Temora Aviation Museum

Temora Aviation Museum
Established 1999
Location Temora, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates 34°25′38″S 147°30′55″E / 34.427272°S 147.515228°E / -34.427272; 147.515228
Type Aviation museum
President David Lowy
Website http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au

The Temora Aviation Museum is an Australian aviation museum located in Temora, New South Wales. The Museum was established in late 1999, based on the collection of warbird aircraft owned by David Lowy. Lowy remains the President and Founder of the Museum, which is overseen by a four-member Governing Committee.

The Museum is home to many historic ex-military aircraft that range from the World War II era to the Vietnam War era and holds Aircraft Showcase (on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of most months) to display some of its operating aircraft.

The Museum often hosts visits from historical aircraft and Royal Australian Air Force combat aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet.

History

Spitfire Mk XVI, October 2011

Temora is home to a noteworthy aviation history. The Royal Australian Air Force set up the No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School in May 1941. This School was the largest and longest-lived of the schools established under the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II.[1]

More than 10,000 personnel were involved in operation of No 10 Elementary Flying Training School. More than 2,400 pilots were trained at the School. The School at its peak had 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft used for training purposes. The school was closed on 12 March 1946.

After World War II, Temora continued its aviation heritage, used for a number of activities including: parachuting, gliding, ultra-light aircraft operations, aerobatics, and model aircraft.

Sydney businessman David Lowy established the museum in Temora due to its aviation history, good weather, flat terrain, a co-operative local council and uncontrolled air space below 20,000 feet.

Temora Aviation Museum was incorporated in late 1999, at which point construction of the facilities commenced, and a governing committee was formed. The first hangar was completed in February 2000, and the first aircraft for the collection were donated by David Lowy. The museum was officially opened to the public in June 2000 at which point construction commenced on the exhibition buildings, including: display space, theatrette, admission entrance, gift shop, a children's playground and picnic area.

In November 2002, the third stage of the museum complex, a 1980 square metre hangar was completed at which point it became the main display hangar for all the aircraft, and the original hangar became a restoration and maintenance facility.

Aircraft

The Museum's Ryan STM-S2, which flew with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force during World War Two
T-28 Trojan, October 2011

Unless otherwise noted, all of the museum's aircraft are airworthy and are flown regularly during the Museum's Showcase Days, Special major airshow (Warbirds Downunder) days at Temora and at airshows elsewhere in Australia such as those at the RAAF Museum, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS),RAN Fleet Air Arm Museum (HMAS Albatross), Tyabb, Victoria and the like.

Several of the museum's aircraft are the only of their kind flying in Australia, such as the two Supermarine Spitfires. Others, such as the F.8 Gloster Meteor and Lockheed Hudson, are the only flying aircraft of their kind in the world.[2]

Warbirds Downunder

Hudson in maintenance, October 2011
CAC Wirraway, October 2010

Temora Aviation Museum hosts Warbirds Downunder bi-yearly. Warbirds Downunder is an airshow featuring most of Temora Aviation Museum's aircraft and various others from around Australia, including the RAAF Roulettes, RAAF F/A-18 Hornets, RAAF Hawks, Catalina, and Super Constellation.[3]

Temora's population of 4,000 swells at the time of Warbirds Downunder with almost 10,000 people attending the inaugural show in 2011.[4] Wardirds Downunder 2013 saw 20,000 visitors attend.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/history/index.html
  2. ↑ http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/news/category/flying-day/
  3. ↑ http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/warbirds_downunder_2013/index.html
  4. ↑ http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/745655/almost-10000-attend-temora-air-show/
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