HARS aviation museum news and aircraft rides

[Liberator]

The HARS aviation museum south of Sydney in the next 6months will have a few new events... such as their first ever cockpit open days, aircraft engine running days and best of all a first - ride in one of their Neptune maritime aircraft as it taxis on the ground.

See more on these great developments at - www.hars.org.au

[Pat Carry]

Pretty Cool stuff I would say. Isnt this the organization that flies the 707 or am I thinking of a different place?

[Mike]

Pretty Cool stuff I would say. Isnt this the organization that flies the 707 or am I thinking of a different place?

John Travolta?

He's the only private operator of a 707 that I know of!

Or are you thinking of the 707 that was ferried from Southend in the UK to the QUANTAS Museum a few years back?

[JDK]

HARS operate a Connie, and several other multi-engine types - including a Neptune, Catalina, Dakota and Caribou.

The 707 you're thinking of (that Mike's mentioned) is now grounded at the Qantas museum in Longreach, Queensland.

HARS details in the HARS link...

Regards,

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the info in regards to the 707. Sorry to hear its now grounded. Any particular reason its not flying any longer?

[BAJ]

Thanks for the info in regards to the 707. Sorry to hear its now grounded. Any particular reason its not flying any longer?

I believe the museum made a ration decision on a combination of cost, short runway length at Longreach, and that Ferry Certificate issued to bring her home to Australia effectively terminated once she landed at Longreach.

Others may have better info.

[JDK]

Think BAJ's on the money. Also the Qantas Founders' Museum doesn't currently operate aircraft. And, AFAIK, they are a separate entity to the airline. Lastly, the airline Qantas could not currently be seen to be operating a vintage jet given the financial and management issues they currently face.

http://www.qfom.com.au/

With the exception of external paint fading, the hot dry weather and low humidity of Longreach provide excellent conditions for long-term aircraft preservation. Retired Qantas engineers continue to maintain VH-XBA in flying condition and it is possible the aircraft will be seen again at air shows. Plans are in hand to build a very large sunshade over all the Qantas Founders Museum aircraft housed in the open. Your adminission fee helps pay towards the maintenance of the aircraft and other museum exhibits.

http://www.qfom.com.au/707.html

So if it's going to take time to fund a sunshade, fuel (and the rest!) is going to be arriving even later.

IMHO, it's terrific that HARS is able to fund the operation of a Connie; a four-engine jet would need pockets that were exponentially deeper. All credit to HARS for what is achieved.

Regards,