HARS Navy Heritage Flight in Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia | Non-profit organisation

HARS Navy Heritage Flight

Locality: Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 2 4257 4333

Address: 54 Airport Road 2527 Albion Park, NSW, Australia

Website: https://hars.org.au

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• Non-profit organisation
• Arts and entertainment
• History Museum
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24.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 45/2020 8th November 2020. Micheal Hough, AM (NHF Project Leader) We’re still experimenting with the format of our weekly updates, so we would appreciate your feedback and comments. ... Meanwhile, regretfully Facebook have deleted its ‘Notes’ format from 31 October so our NHF Weekly Updates will only be viewed in ordinary ‘post’ format on the HARS NHF Facebook page. This update is on our recently acquired Navy blue C47 airframe N2-90. There is a very significant amount of work being expended by many willing HARS volunteers on restoring this very significant C47. For the official service record of RAN C47, see:- http://www.adf-serials.com.au/n2.htm N2-90 is a very low hours airframe, and has served in both RAAF and RAN livery. Its VIP interior was especially adapted be part of the Queens Flight in 1954 for Her Majesty’s first Royal Tour of Australia. It is wired for 28Volts for a fan, has special ducts and fittings for air conditioning, and has a unique half-door format to enable AV filming and VIP appearances. I would like to pay special tribute to all the willing HARS volunteers who are putting great efforts into restoring this significant airframe, and to the HARS engineering division members who are working through the required analyses to decide if HARS can restore N2-90 to flying condition. Enjoy the photos of the current restoration work being undertaken. 1. NHF Banner 2. Starboard wing root 3. Port wing root 4. Port wing repair work 5. Tail repair work 6. New Pratt & Whitney engine labels 7. Forward passenger cabin work 8. Aft passenger cabin 9. Cockpit 10. Cabin window replacement work 11. Cabin window replacement work 12. Window glass replacement work 13. Sea Venom and Dakota 14. Work on the windows Edited by John Sperring.

24.01.2022 The NHF Project- Progress Report-WEEK ENDING 23 August 2020 Michael Hough AM (HARS Navy Heritage Flight Project Leader) Welcome to our HARS NHF (Navy Heritage Flight) weekly update report, and our thanks for your interest and support for all HARS activities. A reminder that the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport (Albion Park Rail, NSW) is open and operating with safe entry requirements based on current COVID-19 practices (temperature taking, contact listing and s...Continue reading

20.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 35/2020 30 AUGUST 2020 Michael Hough AM (HARS Navy Heritage Flight Project Leader) Welcome to our HARS NHF (Navy Heritage Flight) weekly update report. Thanks for your interest and support for all HARS activities. A reminder that the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport (Albion Park Rail, NSW) is open and operating with safe entry requirements based on current COVID-19 practices (temperature taking, contact listing and social distancing)....Continue reading

18.01.2022 There has been a very active interest in the new HARS Museum Shop and we are learning there are several teething problems we will correct ASAP as follows:- 1) Please check your own device has enough storage space before attempting the digital download option as you will need about 7GB of storage capacity for it to work properly. 2) The website wrongly states the DVD is sold out. This is technical glitch which we are fixing as there are plenty of DVDs in stock and that orde...r option should be fixed and operational by tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 12 May). Apologies all round, and thanks for hanging in there whilst we sort this out. Thanks again. Michael Hough

18.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 12/2021 22nd March 2021. By John Sperring (co-editor NHF Facebook Page) This week we take a look at the third S-2 Tracker located at HARS-Albion Park Rail at its main base at the Shellharbour Airport. Grumman S-2E model Tracker 845 is one of excellent and varied operational service across two navies, survival from a major fire, use as a training aid, service as a ‘gate-guard’, and now restoration as a static display. A true survivor!...Continue reading

