The Australian National Aviation Museum (originally named the Moorabbin Air Museum) is an aviation museum at the Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne. It was founded in 1962 as the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group, with its sole intention to maintain a World War II-era Bristol Beaufighter aircraft.
Since those early days it has now become a museum, and it is one of the oldest volunteer run Museums, with a collection of over 60 aircraft and engines and many relics. Stepping in the door for the first time you were greeted with huge aircraft models hanging from the ceilings, original 3 row seats with cigarette ash trays in the seats on the floor and endless material for purchase. My jaw had dropped and I was filled with excitement... and I wasn't even in the museum hanger yet. The museum offers a fascinating introduction to Australia’s aviation history, with aircrafts dating from WWII to present-day, and exhibits including uniforms, models, engines, and other flight memorabilia.
As we walked around outside and my mind was completely taken back to when I was a child. You could not only board some of the aircraft on display but sit in the cockpit and dream of being a pilot. Looking at the gauges they had back then you knew the pilots of yesterday really had to fly the plane. No fly by wire, no head up display, it was all very basic.
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| TAA VICKERS VISCOUNT VH-TVR FIRST FLOWN IN 1948 |
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| LOOK AT HOW MUCH ROOM THERE IS |
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| CIGARETTE ASHTRAY IN THE SEATS... |
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TELL THE CABIN CREW TO ARM DOORS AND CROSS CHECK
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| LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE WINDOWS |
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| BRISTROL170 FREIGHTER VH-ADL FIRST FLEW 1949 |
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| DOUGLAS DC 3 VH-ANH FIRST FLEW 1941 |
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| CANBERRA MK 20 A84-226 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY 1955 |
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| WESTLAND WESSEX N7 204 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY 1962 |
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| BELL 206 A17-045 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY IN JULY 1976 |
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| GLOSTER METEOR T7 A77-077 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY 1945 |
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| CAC SABRE CA-27 A94-989 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY 1951 |
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| FAIREY GANNET XG789 DELIVERED TO AUSTRALIAN MILITARY 1956 |
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| WE ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE CAPTIAN.. |
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| BOEING 737 |
Even though the battery died on my camera before I got to get a photo of everything inside the hanger I really enjoyed my time there, albeit very brief. The highlights of the visit was seeing rare aircraft such as a WW2 Beaufighter, the world’s oldest surviving CAC Wirraway; a Vickers Viscount that once served as Fidel Castro's plane; and a Fokker DR1 fuel tank, believed to be from the Red Baron's aircraft and so much more.
I seriously recommend if you are ever in Melbourne call out to see the Museum at Moorabbin, you will have a great time and help them out too as they need our support as they rely on donations to stay open.
Below is a link to their website if you would like more information
http://www.aarg.com.au/
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