Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Guys, long time lurker first time poster (I think, I read so much and post so little I can't remember if I had an account so started another). The family and I are coming on a road trip on our October long weekend and I think I'll only be able to get them to one aviation related experience. For the Victorian based Wix'ers (or anone else with the relevant experience) should it be Point Cook RAAF Museum or Moorabin or another I haven't thought of? Point Cook piques my curosity but Moorabin has DFO nearby for Mrs Hobbes (assuming the reciever hasn't closed it down). Any help or pointers would be appreciated.

Rick

G'Day Rick,
Welcome to posting on WIX! Do you mean the NSW/ACT Labour Day Weekend? That's the 4th October, I think?

The RAAF Museum is open Tuesday - Sunday, and some holiday Mondays, but I don't think it'll be open on the 4th. Best days to visit are always Tues, Thurs and Sun where there's an 'interactive' - one of the museum's or a guest aircraft is flown and there's a pilot chat afterwards. There's a DFO and other blights near Essendon, which if you are coming from North of Melbourne can be swung by, but about 3/4 hour away.

http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/

Moorabbin is also an excellent day out, as well. Mark Pilkington's the man to advise there. The local DFO is actually on the airfield area, and you drive past to get to the museum. I vaguely recall hearing that it's only the DFO near the docks that's in trouble, but it's an area I carefully treasure my ignorance.

http://www.aarg.com.au/

Another option would be Tyabb, down on the Mornington Peninsular; the Old Aeroplane Co of Judy Pay is on the airfield, usually open to inspection if you ask nicely, and there's an antiques barn where one can deposit one's shopaholic, I understand. There's a number of other attractions, but the one I'd be remiss not to mention would be the B-24 Liberator Restoration at Werribee, 10 min from Point Cook.

Moorabbin, the B-24 both have limited opening, check first, while OACo keeps business hours, I'd advise 'phoning first.

I'm afraid I won't be available in early October, but if it's later we may be able to meet. My main suggestion would be to dump the missus in Melbourne, where she can have as much fun as she wants without either of you sweating overstays / early leaving, and take off to whatever you heart's desire. You can see Point Cook, Moorrabbin and Tyabb in a day - I've done it, but it's a lot.

Hope that helps,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

It is a hard call, I love the RAAF Museum at Point Cook its Australia's premier collection on Australia's most significant Aviation Heritage site (athough Defence will not permit you to enjoy and view much of the sites most important buildings!), and the B-24 is nearby making a Point Cook/Werribee visit an excellent combination.

Moorabbin's an excellent visit too but of course not quite the same presentation as the RAAF Museum, but you can get up and close at Moorabbin as against behind the rope or mesh fence so both are worth seeing in my view.

Moorabbin is open from 10-5 Saturday and Sunday, and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 to 4pm.

If you are coming on the weekend of 2-4 October I would recommend trying to get to Moorabbin as we have our Wings and Wheels exotic car show on, with over $3M of exotic Bugatti's on display from sloops to GrandPrix racers. - there is a higher entry price reflecting the rare car show, but well worth seeing, and on Sunday 3/10 we have a running Merlin, Cheetah, Heath-Scott and Rover Turbine to add to the enticement, and yes DFO is open on the way into the airport to drop the wife off for some shopping to ensure you have a few hours to view the museum.

http://www.aarg.com.au/wheels.htm

You can do Point Cook and Moorabbin in one day, and I personally would push for Sunday at "Point Cook" 10am-12.30pm, "B24" 1.00 - 1.30pm include lunch as a drive through along the way?, 1 hour travel to Moorabbin, "Moorabbin" 2.30pm - 5pm with the wife in DFO for 2 hours and $100 spending money -smiles.

I'm not sure when you arrive but assuming your departing Friday after work?

You could be cheeky and take the family to the Titanic display at the Melbourne Museum on Saturday and you can view the Duigan Replica hanging from the ceiling, but that might be too greedy smiles.

But to be fair - take the family to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat on the Saturday to the open air gold museum -easily the best tourism experience in Victoria.

If you are driving down and leaving Friday afternoon see if you can come via Echuca for Friday night overnight stay and visit the Echuca Paddle Steamer port in the morning 8 - 11am, and then drive down into Ballarat 11 -1pm and go to Sovereign Hill on Saturday afternoon with an overnight stay for the "Blood on the Southern Cross", then off at 8am - 10am to get down to Point Cook for Sunday morning, Moorabbin/DFO in the afternoon. A great family trip -something for everyone.

That leaves a leisurely drive home on Monday back up the Hume, maybe a drop into Wang if your really cheeky!

regards

Mark Pilkington

_________________
20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

I'd agree with most of Mark's suggestions, just a couple of glosses - the RAAF Museum's interactive, weather etc. permitting is 1pm, each of the days it's on. Not sure how accessible the Murray is, with the recent rainfall/flooding. Check first.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Thanks for the tips guys.

We're driving across from SA leaving early Friday morning (to try and keep Miss 2 1/2 and Master 5 asleep as long as possible and apparently to hit the Bendigo wool mill in time for opening). By my reckoning one wool mill is worth a hell of a lot of aviation.... but I guess we have a 6 hour drive to sort that out.

I am leaning towards Point Cook as I come across to Melbourne for work quite often and have had the intent to nip out there but have never quite managed to squeeze it in. Being an ex RZNZAF techie the military side of it also apeals to me AND I've just noticed they have a F-4 . Still Wings and Wheels appeals slots nicely into the bit of me that misses the rally car I had to give up to move over here And then Master 5 will like all that shiney stuff and DFO is nearby.......

What's the chances of seeing behind the scenes into the resto hanger at Point Cook?

Cheers
Rick

Cool. A couple of points. The Phantom is in the new Strike Hangar now, which is not yet open to the public yet, as it's still getting works done inside - you'll have to come back another time for that!

You can have a look into the resto hangar through the public viewing gallery, but there's no formal tours except by prior arrangement by groups, as far as I'm aware - you could ask, mentioning your RNZAF techo background - who knows?

The timing's bad otherwise I'd try and be at the RAAFM to say G'Day, but I can't. Sorry!

That said the Museum's a well worthwhile visit - so is Moorabbin, of course.

Regards,

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

It's funny, when I saw the title of your post I was going to write you a response telling you to get in touch with James and Mark, but they've already done that before I could get in a word.

All this talk of Melbourne and airplanes makes me jealous. I wish I could spend a weekend checking out Point Cook, Moorabin and seeing the Old Airplane Co.

Thankfully I just had a good airplane fix yesterday. Our museum out here (Great White North), had a Flying Day and BBQ. I got to go up in our Waco AQC-6 (Cabin), and in our DH-82C Tiger Moth. I'll post more on that later.

Peace,

David