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Monday 9:30am - 3:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 3:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 3:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 3:30pm Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 3:30pm Sunday 9:30am - 3:30pm

HARS Navy Heritage Flight, 54 Airport Road, Wollongong (2026)

23/08/2025

Here are two photos- one of Vietnam veterans in front of Huey 898 when HARS last landed a Huey at Corrimal Rangers Football ground in 2022. One with a mix of current and previous serving personnel with Huey 898. We look forward to the Vietnam Vets posing with two Hueys- next Sunday 31st August at the same venue - Wilga St Corrimal , with the Hueys scheduled to arrive by 1015, always subject to weather conditions and last minute serviceability.

18/08/2024

FINAL NHF REPORT 06/2024. 15 AUG 2024
Text & photographs by Michael Hough, Co-editor

The HARS Committee of Management recently decided to centralise HARS reporting and social media outlets.

Future reports on HARS Navy airframes will continue, but sent out through the main HARS Newsletter. Facebook posts will be sent out through the Main HARS Facebook channel.

We will also identify each Navy airframe by its nomenclature e.g. HARS Tracker 844 and so on.

On behalf of all who have taken the journey with us over the last five+ years of separate NHF reporting – which commenced in Aug 2009, we thank you for your interest and support, and we look forward to keeping you informed through these new broader HARS channels.

In particular, I would like to pay a special tribute to Carl Robinson and John Sperring as co-editors, and Howard Mitchell for the many great photos he has so freely provided.

Historic airframes require constant and regular updates and maintenance, and over this Winter, a major effort has been made to provide HARS Tracker 844 with its 100-hour major service. Additionally, two propellers have gone for major overhaul.

Here is a quick update with photos of the work being undertaken at HARS Main Base Hangar 3 on Tracker 844.

Our dedicated team of HARS volunteers are commencing required maintenance and scheduled checks. Tracker 844 will not be flying until they are completed.

We are setting a completion target of “ASAP” to be operating again by the planned Tracker Reunion scheduled to be held at HARS on 14/15 October 2024.

For tickets to that Tracker reunion event please go to:-

https://www.harsmuseumshop.com.au/collections/event-tickets
Here following is another shot of Tracker 844 undergoing it’s 100 hourly, in its “maintenance bay” of HARS Main Base Hangar 3

Can you help to defray the costs of these required events?

Please consider donating to HARS. We appreciate any amount you can spare… and thank you!

AUSTER

The Auster Autocar is currently airworthy. Here is a current photo of this delightful little airframe located in HARS Hangar 3.

Some New Items for Sale through the HARS E-shop

Please support HARS by purchasing items through our HARS e-shop, and by paying the additional postage/ delivery costs- if you live e.g. interstate - you can avoid having to travel to Shellharbour Regional Airport to buy some HARS merchandise.

Please go to:- https://www.harsmuseumshop.com.au/and explore the range of products available through that online option.

Thanks again for your interest in HARS, and please support us in any way you can.

Michael Hough (Project Leader)
August 2024

22/06/2024

NHF REPORT 05/2024. 22nd June 2024
By Michael Hough, Co-editor NHF Newsletter
Photographs by Howard Mitchell & Michael Hough.

NHF- Our Winter Restoration Projects
Historic airframes require constant and regular updates and maintenance, and over this Winter, many of the NHF airframes located at the HARS Main base at Albion Parkare receiving particular attention.

Here is a quick overview and update:-
Our Grumman S-2G Tracker is now entering an important period of required maintenance – the 100 hourly, followed by a required AD on the two propellors.

Our dedicated team of HARS volunteers are commencing required maintenances and scheduled checks.

Tracker 844 will not be flying until they are completed. We are setting a completion target of “asap”- but in particular to be operating again by the planned Tracker Reunion which is scheduled to be held at HARs on Monday and Tuesday 14/15 OCT 2014.
For tickets to that Tracker reunion event please go to:-
https://www.harsmuseumshop.com.au/collections/event-tickets
Can you help to defray the costs of these required events?
Please consider making a donation to HARS, and we really appreciate any amount you can spare- and thank you!

EX RAAF C47- NOW FAA RF4-N2-90
Meanwhile, in the same HARS Hangar 3 area, we have (ex RAAF) ex RAN FAA RF4 (i.e. C47) - N2-90- being steadily restored, with a long-term aim of “back to flying” condition. This is a very popular exhibit, especially as the interior isnow reconfigured to the 1954 Queen’s royal tour layout.

We are always seeking new volunteers to assist with restoration and N2-90 would benefit by extra involvement to help restore the airframe to its previous flying status, so can you help please?

