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Temora
has a rich and noteworthy aviation history having been home
to the No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School (10 EFTS) set
up by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in May 1941. No
10 EFTS was the largest and longest lived of the flying schools
established under the Empire Air Training Scheme during World
War Two (WWII).
Throughout WWII more
than 10,000 personnel were involved at the school with upwards
of 2,400 pilots being trained. At its peak the unit contained
a total of 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft. Four satellite
airfields were set up around the Temora district to cope with
the demand to train RAAF pilots.
No 10 EFTS ceased operation
on 12 March 1946 making it the last WWII flying school to close.
Since then, Temora has continued its aviation heritage becoming
the preferred airfield for a growing number of sport aviation
activities including gliding, parachuting and ultra-light aircraft
operations.
When Sydney businessman
David Lowy expressed interest in establishing an aviation museum
dedicated to aircraft and pilots who had defended Australia, Temora Aerodrome had all the attributes - rich in aviation
history, hospitable people, an encouraging and co-operative
local council, good weather, flat terrain and uncontrolled air
space below 20,000 feet.
The museum was incorporated
in late 1999. Construction of the facilities then commenced
and a Governing Committee made up of a group of experienced
and diverse people was formed.
The hangar facility was
completed in February 2000 and David Lowy donated the initial
aircraft for the collection. The museum was opened for public
viewing in June 2000. In late 2000 construction commenced on
the exhibition buildings, containing display space, theatrette,
admission entrance, gift shop, a children's playground and picnic
area. These were completed and opened to the public August 2001.
Stage Three of the
Museum Complex was completed in November 2002 with the opening
of a 1980 sq m. display hangar. All aircraft are housed in this
new hangar with the original hangar becoming a customised restoration
and maintenance facility.
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