FNQ Aviation Museum

22/05/2026

This National Volunteers Week we want to celebrate the incredible volunteers who keep the Far North Queensland Aviation Museum running every single week.

From restoring and preserving aircraft, to guiding visitors, helping with events, researching our history, cataloguing the collection, building displays, and keeping the place looking sharp — every part of our museum exists because of volunteer effort.

We’re proudly 100% volunteer-run, and the dedication, skill and passion shown by our team is what brings the museum to life for our community and visitors from around the world.

To every person who gives their time at the museum — whether it’s an hour a week or full days in the hangar — thank you. You are the heart of FNQAM.

If you’re interested in joining our volunteer team, we’re always keen to welcome new people. Get in touch to learn more.

18/05/2026

16/05/2026

On to FNQ Aviation Museum at the Mareeba airport where Brendon and his team of volunteers today unveiled a new mural by Ross Franzi of a Beaufort fighter bomber used in the battle of the Coral Sea. Another wonderful volunteer organisation in our town.

10/05/2026

50 years ago today on the 10th May 1976 - Memories of Bush Pilot's Airways and a flight in one of their C-47s VH-EDC.
Shared by Matt Denning via Aviation Historical Society of Australia.

These images (scanned from Kodachrome slides that I captured fifty years ago on my trusty Praktica Super TL) were taken during a scheduled flight number QN718 with Bush Pilots Airways which departed from Cairns with stops at Normanton, Karumba, Mornington Island, Doomadgee Mission and with the final destination being Mount Isa. Connecting flights to and from Brisbane had been a TAA DC-9 on the 9th May and an Ansett DC-9 on the 10th May 1976. Special thanks to my father Ray Denning who organised all of this to promote my growing interest in aviation back in those early days.

These were the days when you could stand in the open cockpit doorway to speak with the captain and first officer during the flight, when the captain left his seat and invited you to take his place for a while so that he could stretch his legs, suggesting that you open the sliding cockpit window to get a better view only to have the hostess come forward to complain that she was losing too much warm air from the cabin 😊.

The Bush Pilot's crew on this flight were Captain Chris Braund, First Officer Tony Marshall and flight attendant Alma Kerr. Great memories!
Thanks Matt.

07/05/2026

Projects powering ahead at the FNQ Aviation Museum! ✈️
The team has been flat stick welding, painting, servicing equipment, forklift work, and pushing ahead with simulator module projects. Plenty happening behind the scenes! 🔧🎨🚜

24/04/2026

This Anzac Day, we acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all service personnel.

We also take a moment to reflect on the crews of No. 100 Squadron operating their Bristol Beaufort aircraft, based in Far North Queensland during WWII.

Our fourth mural is something a little different. Rather than a traditional painted piece, it combines a wall-mounted waterscape with a Bristol Beaufort aircraft laser-cut from aluminium sheeting, assembled and riveted to create a striking 3D effect.

The artwork has been designed and created by local artist and ex-RAAF serviceman Ross Franzi. The artwork depicts the Bristol Beaufort—the first aircraft to operate from Mareeba’s newly built airstrip in 1942.

While we had hoped to unveil the mural for Anzac Day, final installation is just around the corner. We’ll keep you updated as it takes its place on the wall in the coming week.