Distant Newbie

Morning all,

Or at least is here. As an introduction, just wished to compliment those moderating and using the Message Board as a breath of fresh air certainly in comparison to European and particularly UK e-Groups. I have used ADF extensively in the planning of a three week trip to Australia in February next and as have always felt that if there is something to offer when something is taken, it must be shared. Clearly I have little to share at present but my trip should provide a considerable amount of updated information - as is my intention. I am all over NSW, Adelaide, Sydney and Victoria in these three weeks hitting as many jets-on-sticks, museums and bases as is possible within my timescale.

Noting that Camden and HARS remain closed these will remain for me only possibles but hopefully something may have happened in this interim. If anyone can offer pointers on the 4000km trip I propose in the Melbourne / Adelaide / Sydney triangle, it will be much appreciated. Particularly reference security implications of viewing RAAF and RAN bases, much appreciated. I do not wish to create issues.

Many thanks for your attention and can not wait to get to your country.

Kind regards
Rick Ware
Glenrothes
Fife UK

In Adelaide area this place is well worth a look. http://www.classicjets.com/

Hi BarneyB,

Many thanks for response. I have pencilled in a visit to Parafield for 3rd March - I am trying to be that highly organised. The use of the ADF individual aircraft lists have been invaluable to my planning and is a marvellous site for this kind of help. Checking out Port Adelaide too prior to northwards to Parafield. Then onto a dekko at the Mirage at Edinbugh and anything else around there.

Clearly I am also intending Avalon for the previous Saturday so all looking good. Reply appreciated, Barney, have a good evening.

Kind regards
Rick

Fixed Wing Fleet Air Arm Flying stopped more or less mid 1984 - anything left is in the FAAM at NAS Nowra about 100 Km south of Sydney near the coast:

http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet-air-arm-museum
&
http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south...-air-arm-museum

If you have time to look around the local area Jervis Bay that can be well spent time.

When visiting Melbourne you should have the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, and Moorabbin Air Museum.
100kms South East is the Vietnam Veteran's Museum is at Newhaven on Phillip Island. Home of the world's oldest Canberra.
I will leave locals of other states to spruke their assets!

G'day Rick, should have added this one too in Port Adelaide http://www.saam.org.au/ edit, missed that you mentioned Port Adelaide, the Mirage at Edinburgh is outside the gate, on the other side of the road is a Leopard tank, the base is now Army / Air Force. Just down the road is a military vehicle museum.

This post has been edited by Barneyb on Nov 20 2014, 07:27 PM

Afternoon guys,

Your responses are much appreciated. And supports this distant view of just how helpful your Group is. Just so that it can be seen how much research I have undertaken and mostly using the ADF site see below. It will also be noted that in the expectation of 4000+ photos and records, I should be able to provide some serious updates for the website - as much in appreciation when I return. So this is my intended optimistic route as clearly I don't mind driving:

Moorabbin, Werribee, Point Cook, Braybrook, DSTO at Port Melbourne, (believe insufficient time for Phillip Island unfortunately) AVALON, BALLARAT, CJFM Parafield, SAAM, Noarlunga afd, Lincoln Nitschke, Narrandera, Griffith, Bolton Pk at WW, WW, Temora, Canberra AWM, Treloar, Fairbairns, Bankston, Marsden Pk, Richmond, Camden, Wlllongong, Nowra Huey, Nowra Trackers, Nowra, East Sale, West Sale, Cranborne then Dandenong.....then home for a rest

I suspect I shall need a break to recover from this holiday! Thanks for all input.

Kind regards
Rick

Do you know when they are going to have another open day/air show?

Rick, in case you have the wrong impression from sources. At FAAM you will see the RAN jets Vampire, Sea Venom, Macchi and A4G/TA4G Skyhawk. Bon Voyage.

Morning Luig,

The mention I make of Nowra Huey and Trackers are those not at the Nowra museum. The Huey is I believe on a stick just south of a bridge as you enter Nowra and the Trackers on private land to the NW of the airfield. Also now to add the Military Museum near Edinburgh, thanks Barney.

I am most appreciative of these pointers and your membership attention just to make sure I have the correct info is unheard of certainly here. If my trip sees this same amount of hospitality, it will rank right up there with Finland and Denmark. The two most friendly countries I have yet been to.

Does anyone know if any of the RAAF bases mentioned do tours or PR trips round? I believe not but worth asking. Thanks again.

Kind regards
Rick

Heheh. There used to be a Sea Venom on a stick East of the base at the highway turn off. The Venom fell off though. It became very sad indeed.

Yes, RAAF Amberley does.

Am unsure, but I think every 2nd Sunday.
Google for details:
RAAF Amberley Heritage Centre

It is a fine museum.

Morning,

And thanks Batman. Unfortunately the most northerly area of my trip is Richmond so have to bodyswerve Tamworth, Wiliamtown and Amberley. The latter looks great and a lot of interesting kit but must draw the line somewhere - you have a big country.

