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The following information
has been developed to be of use to students researching various aspects
of aviation. Whilst the information is freely available we suggest that
a visit to the museum would give the student a broader appreciation
of the ongoing development of aircraft in all facets of aviation. The Museum’s collection includes artifacts from the earliest days of manned flight in Australia; such as the control surfaces of the Tait biplane; the wings from one of the Australian Flying Corps’ BE2A training aircraft used at the Central Flying School, Point Cook circa 1914; and the 1928 de Havilland Gypsy Moth outlining the rapid development of aircraft in the opening decades of the 20th century. |
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The 1930’s saw the
burgeoning power of aviation unfold top defeat time and distance, as
aircraft became both faster and more reliable. Wood and fabric gave way
to aluminium. Where the decade opened to the lonely drone of
single-engined aircraft such as the Desoutter over the vast Australian
landscape, it closed with the DC2 and DC3 airliners of Australian
National Airways maintaining regular scheduled services between
Australia’s major population centres. ANA itself was formed by the
merging of Holyman’s Airways, Airlines of Australia, Adelaide Airways, and West Australia Airways, on 1st July 1936. |
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War in the Pacific
The extensive involvement of the Royal Australian Air Force in flying operations in all theatres of war is represented by our significant collection of historic aircraft featured in the Pacific Gallery. The DAP Beaufighter, built at Fishermans Bend during the war years, is one of six known to be remaining in the world. Before and during the Second World War, extensive aircraft production facilities were established at Fishermans Bend, near Port Melbourne. Australia’s First Homegrown Eagle Our Wirraway is one of the
earliest aircraft of the production run, with an extensive documented
history of its wartime service, and is slated for a restoration which
will show the aircraft in its initial configuration. |
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The Post-War Years
The rapid expansion of aviation in
the years following World War II saw the formation of TAA (Trans
Australia Airlines) and the introduction of the Vickers Viscount. With
ANA being taken over by Ansett Transport
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The Museum’s Vickers Viscount was operated by Cubana, the state airline of Cuba, and used on occasions as personal transport for Fidel Castro. Following it’s purchase by TAA, it became VH-TVR, rendering long service to the airline. Dedicated to the preservation of Australian civil and military aviation, the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group (AARG), which operates the Australian National Aviation Museum, was formed in 1962. It now extends to a collection of some 50 aircraft, many of which cannot be displayed at Moorabbin, due to space constraints. In addition to our
extensive exhibit of military aircraft and vintage light aircraft, the
evolving display of passenger aircraft is unequalled in Australia. Our
latest acquisition, the de Havilland Heron, forms an important part of
our collection, which will be extended by future acquisitions. The
Museum’s unrivalled breadth of examples, ranging from the diminutive
Mignet Flying Flea to the four-engined Vickers Viscount turboprop
airliner, give it the unchallenged position as: Further Information: TIPS FOR TEACHERS? AVIATION IN AUSTRALIA EARLY AUSTRALIAN AVIATION EARLY MILITARY AVIATION AERIAL TRANSPORT IN AUSTRALIA LINKS - AVIATION HERITAGE - AUSTRALIA
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