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The unique sight and sound of three former submarine-hunting and marine patrol Lockheed Neptunes will highlight the next monthly Tarmac Days display at HARS Aviation Museum on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March.Volunteers at the Historical Aviation Restoration Society (HARS) will fire up the piston and turbine engine combinations of former RAAF Neptune 273 and former French Navy Neptune 566 while former RAAF Neptune 281 will be on static display.
It’s believed the former 10 Squadron’s 273 is currently the world’s only flying Neptune (model P2V-7 / SP2-H) – such is the expertise at HARS held by its 850 volunteers.
The Australian Neptunes were built at Lockheed’s Burbank plant in California and delivered to the RAAF in 1962 where both served until 1977.
They were the first aircraft specifically designed for the anti-submarine and maritime patrol role.
Design work started in December 1941.
Neptunes were replaced in the Australian anti-submarine and reconnaissance role by the Lockheed Orion where retired 759 (an AP-3C model) continues to fly with civil registration at HARS.
Neptune 566 was one of 31 operated by the French armed forces from the late 1950s and was allocated to French Marine Escadrille 12. The aircraft was eventually flown to the French Polynesian territorial island of Tahiti in 1983, found and restored by HARS then flown to Australia in 1989.
Tarmac Days allow our museum visitors to get a feeling of what aviation was like decades ago.
For full details of the Neptunes check www.hars.org.au
Almost 60 aircraft form the Australian aviation heritage on show at the largely undercover HARS Aviation Museum.
Volunteers needed
HARS is seeking additional volunteers to serve as tour guides and to help out in the operation of its popular Café Connie.
To register then come to an information session, would-be volunteers are asked to send a quick email to [email protected]
Closed only on Christmas Day, HARS Aviation Museum offers a largely undercover and hands-on experience for visitors at its Shellharbour Airport hangars.
HARS Aviation Museum is open from 9.30 to 3.30 daily for tours hosted by informative volunteer guides (last tour 2 pm). It is located at Shellharbour Airport, off the old Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail and just a short walk from the railway station.
Cafe Connie at HARS Aviation Museum
Visitors can make a meal of it when they drop into Café Connie (9.30 am to 2 pm) where the menu offers a great value selection of delicious home-made hot and cold foods plus excellent coffee.
Check-in details
Details of check-in at HARS Aviation Museum at www.hars.org.au
Firing up the piston and jet engines on both Neptunes 273 and 566 will make a spectacular March Tarmac Days display at HARS Aviation Museum on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
54 Airport Road, Shellharbour Airport,, Albion Park Rail, NSW, Australia, New South Wales 2527, Shellharbour Airport, Airport Rd, Albion Park Rail NSW 2527, Australia,Wollongong, New South Wales
