Queensland Air Museum - Photos

[NickN]

The QLD aviation museum is based at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in QLD.

I have to say, it's the best static display I have seen so far with huge variety and lots of fantastic military and civilian aircraft on display plus tonnes of memorabilia and rare and one-off items on display.

I spent around 3 hours there but could have spent a whole lot more with no kids and cooler weather, the sun and heat was ferocious!

I highly recommend this to anybody who might be in the area, or even in Brisbane/Gold Coast. We drove up from the Gold Coast in less than 2 hours and stayed at the beautiful Rydges Oasis Resort in Caloundra, one of the nicest seaside towns I have ever been to.

Link: http://nickfouche.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Queensland-Air-Museum/10966670_kkPXS/1/766379994_FuEAt (Just click the thumbnail on the left to display in large size on the right - there is 4 pages)

[Kent Broadhead]

It certainly makes one feel old when you've flown on museum pieces - the Nord 262 Mohawk in about 1993....

Kent

[NickN]

Kent, you lucky bugger!

It really makes you appreciate modern flight decks after seeing some of the primitive equipment used back then.

[Scott Lindsell]

Nick N,
What a tremendous collection. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Scott.

[chrisb]

Jumping onto Nick's thread, I was lucky enough to spend a day at the Qantas Founders Museum. Well worth the visit - there's a lot more inside that I didn't photograph.

http://picasaweb.google.com/chrisbpics/20091219QantasLongreach#

Queensland seems to be lucky with the aviation history!

[Chris Griffiths]

Great photos Nick.
I will certainly make time to visit next time I am in the area.

Interesting to see Caribou A4-173 looking pristine but "powerless", here is a somewhat inferior photo of her when she was much younger....

http://www.pbase.com/chrisg/image/31408917.jpg

Cheers

[NickN]

Chris,

That's a great pic of A4-173! Great to see it has listed this long for historic purposes!

It is definately being kept at a good home these days, they keep it clean and being able to walk inside was a treat!

It was easily 45 degrees + inside, makes you feel for the troops who had to fly in her during hot weather.

[Damian N]

I think from memory 73 is actually a bit of a hybrid - fuselage maybe is 73 and wings and tail from another 'bou?

[Chris Griffiths]

Damian,

I believe that is correct and the wings/tail came from A4-164.

Cheers

[Greg McDonald]

Not a bad place to visit Nick. I didn't miss you by much...I went through the museum on 22/01/10.

Unfortunately it probably won't be in this location for a lot longer. The whole airport is earmarked to be closed so that a business park can be built there and also a new railway station.

And don't tell everybody about Caloundra....I've been going there for holidays since I was a kid. It's easily the most beautiful place on the planet!!

[Brenden S]

Great photos guys. Both are something I would like to do in the near future.

[NickN]

Greg, will keep the Caloundra secret a secret :D

I read the board at the front desk, I believe the date was sometime in 2014 that the museum and airport is due to close.

Supposedly the developer promised to help relocate them but has backed out or not finalized a plan yet.

I sincerely hope the government realizes the importance of such a wonderful asset and stands in the protect the memorabilia for future generations.