This is a VC-131D acquired from Rovos Rail in South Africa, ferried to HARS in August 2016. Built in 1954 as a 44-passenger transport for the USAF, it was effectively a militarised CV-340 and was allocated 54-2820. Stored at MASDC from 1988, it later became CP-2237 and YV-914C before sale as ZS-ARV in 2001. On acquisition by HARS, painted at Wonderboom in the colours worn by TAA CV-240 VH-TAQ in from 1948 to 1954, although there was never a long-nose Convair in Australian airline use. This is the fifth time reg VH-TAA has been used. Absolutely splendid it looks anyway.

It will be great to see this lovely old machine when it is restored to a suitable livery. It was first delivered to the R Malaysian AF in 1962 as FM1066 and was imported to Australia in 1972 by Aerial Agriculture of Bankstown with the intention of conversion to a sprayer. Instead stored with registration VH-EVB but flying again on joy rides around 1987 before passing through several more owners. Registered with the third use of VH-SYS in 2017, it ferried Wedderburn-Albion Park in July 2022 and is now the only flyable Twin Pin in the world.

The first 747-400 for Qantas, delivered in August 1989 and setting a record for the first ever non-stop England to Australia flight in the process. To HARS in 2015 with some 106,000 hours on the clock, the flight from Sydney to Illawarra at the other extreme taking just 12 minutes.

Following on from the P-2 and then 14 P-3B, the RAAF operated 20 P-3Cs, extensively upgraded by L-3 Communications with new mission systems to AP-3C standard. The insignia of 10 Sqdn appears on the right of the tail, with 11 Sqdn on the left. The serial A9-753 is only painted inside the nose-gear doors. HARS have uniquely maintained the aircraft in flying condition having gained civil registration in 2018

Ex USAAF 44-76551 and RAAF A65-90. One of four C-47s operated by the RAN. Served 851 Sqdn and used during one of the Queen's visit to Australia. Joined the RAN Historic Flight as VH-NVZ in 1985 but grounded in 2015 due to corrosion.

Ex ZU-BZA, VH-LQT and VH-HOT, now using the third allocation of registration VH-IOT. It would appear that the marking '66 Red' is accurate to its former Soviet AF service.

HARS have two consecutively-serialled C-47s, A65-94 and 95, which were delivered to the USAAF from Douglas at Oklahoma City on the same day in 1944, this one as 44-76764, continuing on to Australia in May 1945. Both were flown by the RAAF in New Guinea and South West Pacific theatre during the late stages of WW2, followed by allocation to several different squadrons and the ARDU. A65-95 was auctioned off in 2000 and is now repainted in period SE Asia colours.

The RAN purchased two Autocars in 1949, ferried to Australia on board the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney. They were retired in late 1963. This is a civilian example which had been registered VH-BVY in 1955, painted to represent one of them for the FAA Museum at Nowra.

Smartly painted in late-1950s Qantas colours and named 'Norfolk Trader' to represent C-54A VH-EDB, HARS intend to return this aircraft to flight. It was built as C-54E-15-DO 44-9126 for the USAAF and entered MASDC in 1971, sold as N9013V in 1975 and changed hands many times before bought by Pacific Air Freighters in June 1995 becoming VH-PAF. Ferried Brisbane-Albion Park in June 2008 for HARS as VH-EAY. Initially keeping its metallic finish, it was painted with 1960s Qantas ochre colours left side and Airlines of NSW right side until changed to this earlier iteration after 2019

One of two consecutively-serialled ex RAAF C-47s with HARS, still in its smart ARDU colours as operated 1982-90. Built as C-47B-30-DK 44-76774 and delivered to Australia in May 1945, it served in the Pacific theatre in the closing stages of WW2. In May 1963 A65-94 was part of 'C' Flight, 2 Sqdn based at RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia. It flew the first RAAF operational mission of the Vietnam War, delivering food and medical supplies to refugees fleeing the fighting. Purchased at auction by HARS in June 2000 and registered VH-EAF

