraft.

Hueys over Bomaderry, Kiama, Berry, Nowra, Huskisson and Shoalhaven RSL

The two Huey helicopters will conduct the flypast over Bomaderry at 9.55am, Kiama at 10.20am, Berry at 10.30am, Nowra at 10.40am and Huskisson at 10.50am the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven RSL Club assemblies.

Shellharbour flypast

The two Dakotas and Hueys will form the HARS formation over Shellharbour, aiming to conduct three passes from 8am.

Wollongong, Kiama and Kangaroo Valley flypasts

The Orion, accompanied by the L39 Albratros, will stage flights over Wollongong, Kiama and Kangaroo Valley, aiming to be overhead the Wollongong’s McCabe Park just after 10 am, along with the Huey helicopters.

Bundeena, Cronulla and Oatley flypasts

The two Dakotas will form the HARS formation, flying north along the coast to Bundeena at 10.35am, then Cronulla at 10.40am and then on to Oatley.

Visit HARS Aviation Museum

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