Warbird Information Exchange

There is a good chance I might be able to visit the Sydney, Australia area at the end of Sept. for 7-10 days. I've never been there (Oz) before and so was looking for any suggestions on historic aviation related places/things to see - museums, restoration facilities, airfields with warbirds, etc.

I know there are several collections based in NSW but am unsure as to how far away from Sydney they actually are.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

TIA
Hiergehts

Hiergehts, no worries.

first thing is to make sure you understand the local lingo! cos we tend to shorten everything and some of the Aussie slang may have a different meaning where you come from. For example, in the US they refer to a certain part of a woman's anatomy as her fanny, being her butt, for god's sake, don't say to an Aussie girl that she has a nice fanny!!!!...oh wait, maybe give that a go, it could work for you......

Once you arrive in Sydney town, get settled in and once you have sorted yourself out, arrange a cab, tell the driver (very slowly) you need to go to the 'Cross' cos you are after some 'warbird action'. He'll say...'Warn Bird...warn bird....no worries'......Make sure you tattoo your blood group onto your arm somewhere so the medico's can see it real easy.

Once at the 'Cross' you will be amazed by all the Warn birds about the place, trust me, I'm an Aussie and we just love to look after you overseas visitors!

Seriously, get yourself out to Temora!!!

and if you get into any trouble, tell the cops you know Setter off this forum and you'll be right..........good luck!!!!

Cheers

Digger

I did a trip to Australia last November for the first time. It was certainly all very easy and friendly.

Near the centre of Sydney is the Powerhouse Museum with a small range of interesting aircraft - Bleriot, Moth, Catalina, Cierva Autogyro, ... I think the Maritime Museum also has some aviation stuff on display (I didn't have time to go there)

In the western suburbs, within reasonable reach of the rail network is the Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown. Also in the Bankstown area Robert Greinert has some P-47s under restoration. Further west is the Camden Museum of Aviation with some real rarities, e.g. Vengeance, Beaufighter, Firefly.

About 100+ miles north of Sydney at Williamstown is Fighter World - mostly historic jets here.

Finally about 50 miles south is the Australian Naval Aviation Museum at Nowra with a large well-presented collection covering the Australian Navy.

FWIW car hire is not too expensive so it is straightforward to get to the slightly further places.

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Tony Andrews

Whatever you do, don't fly home from Sydney on Oceanic flight 815.

You were watch the season finale last night weren't you? Don't say anything. I recorded the show and will be watching tonight.

Mike

_________________
Mike R. Henniger
Aviation Enthusiast & Photographer
http://www.AerialVisuals.ca
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Do you want to find locations of displayed, stored or active aircraft? Then start with the The Locator.
Do you want to find or contribute to the documented history of an aircraft? If so then start with the Airframes Database.

Digger,

Thanks for the pointers..



I thought they called women "Sheilas" done there?

Hiergehts

Hi

Well since I've been verbaled on this heres my take

I am happy to come down and play tour guide if you like as I need some more pics.

As Tony A says you need to do
Power house
Bankstown Museum
HARS
Camden
Nowra
Temora
Wangarratta
Robert Grienert
etc

I can do an Itinery for you and I can come down or not . Think about coming to Brisbane and leaving from here rather than just Sydney - the airfare Sydney - Brisbane is about $50 at the moment and I have spent more on Taxis in Sydney than getting there from Brisbane!!

Let me know
John
(Setter)

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

[quote="mrhennigerYou were watch the season finale last night weren't you? Don't say anything. I recorded the show and will be watching tonight.[/quote]

Am an indeed a big fan and engaged by the show. To me, it is one of the only intelligently-written shows on television today.

Plus, there is aviation content!

Mandatory on-topic discussion....how could a Beech 18 from Nigeria end up in the south Pacific / far-east Asia area??

John, good call about HARS - I didn't go there but I gather they are open on regular occasions. It's about halfway between Sydney and Nowra isn't it?