17.01.2022 NHF UPDATE 44/2020 - 1st November 2020. Facebook have deleted the ability to use ‘Notes’ format from 31 October meaning that the NHF Weekly Updates will be in ordinary Facebook Post format. We are investigating alternative means of formatting. Photos below are copyright free for non-commercial use.... The HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport (Albion Park Rail, NSW) is open and operating. COME FOR A VISIT. Below is a snapshot of each of our NHF airframes at HARS Albion Park, and those Air Affairs, Nowra. Major Focus Points at present. Each NHF airframe receives regular attention from our HARS volunteers (cleaning, painting, maintaining exterior etc) but particular activities this past week have been:- Tracker N12-153597 (842):- Continued external painting, installation of radio aerials & new cockpit glass & paperwork to transfer ownership to HARS, in addition to sourcing Tracker spares to bring this aircraft to gate-guard status. Tracker N12-152833 (844):- 100 hourly inspection & preparation for display at our monthly Tarmac weekends. Tracker N12-152812 (851):- no update this week. Dakota N2-90:- After it’s recent wash-down, more specific cleaning, maintenance on the cockpit side hatch, polishing engine cowls & fixing of Pratt & Whitney stickers, & continued installation of seating in the forward passenger cabin. Sea Venom N4-895 (870):- Continued preparation for external painting. Wessex N7-222 (832):- nothing to report. Iroquois N9-3101 (893):- no updated information. Iroquois N9-893 (898):- continuing maintenance check engine run-ups with a view to Huey 898 appearing at HARS over Tarmac Days 13-15 Nov 2020. Autocar N11-300 (856):- nothing to report. Sea Fury 110JR:- no updated information. Next week’s NHF Update Report:- The report next week will provide an update on one specific aircraft in the NHF collection, most likely the Navy C-47B Dakota. Thanks for supporting HARS and the HARS Navy Heritage Flight. Edited by John Sperring

16.01.2022 NHF SPECIAL REPORT - 18th November 2020. WELCOME TO HARS, HUEY 898. Reportage by Carl Robinson... Preceded by its unmistakable sound and right on 0930 hours, the HARS Navy Heritage Flight's Iroquois UH-1B ‘Huey’ 898 put in a majestic appearance at this month's Open Tarmac Day, the culmination of much restoration work by volunteers at the Air Affairs base in Nowra. The Huey arrived with a crew of five, and wheels. A self-contained travelling show! With NHF’s Tracker 844 as backdrop, HARS Videographer Tim May interviewed former 26-year RAN veteran Captain (Rtd) and HARS member Vic Batese (C), who flew first with the 135th Assault Helicopter Company (EMU) in South Vietnam in 1968 and a subsequent career to 1980, and LtCdr (Rtd) Tom Smillie (1979-2019) with wide range of service, including Sinai and Antarctica. Huey 898 later joined up with a restored Bell 47 Sioux for a documentary shoot down the coast and a swing back over HARS at Albion Park's Shellharbour Airport. Heading home mid-afternoon, Project Leader & Engineer Hayden King (L) poses for a good-bye shot with Vic and Tom in the pilot seats. Rounding off the five-member crew were LAME's Warren Spinks and Rob McNeil, a truly self-contained travelling unit. Congratulations, guys!

15.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 46/2020 15th November 2020. Michael Hough, AM (HARS NHF Project Leader) As mentioned previously we have had to change our update format format, as Facebook has deleted its Notes format.... This week’s update focuses on our two ex-RAN FAA Iroquois UH-1B ‘Huey’ airframes; colloquially referred to as Huey 893 and Huey 898. For the official service record of the RAN UH1B’s, within the context of all Hueys that served in the ADF see:- http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/3a2.htm The GOOD NEWS is that Huey 898 has been restored to flying condition and appeared this weekend at HARS Albion Park on Sunday 15th Nov. The following photos show Hueys 893 & 898 in their hangar and storage facilities at our major NHFR sponsor Air Affairs taken 10 November, as well as Huey 898 after its arrival at Shellharbour Airport for Sunday’s Tarmac Day. The photos are copyright free for NFP usage in promoting HARS in general and the Navy Heritage Flight in particular. I would like to recognise and thank the hard work of all the Huey NHF volunteers who have made this all possible, particularly recognising Mr. Chris Sievers, CEO of Air Affairs, for his continued generous sponsorship.

