Visitors will be in for a treat as the volunteers at HARS Aviation Museum present their monthly Tarmac Days (Friday, September 12 to Sunday 14th).
While open every day for guided tours, the Tarmac Days also allow visitors to watch engine runs and flights of selected vintage aircraft and also make special presentations.
HARS Vice President Maureen Massey said the plan is to fly the former RAN Grumman Tracker 844 on Friday and a former RAAF transport De Havilland Caribou A4-210 during Saturday.
“It’s a largely undercover facility, so visitors can enjoy their time with us in any weather,” Ms Massey said.
Engineers will be continuing their planned work on both the Southern Cross Replica and a former RAAF Dakota (VH-EAF) and, if completed, may fly or conduct engine runs with them on Saturday.
Book for Lawrence Hargrave presentation
In addition, a special presentation on Saturday will recognise the pioneering work of Lawrence Hargrave in developing several underlying principles of modern aviation – the demonstration of 'lift' with box kites at Stanwell Park beach, leading to the aerofoil concept, and the rotary engine after his recognition that wind alone would not be sufficient to guarantee lift.
Patron of the Lawrence Hargrave Society, Professor Michael Hough, will conduct a special tour of the Centre, located upstairs at HARS Aviation Museum adjacent to the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame.
To ensure a place for the two-hour presentation, which will start at 10.30am, and following tour please go to https://www.harsmuseumshop.
Legacy aircraft on show
New display arrangements on immediately adjacent tarmac areas will allow visitors to get up close to legacy aircraft including a Fokker Friendship F27 now in TAA livery, former RAAF Neptune 281 sub hunter, a DC-4 / C-54 that took part in the Berlin Airlift, an English Electric Canberra bomber and the Merlin twin turboprop business aircraft which police confiscated on its landing at Shellharbour Airport in 2015.
Tours through the maintenance hangar include standing beside an immaculately restored airworthy Victa Air Tourer plus the beautifully restored replica of the Southern Cross Fokker trimotor used for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s defiant first crossing of the Pacific back in 1928.
HARS at RAAF Richmond air show
Engineering work continues as HARS members prepare to participate at the RAAF Richmond air show on 27-28 September.
Subject to operational constraints, HARS will feature in the static display with a De Havilland Caribou, a Lockheed Neptune, a Dakota and the Southern Cross Replica Fokker FV11B.
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