Australian National Aviation Museum
Encyclopedia
The Australian National Aviation Museum is an aviation museum
at the Moorabbin Airport
in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. It was founded in 1962 as the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group, an attempt to maintain a World War II
-era aircraft. It later formed into a museum, and was originally named the Moorabbin Air Museum. It currently holds 50 aircraft and 25 engines.
, that was threatened to be scrapped. Following the donation of the Beaufighter in April 1962, a CAC Wackett trainer was purchased, followed by a DH.60G Moth
. In 1964, after additional purchases and donations, the collection was relocated to a service station in north Lilydale
near the Moorabbin Airport
. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(formerly Australian Department of Civil Aviation) leased land to the museum, and erected a fence on 20 May 1965. In July 1967, the museum erected a new fence, and increased its land size for its growing collection.
In the 1980s, the museum had over 30 aircraft, but were all suffering from weathering. In April 1989, a 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) hangar was built to house and protect the aircraft. Between 1980 and 2000, the aircraft collection increased by an average of one airframe per year. The collection now totals 52 machines.
The museum was awarded a Certificate of Merit, in the 1985 Museum of the Years Awards
Aviation museum
An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...
at the Moorabbin Airport
Moorabbin Airport
Moorabbin Airport is a general aviation airport for light aircraft located in Mentone, Victoria, Australia. The airport grounds are treated as their own suburb, designated the postcode 3194. The airport opened in December 1949. Originally the intent was to name the airport "Mentone" but this was...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was founded in 1962 as the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group, an attempt to maintain a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-era aircraft. It later formed into a museum, and was originally named the Moorabbin Air Museum. It currently holds 50 aircraft and 25 engines.
History
In 1962, the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group was formed as a nonprofit group by a group of members of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia. The project began with the recovery and restoration of an Australian-built Bristol BeaufighterBristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
, that was threatened to be scrapped. Following the donation of the Beaufighter in April 1962, a CAC Wackett trainer was purchased, followed by a DH.60G Moth
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
. In 1964, after additional purchases and donations, the collection was relocated to a service station in north Lilydale
Lilydale
Lilydale may refer to:Australia*Lilydale, Tasmania, a small town in Northern Tasmania*Lilydale, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia**Lilydale railway line, a suburban electric railway in Melbourne, Australia...
near the Moorabbin Airport
Moorabbin Airport
Moorabbin Airport is a general aviation airport for light aircraft located in Mentone, Victoria, Australia. The airport grounds are treated as their own suburb, designated the postcode 3194. The airport opened in December 1949. Originally the intent was to name the airport "Mentone" but this was...
. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is the Australian national aviation authority , the government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of civil aviation.-History:...
(formerly Australian Department of Civil Aviation) leased land to the museum, and erected a fence on 20 May 1965. In July 1967, the museum erected a new fence, and increased its land size for its growing collection.
In the 1980s, the museum had over 30 aircraft, but were all suffering from weathering. In April 1989, a 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) hangar was built to house and protect the aircraft. Between 1980 and 2000, the aircraft collection increased by an average of one airframe per year. The collection now totals 52 machines.
The museum was awarded a Certificate of Merit, in the 1985 Museum of the Years Awards
Notable aircraft in collection
| Year | Aircraft | Acquired From and How |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... |
Salvage |
| 1962 | CAC Wackett | Purchased |
| 1962 | DH.60G Moth De Havilland DH.60 Moth The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane... |
Purchased |
| 1963 | Avro Anson Avro Anson The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was... |
Purchased from Flinders Island Airlines |
| 1963 | Gloster Meteor Gloster Meteor The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force... |
Purchased from Australian Department of Supply |
| 1963 | DH.82A Tiger Moth | Donated from TAA |
| 1963 | CAC Wirraway CAC Wirraway The Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946... |
Purchased from CAC |
| 1964 | Percival Proctor Percival Proctor The Percival Proctor was a British radio trainer and communications aircraft of the Second World War. The Proctor was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane with seating for three or four, depending on the model.-Design and development:... |
Donated |
| 1966 | P-40 Kittyhawk fuselage | Unknown |
| 1967 | Fairey Firefly Fairey Firefly The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm .... |
Unknown |