14.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 43/2020 25th October 2020 Michael Hough AM (NHF Project Leader) Welcome to our HARS NHF (Navy Heritage Flight) weekly update report. Thank you for your interest and support for all HARS activities.... Photos below were taken by Michael Hough are copyright free for NFP use. A reminder that the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport (Albion Park Rail, NSW) is open and operating with sensible entry requirements based on safe COVID-19 practices (e.g. temperature taking, contact listing and social distancing). PLEASE SUPPORT US BY SPREADING THE WORD AND PLEASE COME TO HARS FOR A VISIT. This week’s NHF Report- An update on both NHF ‘Huey’ Airframes. This week the report will bring you a visual snapshot of the two NHF Bell Iroquois UH1B airframes which are based at our major sponsor Air Affairs, at Yerriyong near Nowra. If you want to review the history of Huey airframes see:- http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a2.htm Here is a brief update report from our Huey project leaders Vic and Hayden: Weather permitting, we expect to complete remaining post restoration flight checks on Iroquois 898 N9-3104 (VH-VCC) this Sunday 25th Oct 20. We plan to present this aircraft at the HARS tarmac day at Shellharbour Regional Airport on Sunday 15th November. Work continues on cataloguing and stowing Iroquois spares. The technical team have assigned themselves restoration activities according to their ‘trades’ and work on Iroquois 893 N9-3101 will now commence. I would like to pay tribute to all the Huey team members for their efforts, and to our major sponsor Air Affairs for its support, for the great achievement of getting 898 ‘back’ to flying status soon. It will be wonderful to see this NHF airframe at next month’s Tarmac Day Sunday , weather and operational status permitting of course. Enjoy the photos and videoclip attached, and thank you for your support and interest. FOR A VIDEOCLIP see:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/mJr9vVAcVTnDjipX6 HOW CAN YOU HELP US? A very practical way you can assist us to build capacity and continue the activities of the NHF is to purchase something from our HARS e-shop. SO- PLEASE BUY SOMETHING FROM OUR HARS e-SHOP see:- www.harsmuseumshop.org.au and support HARS and the NHF by purchasing something online for yourself or BUY a GIFT CARD and send it to a friend. THANK YOU. Next week’s NHF Report:- The report next week will provide a visual update of the full set of NHF airframes, and to avoid editorial monotony next week’s report will be provided by my editors John Sperring. Thanks John. Thanks to each of you for supporting HARS and the HARS Navy Heritage Flight. Edited by John Sperring.

13.01.2022 HARS Navy Heritage Flight SPECIAL UPDATE REPORT 41A/2020 13th October 2020. Michael Hough, AM (HARS NHF Project Leader) A Special NHF Report- An Update on HUEY 998 RETURNING TO FLYING STATUS... All the attached photos were taken by Michael Hough & are Copyright Free for NFP Usage. I am delighted to advise that the dedicated team of HARS volunteers had a very productive day last Sunday (11th October) when Iroquois UH1B 898 was flown for maintenance check flights at Nowra. The team was pleased with the flights. HARS expects to showcase the helicopter at the next Shellharbour Tarmac days in November. Please find attached some still shots and a brief AV clip of this extremely important milestone. On behalf of all of us I would like to thank and congratulate all the HARS volunteers who made this possible, and the sponsors who have supported us -especially Mr. Chris Sievers, CEO of Air Affairs. The good news is that we have commissioned Mountain Lion Productions to record the significant stages of 898’s restoration. We plan to produce an AV program of its restoration to flying, at this stage entitled Launch Huey 898.

13.01.2022 Adjunct to NHF UPDATE REPORT 39/2020 27 September 2020. John Sperring (NHF Team) HARS has four C47/DC3 transport aircraft at its main base at Albion Park (Shellharbour Airport). ... These include (see following photos): Douglas C-47B Dakota A65-95 VH-EAE painted in RAAF WWII olive-drab livery with the side letters PKL. Douglas C-47DL Dakota DC3 ‘Hawdon’ VH-AES in polished aluminium with Trans Australian Airlines (TAA) livery of the 1960s. Douglas C-47B Dakota A65-94 VH-EAF painted in RAAF livery with its distinctive ARDU tail plane (Aircraft Research & Development Unit). Note: I’ve flown twice in VH-EAF; once in the mid 1990s when I served in the RAAF and took some of my unit from Alice Springs NT to Exmouth WA return via Mt Newman WA, the second time in about 2009 taking Air Force Cadets for a ‘air experience flight’. Douglas C-47B Dakota A65-90, N2-90 VH-NVZ in mid-1950s Royal Australian Navy blue/white livery.

