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

One of 27 Wessex helicopters operated by the RAN between 1962 and 1989. It was damaged in a forced landing on a beach near Rockhampton in November 1974 and was airlifted out by a Chinook. Returned to service and lastly used as a training aid at Wagga Wagga, it entered the FAA Museum at Nowra in 2015 later moving on to HARS. N7-226 is now displayed instead at Nowra.

Built in Britain as Canberra T.4 WT492 in late 1955 but transferred from the RAF to RAAF in mid-1956, serving with 2 SQdn, ARDU ((Aircraft Research and Development Unit, Woomera) and 6 Sqdn before becoming a ground instructional airframe at Wagga Wagga in 1964. Stored at Australian Aviation Museum Bankstown from 1983 and to HARS here at Albion Park in 2010 where external restoration was undertaken.

In July 1954 A94-901 was the first Sabre to enter RAAF service. It was the second Avon Sabre built following the prototype and served with various squadrons. From 1961 to 1965 it was part of the 76 Sqdn 'Black Panthers' aerobatic team based at RAAF Williamtown and was struck off charge in 1966, then used as a gate guardian at Fishermans Bend. After being displayed at the Mildura Warbirds Museum, Vic, it was externally restored by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown, moving to HARS in late 2006

The last of a batch of twelve SP-2H Neptunes supplied under MDAP to Australia in 1962, allocated BuNo 149081 and becoming A89-281 on arrival for service with 10 Sqdn RAAF Townsville. Flown to Amberley for disposal at the end of 1977 and taken in by the Chewing Gum Field Museum, QLD for static display. Trucked to Archerfield Airport in 1990. Although registration VH-NEP was reserved it was not taken up and was eventually dismantled between 2003 and 2005 having been donated to HARS, becoming the third Neptune in the collection and providing spares for their flying aircraft.

Previously displayed at Perth, WA and Bankstown, NSW then to HARS in 2007 in taxi-able condition. Like A79-637 alongside and a number of other preserved Vampires, in the mid-1960s flew with the RAAF 'Telstars' aerobatic team.