Darwin Aviation Museum facts for kids
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The museum in 2023
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| Former name | Australian Aviation Heritage Centre |
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| Established | 1988 |
| Location | 557 Stuart Highway, Winnellie, Northern Territory |
| Type | Aerospace museum |
The Darwin Aviation Museum is a cool place in Darwin, Australia. It used to be called the Australian Aviation Heritage Centre. This museum shows off amazing aircraft and powerful aircraft engines. Many of these have a special connection to the Northern Territory and the history of flying in Australia. You can find it in the Winnellie area of Darwin.
Contents
History of the Museum
The idea for the museum started way back in 1976. A group of people who loved aviation wanted to save old plane parts. They wanted to protect these items after Cyclone Tracy caused a lot of damage. Later, their goal grew to include finding and saving parts from planes that crashed during World War II. They also wanted to remember the planes that helped defend Darwin during the war.
The museum first opened its doors to visitors in 1988. In the late 1980s, the museum group worked with the United States Air Force (USAF). They also worked with the Northern Territory Government. Their big goal was to get a huge Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber. This giant plane was no longer needed by the USAF. They also planned to build a special museum building to show it off.
In June 1990, the new Darwin Aviation Museum officially opened. In 2018, the museum got a P-3C aircraft. They started looking into making their hangar bigger to fit this new addition.
What You Can See
The museum has an amazing collection of aircraft and engines. One of the most impressive planes on display is a Boeing B-52G bomber. This massive aircraft is on permanent loan from the United States Air Force. It's very special because it's one of only three B-52s on public display anywhere in the world outside of the United States! You can also see a piece of a bomb. This fragment is from a WWII air raid on Darwin.
Aircraft on Display
- Auster J/5P Autocar 3178
- Boeing B-52G Stratofortress 59-2596 "Darwin's Pride"
- CAC Sabre A94-914/A94-921
- Bell AH-1G Cobra 71-21018
- Dassault Mirage IIIO A3-36
- de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth A17-4
- de Havilland Dove 1B 4373
- General Dynamics F-111C A8-113
- Hovey Delta Bird
- Mitsubishi MU-2B 37
- Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 Zero BII-124
- North American B-25D Mitchell 41-30222
- Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
- Rutan Long-EZ
- Supermarine Spitfire VIII – Replica
- Westland Wessex HAS.31B N7-202
Aircraft Engines on Display
- Allison J33
- Allison V-1710
- Bristol Centaurus
- Continental O-200
- de Havilland Gipsy Major II
- de Havilland Gipsy Six II
- de Havilland Gipsy Queen 30
- de Havilland Gipsy Queen 70-2
- Franklin 6V4
- Liberty L-12
- Nakajima Sakae 12
- Napier Gazelle
- Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
- Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp
- Rolls-Royce Avon RA.6
- Rolls-Royce Derwent 8
- Rolls-Royce Merlin XXIII
- Wright R-2600-13 Twin Cyclone
See also
- List of aviation museums
