This Victa Airtourer originally carried the registration VH-RQG, but was re-registered VH-EAQ after its acquisition by HARS in 2020. Photo via Rick Evans.

One of 24 Neptunes operated by the RAAF and among a batch of 12 of the later SP-2Hs delivered in 1962 to 10 Sqdn at Townsville, Qld. It was operated in the ASR role and flew the last mission by an RAAF Neptune at the end of November 1977. Sold to a scrapper in 1978, it was not removed in time and passed to a private buyer, restored to flight during 1981 and bought by HARS in 1988. Repainted in original midnight blue 1991 and to Albion Park 2002 with J34s fitted. On 24th Dec 2023, flown again after two-year restoration, now the only flying P-2 in the world.

Actually ex-Polish AF and first delivered in 1973 as 5011, this MiG-21 was imported to Australia in 1992. It was restored to flight by an RAAF pilot at Williamtown under civil registration in 1994 in the guise of an Indian AF machine. After a short but spectacular career on the show circuit, the challenge of operating such a demanding aeroplane became too much and it was grounded and moved into the Fighter World Museum at Williamtown, recently moving on to HARS.

The superb Fokker replica which was built to commemorate the pioneer flying by Charles Kingsford Smith, notably the first trans-Pacific crossing in 1928. Seen here undergoing final preparation for return to flight, which was achieved just a month later.

Delivered to the RAN in early 1956 having been used by de Havilland at their Christchurch site for election seat layout development. Later serialled N4-895 in Australian service which included 808 Sqdn. A restoration to flying condition was begun in 1986 but not completed, the aircraft going into storage at Nowra until transfer to HARS.

Painted to represent the original VH-TQN which flew with TAA from 1968 to 1985, this is actually a 1985-build F27 first owned by Midstate Airlines as N244MA, later sold via Fokker to NEPC as VT-NEH. Bought by Airwork NZ in 1998 to fly for New Zealand Post as ZK-POH and acquired by HARS in 2018. Seen here part way through painting in period TAA colours, completed in early 2024

This is a VC-131D acquired from Rovos Rail in South Africa, ferried to HARS in August 2016. Built in 1954 as a 44-passenger transport for the USAF, it was effectively a militarised CV-340 and was allocated 54-2820. Stored at MASDC from 1988, it later became CP-2237 and YV-914C before sale as ZS-ARV in 2001. On acquisition by HARS, painted at Wonderboom in the colours worn by TAA CV-240 VH-TAQ in from 1948 to 1954, although there was never a long-nose Convair in Australian airline use. This is the fifth time reg VH-TAA has been used. Absolutely splendid it looks anyway.

It will be great to see this lovely old machine when it is restored to a suitable livery. It was first delivered to the R Malaysian AF in 1962 as FM1066 and was imported to Australia in 1972 by Aerial Agriculture of Bankstown with the intention of conversion to a sprayer. Instead stored with registration VH-EVB but flying again on joy rides around 1987 before passing through several more owners. Registered with the third use of VH-SYS in 2017, it ferried Wedderburn-Albion Park in July 2022 and is now the only flyable Twin Pin in the world.

The first 747-400 for Qantas, delivered in August 1989 and setting a record for the first ever non-stop England to Australia flight in the process. To HARS in 2015 with some 106,000 hours on the clock, the flight from Sydney to Illawarra at the other extreme taking just 12 minutes.

Following on from the P-2 and then 14 P-3B, the RAAF operated 20 P-3Cs, extensively upgraded by L-3 Communications with new mission systems to AP-3C standard. The insignia of 10 Sqdn appears on the right of the tail, with 11 Sqdn on the left. The serial A9-753 is only painted inside the nose-gear doors. HARS have uniquely maintained the aircraft in flying condition having gained civil registration in 2018

Ex USAAF 44-76551 and RAAF A65-90. One of four C-47s operated by the RAN. Served 851 Sqdn and used during one of the Queen's visit to Australia. Joined the RAN Historic Flight as VH-NVZ in 1985 but grounded in 2015 due to corrosion.

Ex ZU-BZA, VH-LQT and VH-HOT, now using the third allocation of registration VH-IOT. It would appear that the marking '66 Red' is accurate to its former Soviet AF service.

HARS have two consecutively-serialled C-47s, A65-94 and 95, which were delivered to the USAAF from Douglas at Oklahoma City on the same day in 1944, this one as 44-76764, continuing on to Australia in May 1945. Both were flown by the RAAF in New Guinea and South West Pacific theatre during the late stages of WW2, followed by allocation to several different squadrons and the ARDU. A65-95 was auctioned off in 2000 and is now repainted in period SE Asia colours.

The RAN purchased two Autocars in 1949, ferried to Australia on board the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney. They were retired in late 1963. This is a civilian example which had been registered VH-BVY in 1955, painted to represent one of them for the FAA Museum at Nowra.

Smartly painted in late-1950s Qantas colours and named 'Norfolk Trader' to represent C-54A VH-EDB, HARS intend to return this aircraft to flight. It was built as C-54E-15-DO 44-9126 for the USAAF and entered MASDC in 1971, sold as N9013V in 1975 and changed hands many times before bought by Pacific Air Freighters in June 1995 becoming VH-PAF. Ferried Brisbane-Albion Park in June 2008 for HARS as VH-EAY. Initially keeping its metallic finish, it was painted with 1960s Qantas ochre colours left side and Airlines of NSW right side until changed to this earlier iteration after 2019

One of two consecutively-serialled ex RAAF C-47s with HARS, still in its smart ARDU colours as operated 1982-90. Built as C-47B-30-DK 44-76774 and delivered to Australia in May 1945, it served in the Pacific theatre in the closing stages of WW2. In May 1963 A65-94 was part of 'C' Flight, 2 Sqdn based at RAAF Butterworth, Malaysia. It flew the first RAAF operational mission of the Vietnam War, delivering food and medical supplies to refugees fleeing the fighting. Purchased at auction by HARS in June 2000 and registered VH-EAF

The Morava was first flown in 1957 and 360 were built. Until 2010 this was the only one in Australia, built in 1960 and imported by a Bankstown agent for Czech-built types as OK-OHC in 1961. In 1962 it was registered VH-EMV (nicknamed "Eggs, Meat & Veg") to Coastal Airways for charters out of Mackay, Qld, then sold to Ansett-ANA in 1964 for Mackay-Collinsville schedules. Wfu in 1966, it passed into private hands and was donated to HARS in 2008 where it was repainted in Ansett colours and maintained in flying condition.

Winjeel A84-435 was delivered to the RAAF in October 1956 and served with 1 BFTS at Point Cook until 1968, later being used by 76 Sqdn as a FAC aircraft. Civilianised as VH-KHZ, it was re-registered VH-EAD in June 2005 and is maintained in fully airworthy condition by HARS

Being an ex-Southender, the Drover has a special place in my aviation memories, with G-APXX displayed around 1972 in the short-lived museum there. HARS's Mk.2 is the last of the 20 built, the only potential flyer of those surviving, built at Bankstown in 1953 and used as VH-AHZ to test modifications after the grounding of Mk.1 Drovers due to propeller failures. Sold to New Hebrides Airways as VQ-TAH in 1965 then VP-PAE next year. Returned to Australia becoming VH-PAB in 1968 and underwent long-term restoration to flight by Hawker de Havilland Australia at Bankstown from 1981, to VH-DHM in 1986

Ferried from Oakland, CA, to Cairns in 1975 as N5645K and registered VH-PDI in 1976, flying with Helitrans Australia, Sunbird Airlines, Eagle Airways, Airtransit/Air Kangaroo Island and a number of private owners.