The Morava was first flown in 1957 and 360 were built. Until 2010 this was the only one in Australia, built in 1960 and imported by a Bankstown agent for Czech-built types as OK-OHC in 1961. In 1962 it was registered VH-EMV (nicknamed "Eggs, Meat & Veg") to Coastal Airways for charters out of Mackay, Qld, then sold to Ansett-ANA in 1964 for Mackay-Collinsville schedules. Wfu in 1966, it passed into private hands and was donated to HARS in 2008 where it was repainted in Ansett colours and maintained in flying condition.

Winjeel A84-435 was delivered to the RAAF in October 1956 and served with 1 BFTS at Point Cook until 1968, later being used by 76 Sqdn as a FAC aircraft. Civilianised as VH-KHZ, it was re-registered VH-EAD in June 2005 and is maintained in fully airworthy condition by HARS

Being an ex-Southender, the Drover has a special place in my aviation memories, with G-APXX displayed around 1972 in the short-lived museum there. HARS's Mk.2 is the last of the 20 built, the only potential flyer of those surviving, built at Bankstown in 1953 and used as VH-AHZ to test modifications after the grounding of Mk.1 Drovers due to propeller failures. Sold to New Hebrides Airways as VQ-TAH in 1965 then VP-PAE next year. Returned to Australia becoming VH-PAB in 1968 and underwent long-term restoration to flight by Hawker de Havilland Australia at Bankstown from 1981, to VH-DHM in 1986

Ferried from Oakland, CA, to Cairns in 1975 as N5645K and registered VH-PDI in 1976, flying with Helitrans Australia, Sunbird Airlines, Eagle Airways, Airtransit/Air Kangaroo Island and a number of private owners.

Another ex-Polish MiG imported to Australia around 1990, registered VH-XIG then VH-BPG to the same owner as Lim-6 VH-ALG. Like that aircraft, this one was housed at Nowra before coming to HARS

A DC-3 with a long history in Australia. Douglas C-47-DL 41-18660 was delivered to the USAAF's 5th AF Australia in November 1942 named 'Shanghai Lil' and was leased to ANA Australian National Airways in September 1944. On conversion to DC-3C in August 1946, it joined TAA Trans Australia Airlines and was reregistered VH-SBA in 1960. Eventually retired in 1974, it was placed on display at Melbourne Airport form 1979 to 1987 reverting to VH-AES, but was restored to flight in 1988 and joined HARS in 2016

This Polish-built MiG-17F was imported to Australia by 1991 and appeared on the airshow circuit before entering the FAA Museum at Nowra where it was displayed for many years outdoors. By 2011 it was indoors having been painted in this glossy camouflage and was on show next to a Singapore Hunter, both of which have since been removed.

This S-2E was delivered aboard HMAS Melbourne in November 1967. It was among several damaged in hangar arson attack at Nowra but was not repaired for operation, instead being used as training airframe and later displayed outside the FAA Museum. After storage and maintenance work there it was flown to HARS at Albion Park in September 2019 where it is kept in flyable condition alongside S-2G N12-152333. S-2G N12-152812 is their third Tracker, also under long term return to airworthiness.

An overview of some of the gems in the main HARS hangar as the magnificent Super Connie is prepared to return to its place as the world's only flying example of the type

One of 30 Trackers supplied to the RAN using their USN BuNos as the main part of the serial, N12-152812 operated from April 1977 till August 1984. The 16 S-2Gs were replacement aircraft for 14 S-2Es, (several of which were lost in a deliberately lit hangar fire at Nowra in December 1976) and were often deployed by 816 Sqdn aboard HMAS Melbourne. In February 1990 it went to Qantas as a training aid, moving on to HARS in November 2006 where the long term aim is a return to airworthy condition alongside their flyable S-2E N12-153600 and S-2G N12-152333