FNQ Aviation Museum

17/10/2026

17/10/2026

Hangar Work Update (Quonset Hut)

A big day of progress at the museum!

The team continues work on the disassembly of the Quonset Hut framing, preparing the frame for galvanising.

Work also continued on clearing and preparing the area for the new slab construction. The DC-3 was moved approximately 5 metres to allow the wings to clear the area and make room for the slab works.

The Canberra was also moved as part of the preparation.

A huge thank you to Nathan, Maxx, Sam, Alan, Steve M, Steve C and Wayne for all the hard work, teamwork and effort in getting everything ready. ✈️🔧💪

14/10/2026

Another great effort by our volunteers! 👏

The perimeter fencing around our new WWII igloo site is now installed, marking another exciting step forward for this major heritage project! A big thank you to Herberton Hardware for their generous Bobcat support, helping our team complete the fencing and site preparation works.

Thanks also to James from Laser Survey Supplies, who generously donated his time to survey and peg out the site, we can now clearly see where the igloo’s building pad will take shape.

With preparations well underway, we’re looking forward to seeing construction commence in the coming months!

This exciting project is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, helping us preserve and showcase an important piece of Far North Queensland’s aviation heritage for future generations. 🇦🇺

We also look forward to recognising and announcing more of the generous sponsors and supporters helping bring this ambitious project to life as arrangements are confirmed.

Stay tuned — there’s plenty more to come! ✈️

Just when you thought it was all over after the weekend, its still all happening in Mareeba!



Andrew Powell MP Bree James - Barron River MP
David Kempton MP Angela Toppin AM - Mayor, Mareeba Shire Council Laser & Survey Supplies

13/10/2026

Thirty years of soaring above the Morning Glory clouds of the Gulf of Carpentaria — what an incredible milestone! 🛩️

This video celebrates gliding pilot Geoff Pratt and three decades of gliding operations across Far North Queensland. A remarkable contribution to aviation in our region, and a wonderful record of the skies and conditions that make this part of the world so special.

Congratulations, Geoff, on 30 years of soaring over the Gulf!
Video credit: Mike at Peak Pictures (https://www.youtube.com/) [North Queensland Soaring Centre (https://www.facebook.com/NQSCI)

28/09/2026

Some action shots from the weekend.
Thanks Mayor Angela - always a pleasure to have you out to help.
Interested in volunteering?
Do you know how to use a drill? Like to learn how to weld or use new tools - airless spray painting (so much fun!), wood work, metal work, tour guiding, like cleaning stuff?! We’ve got it!

If you are interested in helping volunteer drop out any Thursday or Saturday 9am until noon 🕛
Ray Rd end of the Mareeba Airport (next to MAFs big hangars).

23/09/2026

✈️ From Cathay Pacific to Air Queensland – the remarkable story of VH-MAL

Cathay Pacific will celebrate its 80th anniversary on 24 September 2026, marking 80 years since its first flight in 1946. Remarkably, the aircraft involved would later become a familiar sight in Far North Queensland.

The Douglas DC-3, known as “Betsy”, eventually became VH-MAL and served as a freighter with Bush Pilots Airways, later Air Queensland. In 1983, Cathay Pacific repurchased the aircraft and an Air Queensland crew recreated its historic first journey, delivering VH-MAL from Sydney to Hong Kong in time for Cathay’s 37th anniversary.

The ferry crew included Captain Reg Perkins, co-pilot and former Air Queensland Chief Pilot Colin Shedden and avionics engineer and radio operator Barrie Smeaton. Reg and Barrie still live in Cairns, while Colin sadly passed away in June this year at the remarkable age of 101.

VH-MAL now hangs on display in the Hong Kong Science Museum, preserving an aircraft with an extraordinary connection to both international aviation and Far North Queensland.

A special thank you to former Bushies and Air Queensland pilot Lyle Cooke for sharing the attached article, photographs and his personal memories of VH-MAL. Lyle completed much of his DC-3 command training aboard the aircraft and undertook his command asymmetric check in MAL just six hours after the birth of his first son!

What a wonderful piece of aviation history spanning eight decades, two airlines and two very different parts of the world.