MORE TRACKER NEWS.
At the HARS main base, we currently have two non-flying Trackers.
WESSEX, TRACKER AND SEA FURY

SEA VEMONS AND VAMPIRES
We always welcome volunteers and sponsors to assist in these restoration projects, and again we invite you to contribute, in any way that suits your circumstances, to restore and preserve these great historic military aviation airframes.
How can you help?
Why not consider one or more of the following: -
joining us as a volunteer, supporting us with a donation, leaving us a bequest in your will, and encourage your friends and networks to follow HARS online, and visit us when you can!

AUSTER
We are pleased to advise that the Auster is currently airworthy, and here is a current photo of this delightful little airframe, with N2-90 lurking in the background!

Some New Items for Sale through the HARS E-shop
Don’t forget you can support HARS by purchasing items through our HARS e-shop, and by paying the additional postage/ delivery costs- if you live e.g. interstate - you can avoid having to travel to Shellharbour Regional Airport to buy some HARS merchandise.

Please go to:- https://www.harsmuseumshop.com.au/ , and explore the range of products available through that online option.

Thanks again for your interest in HARS, and please support us in any way you can.

18/05/2024

NHF REPORT 05/2024. 14 May 2024

By Carl Robinson, Co-editor NHF Newsletter and HARS Media Unit.

Photographs by Howard Mitchell & Video by Carl Robinson & Tim May.

WHAT A SPECTACULAR ANZAC DAY FOR HUEY 898!
EP 40 :HARS RAN Iroquois 898 Huey Anzac Day Shoalhaven Flypast - Lest We Forget (youtube.com)

There’s really not much to say after you watch this YouTube video of our UH-1B Iroquois, Huey 898, as the historic helicopter flew in formation behind ex-RAAF Caribou 234 over five marches in the spectacular Shoalhaven Region and Kiama on ANZAC Day.

The report will also tell you more about your co-editor’s love for the Huey way back to 1964 in South Vietnam when the Huey was just introduced into what became a full-fledged war. (It really hurt watching them pushed over into the South China Sea in April 1975, I tell you!) It was only fitting also that we had two Vietnam Veteran pilots flying Huey 898 on the day, ex-RAN Vic Battese and ex-RAAF’s Mick Haxell.

We lifted off outside our hangar at QinetiQ Air Affairs, Yerriyong, on the western side of HMAS Albatross and which you can clearly see at the end of the hour-long run.

This fly-past was the first by HARS aircraft over the Shoalhaven and made possible by contributions from RSL sub-branches in Bomaderry, Kiama, Berry, Nowra and Huskisson, and coordinated by the Shoalhaven Sub-Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association as a kick-off to its fund-raising to get HARS ex-RAAF UH-1H 703 in the air by this year’s Vietnam Veterans Day on 18 August 2024. (I also wish to declare my own interest & involvement here as Secretary of the Sub-branch. Read more here: www.hueyproject.com.au

We are hopeful of providing many more such formation flights, especially after 703 - civil registration VH-X9S, coincidentally for RAAF’s 9Sqd in Vietnam - gets back in the air. That’ll make quite a sight and get in touch if you’re interested in arranging something.

Howard Mitchell was shooting photos out the back door of Caribou 234 – with Tim May alongside on video – and below are some of his images.

AND NOW ABOUT OUR TRACKER 844 – and an important note from NHF Project Leader Michael Hough (see below.) As you’d understand, we were quite distracted covering this great event and do not have any illustration of the flight of NHF’s other operational aircraft, Tracker 844, and its flights on ANZAC Day. First over Shellharbour and then up the coast over Bundeena, Cronulla, Coogee and Sydney with a couple Daks.

And just after dawn, here’s the gang (from left) Mal Alexander, Tony Linsday, Garry Holloway, Keith Boundy and Terry Hetherington.

And now from Michael: "Tracker 844 is now entering a period of planned annual maintenance which consists of its required 100 hourly, plus some necessary extra work including the propellor AD's, and the replacement of some (very old) original cockpit instrumentation - the pilot attitude indicators. This equipment needs updating, and ideally we should update the pilot and co-pilot instruments.
“This planned maintenance is aimed at being completed, so that 844 can support the planned Tracker reunion scheduled for Mon/ Tue 14 15 Oct 24at HARS.
“Can you help us with these essential costs by making a donation please? Thank you for your support in keeping these historic airframes flying! Regards.”

So let us know and see you again next month!

30/04/2024

Our Iroquois -- Huey 898 -- over the spectacular NSW Shoalhaven Region on last week's ANZAC Day flypast over five marches behind our Caribou posted earlier. The images show our takeoff from Air Affairs on the western side of HMAS Albatross where our helicopters are based; then our flight up to Kiama over Seven Mile Beach and Werri Beach & Gerringong; and then our last flypast over Huskisson on beautiful Jervis Bay.

Our video from both aircraft has been delayed by technical issues.

