Intergalactic touchdown: Paul Vezgoff’s full-size spaceship prop snowspeeder will be a popular attraction at HARS Aviation Museum over the summer school holidays. Photo: HARS.
The force will be strong at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum these school holidays, with a full-sized snowspeeder prop from Star Wars coming in to land this Saturday (14 December).
The snowspeeder, a non-working static prop created through detailed and thorough research, appeared in a David vs Goliath battle in the movie The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It features real-world everyday parts such as the aircraft latches on the cockpit.
At HARS, the snowspeeder will be located beside Catalina PBY Frigate Bird II, which is on loan from the Powerhouse Museum, while renovations are underway at its normal Ultimo home, allowing visitors the chance to marvel at one of the crafts that helped the Rebel allies hold their ground against Imperial walkers.
HARS is an ideal backdrop for the craft, according to its creator Paul Vezgoff.
“The science of flight and imagination come together in a fascinating way when we explore how human creativity and technological innovation enable us to soar through the skies,” he says.
The snowspeeder will be on display for the duration of the summer school holidays.
Also coming in to land on Saturday 14 December for one of the museum’s highly interactive Tarmac Days will be two beautifully restored Iroquois helicopters, one former Navy and the other a former RAAF and Army veteran.
Joining it will be two veteran “Huey” helicopters normally based at a facility on the western side of HMAS Albatross (the Royal Australian Navy’s main navel air station) where HARS Aviation Museum volunteers and veterans maintain them.
A former RAAF and Army Huey 703 will land at HARS on Saturday. Photo: Gavin Hughes.
One, a beautifully restored veteran Huey 703 was commissioned with the RAAF No 9 squadron during the Vietnam conflict in 1971, and was transferred to Army Aviation in 1989 until retirement in 2005.
The other, a blue and white Huey B898 ex-RAN Bravo model, is one of five Navy Iroquois that trained Fleet Air Arm aircrew, maintainers and administrative personnel who, over a four-year period, served ashore fully integrated with the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company. This team (RAN Helicopter Team Vietnam) was later awarded the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry.
The Hueys are due to land at HARS Aviation Museum at around 10:15 am and depart at 3 pm, subject to operational factors.
HARS Aviation Museum offers a largely undercover and hands-on experience for visitors at its Shellharbour Airport hangars.
While open every day to the public (except Christmas Day), the museum’s monthly Tarmac Days provide HARS volunteers a monthly opportunity to operate some of their almost 60 aircraft of historic significance – much to its visitors’ delight.
There’s also a flight simulator, created by Powerhouse Museum staff, which allows visitors to “fly” the museum’s famous aircraft.
Visitors can also take a tour hosted by informative volunteer guides and drop into Cafe Connie for a meal or coffee.
HARS Aviation Museum is open daily (except on Christmas Day) from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and is located at Shellharbour Airport, off the old Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail and just a short walk from the railway station.
The December Tarmac Days will be held this coming weekend on Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December – visit HARS for more information.
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