Wings Over the Illawarra

The renowned Super Constellation has long since been retired from commercial service in Australia but this vintage aircraft along with a host of others owned by society of dedicated aviation enthusiasts will take to the skies during Wings Over the Illawarra, a major air pageant being held at the Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park, on February 24.

Organised by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in conjunction with the Shellharbour City Council, the air pageant will feature fly pasts of the “Connie” – just one of four such airworthy aircraft in the world – RAAF Roulettes, a 1945 Catalina known as the “Black Cat Felix” and a Lockheed Neptune, according to John Martin, Administration Manager, HARS.

[Pictured: This fully restored Super Constellation will take to the skies during Wings Over the Illawarra on Feb 24.]

Far more aircraft will be on static display inside the society’s purpose-built hangar located at the regional airport south of Wollongong including a first production circa 1956 Sabre Jet that took HARS volunteers some eight years to restore.

Another veteran restored by HARS members and the oldest aircraft owned by the non profit group is a 1940 DeHavilland Tiger Moth.  This restored bi-plane will also be on display during the day long event.

Between 40 and 60 aircraft are expected to be on show at Wings Over the Illawarra including a Hudson bomber from the Temora Aviation Museum.

We expect a large turnout for this event – the first function to be organised since HARS relocated to the regional airport in 2002 – with everyone from dedicated aviation enthusiasts to those who simply want to see excellent examples of Australia’s aviation heritage coming from many parts of Australia, said Martin.

Formed in 1979, HARS is a large group of unpaid volunteers who work together to collect, maintain, display and operate important examples of aircraft from Australian aviation history.

Ten of the 15 planes in the massive 60m by 50 m hangar built by HARS actually fly.  More are being restored to airworthiness and that’s the main difference between our collection of vintage aircraft and the collections held in the 15 or so other aviation museums in Australia, he said.   

[Pictured: HARS constructed the massive terminal through various fund raising programs and generous donations.]

Open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, the Australian Historical Flying Museum is already a major attraction for visitors to the Shellharbour region.

Some innovative incentive organisers and creative conference planners have even organised small group dinners inside the HARS hangar with the wing of the Super Constellation overhead proving to be a novel talking point.

The museum continues to receive and wholeheartedly welcomes donations of important aviation related items from menus and in-flight magazines to complete collections of aircraft manufacturers’ records and even entire planes, said Martin.

Construction begins today on a dedicated museum building which is expected to be finished by the end of the year.  A key exhibit will be the ongoing restoration of a veteran Bristol Beaufighter in the rear of the museum building, he said.

Two additional large-scale hangars will also be built to house the society’s expanding collection of aircraft.  Some of the aircraft obtained by the society are currently at other sites in Australia or even overseas as there isn’t enough room in the solo hangar that was built by HARS.

Travel industry personnel wishing to donate aviation-related memorabilia are invited to contact the society.  See www.hars.org.au

Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Editor