Photos by Howard Mitchell.

25/04/2024

A very special ANZAC Day for our Huey 898 joining fellow Vietnam War-era veteran Caribou 234 with a flight over five marches in the Shoalhaven Region where our chopper is based at QinetiQ Air Affairs on the western side of HMAS Albatross. Posing afterwards are pilots ex-RAN Vic Battese (2nd from Left) and ex-RAAF Mick Haxell (3rd) are both Vietnam Veterans, 135th and 9Sqd respectively, with crew Robert Keel (L) and operations manager Warren Spinks (R). An absolutely beautiful day up the coast and back with myself (Carl Robinson) shooting video which you'll soon see.

22/04/2024

Shoalhaven Fly-past on ANZAC Day.

For the first time ever, two iconic aircraft from the Vietnam War - including NHF's Huey 898 - will fly low over five (5) marches in the Shoalhaven and Kiama region on Thursday bringing back powerful war-time remembrances to many veterans marching below. (Huey 898 will also be at Mittagong the day before, the 24th.)

Over the past two months, the Shoalhaven Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) has worked closely with HARS Aviation Museum in Albion Park and local RSL branches for Thursday’s dramatic flypasts by an ex-RAAF Caribou transport and former Royal Australia Navy Iroquois, or Huey, helicopter.

These two aircraft were the soundtrack of the Vietnam War for everyone there and instantly evoking memories, good and bad.

Beginning at 10 a.m. and led by the Caribou with Nowra-based ex-RAN Huey 898 close behind, the two aircraft will fly over ANZAC Day marches in Bomaderry, Kiama, Berry, Nowra and Huskisson with Bomaderry receiving two exciting flypasts.

“Just getting the times and march routes right for the flypasts has been an incredible challenge,” explains long-time VVAA Sub-branch President Clyde Poulton. “But with good weather forecast, the flypast should make for quite a memorable ANZAC Day for everyone, veterans and public alike.”

“When planning began two months ago,” he says, “we would’ve been happy with just the Huey which all Vietnam Veterans know and love. And when HARS threw in a Caribou too, that was icing on the cake. Local RSL branches who conduct the marches have also been incredibly enthusiastic and supportive.”

For the Shoalhaven Vietnam Veterans, the ANZAC Day flypasts also mark the official launch of a fund-raising project to restore and fly Vietnam War veteran ex-RAAF Iroquois 703 which served in South Vietnam in 1970-71.

With the HARS Museum’s helicopter facility at Air Affairs on the western side of HMAS Albatross, Nowra, donations large and small are sought to get Huey 703 back in the air for this year’s Vietnam Veterans Day on 18 August.

More information soon at 'www.hueyproject.com.au'

Photos by Howard Mitchell.

16/04/2024

NHF REPORT 04/2024. 15 April 2024

By Carl Robinson, Co-editor NHF Newsletter and HARS Media Unit.
Photographs by Howard Mitchell, Carl Robinson & Michael Hough.

NHF’S BIG FLYING PLANS for ANZAC DAY.

Our two flyable aircraft will be quite busy on this year’s ANZAC Day – weather permitting & fingers-crossed – with our Grumman S-2G Tracker flying locally for neighbouring Shellharbour ceremonies and then over the City of Wollongong March subject to final approvals eg by CASA, a magnificent flight up to Sydney from HARS Albion Park and over the ANZAC March heading up Elizabeth Street. That’s always a thrilling sight. So, give ‘em a wave!

Meanwhile, down at Nowra where our UH-1B Iroquois, or Huey 898, is based, we’ll be staging our first-ever fly-past over five ANZAC Day marches in the Shoalhaven & Kiama with HARS also contributing one of its two operational de Havilland DHC-4 Caribous. Both aircraft are intensely memorable sounds for every Vietnam Veteran and should be quite a thrill. (See more details below.)

Huey 898 will also be participating in a fly-past over Bowral on the 24th along with Brett Leech’s Kiowa, another Vietnam War veteran aircraft.

TRACKER NEWS.
At the weekend, our Tracker 844 was going through a Base Inspection with a suspected leak found and repaired, just part of the maintenance to keep this historic aircraft in the air.

All is getting ready for that Sydney run on ANZAC Day.

And speaking of NHF’s Trackers, Project Manager Michael Hough is asking for help with our S-2E Tracker 845 which is a static display survivor of the disastrous Hangar Fire in December 1976. Sadly neglected outdoors until acquired by HARS, the historic Tracker has been fully externally restored.

We now need to accurately restore its interior and are missing many cockpit instruments. We also need to repair the opening cockpit roof hatches. If anyone has any original tracker instruments, can you donate them to HARS please? Or can you please donate towards the estimated $2000 costs please. (If you can assist please contact Michael at [email protected])

AND OUR LITTLE AUSTER IS FLYING AGAIN!
It’s been back in the air for a couple months already, but we’ve now got a great YouTube video from co-owner Keith Boundy you really need to watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjg_8R5utvg.