If I only had a few days and was mainly basing in Sydney I think I'd try to get to Canberra for two or three days. That gives the opportunity to visit the Australian War Memorial and make a couple of long but tolerable driving trips to Temora and Wangaratta. Each of these three are fantastic places in their own very different ways.

Of course Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane offer plenty of aviation museums too but it would take a lot more than 10 days to do the lot! I spent 3 1/2 weeks getting round them all.

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Tony Andrews

Hi Tony

Good to hear from you

Yes I think you must carry the marathon Man title for Aus museums. I suggested the Brisbane leg as you can nock that over in a couple of days as you know and is more doable than Melb or adelaide and easily escaped from as well + I live here!!!!

The Canberra trip is of course something I forgot- well spotted and a real must

Regards John

PS were the DVDs OK

_________________
Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Firstly, thanks to all for their replies and info.

Setter - thank you for offering to help out and even guide and such. That's very generous of you. The reason for going to Sydney is a good friend is visiting relatives there and has offered a place to stay (with them) for free while he's in OZ (for 3 weeks). He went to Europe last fall and stayed with relatives of mine. I'm on a limited budget (not really sure yet if I'll be able to go..) so that free room and all was a large factor in my choice. Also, never having been to Australia before I'd thought it might be as good a starting point as any other city there. Haven't decided about hiring a rental car yet.. If so most likely for a few days only as I'm trying to keep the costs to a minimum.

BTW - Any suggestions on airlines? If this works I'd be flying out of LA and it appears I have 3 choices; Quantas, Air NZ and UAL. I'm very familiar with United but have never flown with the other 2. The Air NZ flight stops in Auckland while Quantas is direct. The cost difference between Q & ANZ to Sydney is quite small and United is the most expensive by several hundred $.

This whole thing is still in the planning stages so I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Cheers,
Hiergehts

Hi

Not much to pick between Qantas and ANZ - my preference would be ANZ and get some of the Kiwis to show you some stuff in Aukland VERY good place to visit and see stuff in a short time

I will drive down and stay at my place in Sydney - yes i have one there - so we could look around and use my car

email me at parkerj@launch.net.au and we can work this out

John

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

Randy Haskin wrote:
"How could a Beech 18 from Nigeria end up in the South Pacific/Far East
Asia area"?

Probably the same way a mad englishman is doing it in a Piper Cub....
one stop at a time! It is an intriguing show Randy..although I wish they
would "pick up the pace" a bit! I wonder how many seasons will go by
before they reveal how the Beech battery still worked?

Setter,
Of course you could just save yourself some time since Hiergehts has
an agenda...and just LOAN him your Aston for 3 weeks!
THAT would be VERY generous!!!

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
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DBF

Airnutz

When I was at high school my "mate" borrowed my car and "did the deed "with his girlfriend in it - unfortunately he was spotted by the Deputy headmaster - who thought it was me (she was gorgeous and I wish it had been) But after I got caned my mate owned up.

Deputy called me into his Office and said to me "John you are a nice guy but NEVER in life lend your wife (I think he meant knowingly) or your car" Sage advice I have practiced ever since. As an aside the girlfriend was so impressed with my loyalty to my mate she started going out with me and we had a very memorable thing for a few years and were very close till the day she died. The moral of the story is - some things you never lend. If I'd had the Aston then he wouldn't have had to borow it - she would have been AWOL with me not him - she had a thing for nice cars - the car involved then was a Lotus Cortina.

So Mate nobody except the wife ever borrows the Aston - particularly the Aston - I am growing to really love that car - not as much as the wife but it's a close run thing !

Regards
John

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Air Vice Marshall
Sunshine State Air Farce

I am glad you didn't scare him with the Drop Bears.You are welcome down at Wangaratta for a look the place is a mess.
Crap evrywhere,there should be a few new aircraft here by then.
John talking about cars keep your eye open for an XB Coupe i want one.
Mick