Breathing new life into aircraft

Richard Payne and Louisa Rust

It sits in pride of place at the museum, but not that long ago, it was found rejected, left for scrap metal and infested with birds.

The Lockheed Super Constellation Aircraft has had a colourful history.

Part of a fleet that revolutionised air travel in the 1940s and 1950s, it was originally built for the US Air Force, but in the 1980s, it was designated scrap metal.

Fortunately, in 1990 the Lockheed Super Constellation Aircraft was discovered in Arizona by Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) members and at a cost of over $2 million was restored to its former glory.

Now it is the last flying Lockheed Super Constellation in the world.

Residents from the Shellharbour area will be able to see this aircraft in action when HARS hosts the second annual Wings Over Illawarra museum open day.

With guest aircraft being flown in from the Temora Aviation Museum, HMAS Albatross and the RAAF, event organisers are hoping for a crowd of around 25,000 people as the famed aviation museum opens its doors to the general public.

“The day provides a unique opportunity for the whole family to view up close some of the aircraft that helped shape Australia’s aviation history,” Museum chairman Michael Hough said.

“People can see first hand what’s involved in restoring these beautiful aircraft to their original flying condition.

“As well as the guest aircraft we have a number of crowd favourites, like a Neptune Bomber and a Catalina on show.

“I think it will take people around three hours to get around everything on the site,” Mr Hough said.

“It is a great day for the entire family.”

As well as a host of aircraft, the HARS Open Day will feature a range of vintage cars, motorbikes and antique farm machinery.

The defence forces and the Rural Fire Service will also be on hand to run a number of demonstrations.

The second annual Wings Over Illawarra Open Day will take place on Saturday, March 8 from 9.30am at the Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park.

Admission to some areas is free. Admission to the aircraft area is $5. Onsite parking is $5.