In terms of access was thinking of Edinburgh or East Sale although understand these are not granted often. Thanks for the help.

Kind regards
Rick

Rick,
RAAF Edinburgh does not have guided tours of the base, mainly for security reasons. We have a Mirage fighter as a gate guard which you will be able to observe from outside of the base main gate. Parafield Airport which has a good military collection is approximately 10 -12 Kms south of the base. The Macchi jet trainer that was on the parade ground was dismantled only last week, to where it has gone, I do not know.

pgh

Edinburgh Macchi went to Amberley but not AAHC.

This post has been edited by Aardvark on Nov 24 2014, 06:54 PM

Evening guys,

Cheers for this. Did not believe Edinburgh did organised tours which is a pity however every country has differing ideas about security as I have found from the 20+ countries visited in recent years. Although unable to report records by pre-agreement, have toured strike aircraft and chopper prod lines in Europe and the US which is fascinating and acceptable but dependant upon the stance taken. Not sure any major harm is done when visitors are fully checked out but that is the way things often are. Always worth the ask though.

Wasn't sure the MB326 was visible from the outside so hope it has been preserved somewhere for you guys. So much heritage and honour to the worthy people in defence just evaporates, it is a shame. Pleased to see that some of your F-111s managed to be rescued and have read how difficult that has been. So thanks pgh, any help and information is always of benefit.

Kind regards
Rick

Personally I think making Richmond the Northern most point would be a mistake.
No offence to Richmond but there really isn't much to see there apart from the 12 C-130J Hercules based there.
Williamtown is only an hour north and has Fighter World Museum which in turn has a viewing deck to watch classic Hornets, Hawks and Wedgetails taking off and landing.

Afternoon,

Thanks Martin, note your very valid comments. Wish I could get to Williamtown but am only in Sydney area for three days and will be staying with relatives so do not wish to be disappearing all the time. Have looked at Williamtown and a draw so if I can I surely will but looks tight for messing with good folk putting me up and also putting up with me. Doing Richmond also includes the Aust Maritime Museum, Bankstown and Marsden Park.

The 12 C-130Js will be great anyway as have seen none of them across my way. Even two of the Point Cook Hs will be new. Got me thinking again but having to play my stays with folk by ear, so much else to see - remember even Kangaroos and Wombats are relatively rare in central Scotland :>)

If it looks like a go-er, I'll be there with only an hour as you say. Danger in moving lines always. Thanks again.

Kind regards
Rick

Rick,
You aren't the only Brit here :D

I've been half a dozen times to Oz, and IMHO you are bonkers not planning to go to Williamtown. That would be first on my list. Excellent museum with café, and viewing terasse to watch the landings and takeoffs. You can even fly in/out of there (Newcastle NTL) with Virgin Australia and Jetstar, and it's cheap from Melbourne. You then just walk from the terminal around the approach to the museum.

"Rules" on photography are stricter than in most of Northern Europe. Basically, don't poke a lens through the fence at a military base to photograph anything. If it's on approach or above the fence line you're usually OK, but if they think you're photographing the base itself you'll be jostled and get the "Commonwealth Act" read to you.

Write to the bases - I've successfully managed to get personal tours at Amberley, Edinburgh, Oakey and Wagga Wagga. You won't be allowed to take photos on base though. They can even get twitchy about gate guards.

I've not done it myself, but I understand that on the drive from Melbourne to Canberra you'll see enough Kangaroos to put you off them for life. I was told it can be 'effin dangerous, especially at night. The first one hops across in front of you, the second you swerve and miss, and the third goes bump and comes through the windscreen. There is little point in driving when internal flights are so cheap.

Cheers
Judwin

Oh - and don't expect to see much military flying on a Friday afternoon. POETS day.

This post has been edited by Judwin on Nov 25 2014, 04:08 AM

After you're done at Point Cook, it would be well worth your while to drive another 20 minutes west to Werribee to check out Austraila's only survivng B24 Liberator.

http://b24australia.org.au/home.html

Evening,

Thanks Judwin. Knew someone would comment Brit-wise as external perspective relating to Europe is really helpful. Everyone I know has said I'm bonkers bodyswerving Williamtown too but just seeking a balanced view whilst seeing as much as is politically acceptable. How are the security guys for telescopes checking out flightlines anyway?

Your comments vis-a-vis graphing is most helpful as don't wish to make life difficult for those I leave behind. Am on some roads described as "kangarooey" like Hay to Wagga Wagga and serious watch out, but all experience and of interest. Shall bear your comments in mind as flexibility has to be the key going anywhere.

And cheers, Anson A4-4, Werribee is on the Point Cook area list too. This input for what may be my last real adventure is marvellous and only hope I can do the website justice with my updating reports on my return.

Shall try not to be bonkers, Wedgetails are a real draw.

Kind regards
Rick