AND NOW BACK TO MORE HELICOPTER NEWS.
As mentioned above, Huey 898 will flying over five ANZAC Day marches in NSW’s Shoalhaven Region – a real first with timings obviously critical. The fly-pasts will be over morning marches in Nowra, Bomaderry, Berry, Huskisson (Jervis Bay) and Kiama. Sponsorship (basically fuel costs) has been organised by the Shoalhaven Vietnam Veterans Federation Sub-Branch President Clyde Poulton with donations from local RSL branches and working closely with Vic Battese and HARS head of operations Dick Elliott. So, weeks of coordination and authorisations have brought us here and everyone is hopeful of great weather on the day. With HARS also contributing a Caribou, the sight & sounds of these two aircraft will surely bring back lots of memories, good & bad, for every Vietnam Veteran down below.

The ANZAC Day fly-pasts also marks the official start of a major fund-raising campaign by the Shoalhaven Vietnam Veterans sub-branch to restore two more Iroquois, or Huey, helicopters for HARS – one Huey 893, or B-model ex-RAN sister of long-flyable 898 – and, more importantly, the larger UH-1H model and Vietnam War Veteran ex-RAAF (later ARMY) 703, now civil registered as VH-X9S coincidentally for RAAF 9Sqn who actually flew the helicopter in Vietnam.

Running under the slogan “See – and Hear – our Hueys Fly Again!” all tax-deductible moneys raised by the Nowra-based sub-branch goes to the restoration with hopes that Huey 703 will be back in the air by this coming Vietnam Veterans Day on 18 August 2024. (Donations can also be made directly to HARS, of course.)

A website www.hueyproject.com.auwill be up shortly. To declare my own interest, I am also Honorary Secretary of VVAA Shoalhaven Sub-branch and very active there and at HARS.

And finally just to clarify, the UH-1H is not part of the NHF but is being restored at the same facility and workers as Huey 898 and 893 at QinetiQ Air Affairs at Yerriyong on the western side of HMAS Albatross.

The volunteer pilots and engineers come from both the RAAF and RAN, some still active, and absolutely no inter-service rivalry on our patch.

And speaking of Huey 703, how about this for great news? Just weekend before last at Air Affairs, the old Vietnam Veteran (1970-71) got her first engine start-up since 2007 – and the first time under its new commercial registration of VH-X9S. Just a few minutes and lots more work, of course.

But Vic Battese, Warren Spinks & the crew reckon they’re now 93 per cent there.

Still lots to do and your support will help see her flying proudly again.

See you next month

22/03/2024

NHF REPORT 03/2024. 22nd March 2024

By Michael Hough, co-editor NHF Newsletter.
Photos by Howard Mitchell.

From the NHF Project Leader:-In this March 2024 report, I have selected some good shots from the participation of HARS aircraft including the NHF Tracker 844 and Huey 898 in the recent Airshows Downunder Shellharbour (ADU 24) - which was held at Shellharbour Regional Airport over the first weekend in March 2024.

A lot of volunteers’ work has gone into bringing our collection of former Royal Australian Navy aircraft up to the exceptional airworthy or static display standard that you will enjoy when you next visit the HARS Aviation Museum. It was great that again a large crowd was able to enjoy two days of ADU 24 flying and have close-up inspection of a large range of aircraft in the HARS Fleet.

To see the AirShow in action visit YouTube or Facebook. In this report we want to present some exclusive photos taken by HARS main photographer Howard Mitchell.

Our Tracker 844 flew over both days of the ADU24Shellharbour Weekend.

Huey 898 flew up from Nowra (Yerriyong), and parked for inspection during ADY24, and was not tasked to give a flying display.

I want to thank all our HARS volunteers who enabled these great events to be presented, and in particular Mr Howard Mitchell for providing these great photos.

I invite you to be a new HARS volunteer, and join us to inmaintaining and improving our range of historic airframes including ex-RAN FAA aircraft.

If you can't be a volunteer, then how about sponsoring the equipment costs for these projects please? Interested?

Please contact us by email through to :- [email protected].
Thank you!

Michael Hough,
Project Leader,
HARS Navy Heritage Flight

16/03/2024

Just a short adhoc photo report on the NHF. Post Airshows Downunder - Shellharbour (‘Wings’) the HARS aircraft collection are in great display condition but located in different hangar locations.

HARS Navy Heritage Flight

23/08/2025

18/08/2024

22/06/2024

18/05/2024

30/04/2024

25/04/2024

22/04/2024

16/04/2024

22/03/2024

16/03/2024

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