70 years ago on March 5th, 1936, the prototype Supermarine Spitfire Type F37/34, registered as K5054, took its first flight at Eastleigh Airport near Southampton, UK. It was a historic moment that began the development of the Spitfire, one of the most famous fighter aircraft of all time. This Flying Weekend, March 4th & 5th, celebrates this important date in aviation history with the Museum’s Mk VIII Spitfire to fly both Saturday and Sunday. The Museum’s Spitfire is the only one flying in Australia! Always a popular attraction, the Spitfire appeals to war veterans, families and children alike. So don’t miss out on seeing it soar.
March 8th will mark the 60th anniversary of the closure of No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School. The Temora Aviation Museum is now based on the site where the training school existed. Upwards of 2,400 pilots were trained and more than 10,000 personnel were based here. The Museum’s de Havilland Tiger Moth was one of the 97 Tiger Moths, flown as training aircraft at the airfield. Come along to the Flying Weekend to see the Museum’s Tiger Moth take to the skies as it did 60 years ago.
Competitions
The Museum is holding a competition on the Saturday of the Flying Weekend to ‘Win a Ride in the Wirraway’. To have your chance to win, all you need to do is purchase a copy of the Museum’s DVD or video at Saturday’s flying day. ‘Temora Aviation Museum Warbirds’, features footage of the Museum’s aircraft including the Wirraway and Spitfire, it’s a great way to learn more about the aircraft and to experience what it’s like to fly in them. Footage filmed from the cockpits of the Museum’s aircraft is featured, as well as rare archive film.
Your chances can be doubled in this competition by also purchasing the book by ex-WWII Spitfire pilot Edward ‘Ted’ Sly, called ‘The Luck of the Draw – Horses, Spitfires and Kittyhawks’. This will enable the purchaser to have two tickets in the draw.
Visiting Aircraft
The Museum is also excited to announce that it is expecting the RAAF Roulettes to perform on Saturday only, with other visiting aircraft such as the Boomerang, Harvard, Ceres, Cessna 0-1 and Trojan joining the Museum’s already impressive list of aircraft over the weekend. Don’t miss out!
Live Music
The Australian Army Band Kapooka will be joining us on Saturday’s Flying Day to provide some live entertainment. We look forward to their performance.
Weather:
According to the weather link on the Visitor Information page of the website, the weather is expected to be mostly sunny over the weekend with tops of 33°C, so remember to bring your sun protection.