12.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 42/2020 18th October 2020. Welcome to our HARS NHF (Navy Heritage Flight) weekly update report. Thank you for your interest and support for all HARS activities. Photos below were taken by Michael Hough are copyright free for NFP use.... A reminder that the HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport (Albion Park Rail, NSW) is open and operating with sensible entry requirements based on safe COVID-19 practices (e.g. temperature taking, contact listing and social distancing). PLEASE SUPPORT US BY SPREADING THE WORD AND PLEASE COME TO HARS FOR A VISIT. This week’s NHF Report- An update on our HARS Navy Heritage Flight airframes. This week the report will bring you a visual snapshot of each of the NHF airframes located at HARS Albion Park, or at our major sponsor Air Affairs at Yerriyong, near Nowra. Thank you for your support and interest. HOW CAN YOU HELP US? A very practical way you can assist us to build capacity and continue the activities of the NHF is to purchase something from our HARS e-shop. SO- PLEASE BUY SOMETHING FROM OUR HARS e-SHOP (e.g.Launch Tracker 844) seewww.harsmuseumshop.org.au -and support HARS and the NHF by purchasing something online for yourself or BUY a GIFT CARD and send it to a friend. THANK YOU. Our Major Action Focus Points at present. Each NHF airframe receives regular attention for our HARS volunteers, and the particular highlight activities at present are:- Tracker 844:- preparing for its required 100 hourly inspection and for active display at each of our Tarmac weekends at HARS once a month. Huey 898:- continuing maintenance check flying with a view to Huey 898 appearing in public at our HARS main base at Albion Park November during Tarmac Days 13-15 Nov 2020. Sea Venom:- Being Prepared for external painting now the warmer weather is with us. Tracker 842:- Processing paperwork to transfer ownership to HARS, and gathering of required Tracker spares to continue rebuilding to a gate guard status display aircraft. Next week’s NHF Report:- The report next week will provide an update on the two NHF Hueys located at Air Affairs. Once again, our thanks to each of you for supporting HARS and the HARS Navy Heritage Flight.

10.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 13/2021 29th March 2021. Carl Robinson (co-editor NHF Newsletter & Facebook Page) This week’s report is on our Westland Wessex N7-222 832 and how we at HARS have discovered its remarkable history. Remember this? ...Continue reading

09.01.2022 A reminder: The HARS Navy Heritage Flight Iroquois UH1B ‘Huey’ N9-3104 898 is scheduled to fly this Sunday 15th November. Huey 898 is scheduled to appear at the HARS Tarmac day at the Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park Rail this Sunday arriving at approximately 9.30 am from its base at Air Affairs Nowra (Yerriyong) and departing at approximately 3.30pm to return to its base." Thanks ... Michael Hough See more

08.01.2022 CLASSIC HARS DVD AVAILABLE AGAIN AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD HARS is pleased to advise the very popular HARS DVD- "An affair With Connie has been digitally remastered and is now available through the HARS Museum Shop as a digital download. You can purchase it as a direct download from the HARS e shop, or purchase the accompanying gift card to provide the digital download for a friend. ... It is a great souvenir program of how HARS volunteers rescued an ex-USAF Super Constellation, restored it to flying status, and successfully flew it back to Australia from Tucson Arizona. A great gift and a great souvenir. See:- https://www.harsmuseumshop.com.au/collect/digital-downloads

08.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 10/2021 8th March 2021. by Carl Robinson (Co-Editor of NHF Facebook Page) Welcome to this week’s HARS Navy Heritage Flight report this week written from the Temora Aviation Museum’s ‘Air Force Centenary Showcase’ where our ex-RAN Huey 898 was one of three participating aircraft from HARS for this year’s two-day air show on 6 & 7 March 2021....Continue reading

07.01.2022 NHF UPDATE REPORT 11/2021 15th March 2021 By Carl Robinson (co-Editor of the HARS NHF Newsletter & Facebook page) VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE MEET RAN NAVY AIRCRAFT WHO SAVED THEM IN SOUTH CHINA SEA 40 YEARS AGO. ...Continue reading