Summary
- HARS, a group of dedicated volunteers, preserves Australia’s aviation history through restoration projects.
- The latest restoration project is an 89-year-old Douglas DC-2, adding to the collection of historic aircraft.
- Visitors can experience Tarmac Days to see vintage aircraft up close and learn about their fascinating histories.
Australia, and indeed the aviation world, is extremely fortunate to have a dedicated band of expert volunteers dedicated to preserving the nation’s aviation history. Apart from spending countless hours hosting visitors to the museum, these volunteers draw on all their skills and experiences to bring vintage aircraft back to life, such as the DC-2 that is now in their care (pictured above).
Australia’s Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has assembled a collection of nearly 60 historic and vintage aircraft at its museum, located about an hour’s drive south of Sydney. The society opens its doors every day of the year except Christmas Day and runs regular weekend Tarmac Days, like this weekend, where visitors can get up close to these beautifully restored aircraft.
A new challenge for HARS
This week, HARS announced it is restoring an 89-year-old Douglas DC-2 that was built in 1935 at the Douglas plant in Santa Monica, California. The plane’s fuselage has arrived at the HARS Museum, and the wings and other parts are in storage and waiting to be reunited to bring the DC-2 to life.
HARS President and Chief Pilot Bob De La Huntly said the DC-2 has a fascinating history that fits perfectly with the ongoing effort of HARS volunteers to preserve Australia’s aviation heritage. This is another significant restoration that will build on HARS’ reputation of successful projects, such as bringing back the world’s only flying Lockheed Super Constellation.
Photo: Howard Mitchell
While only 156 DC-2s were manufactured, the aircraft changed the face of passenger aviation history, although it was later overshadowed by the DC-3 and its military versions (C-47 / Dakota), of which more than 16,000 were built. The Douglas DC-2 has been gifted to the society and joins three airworthy DC-3/Dakota aircraft in the collection.

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HARS provided Simple Flying with background on the DC-2, which was initially operated by Dutch Airlines in the (then) East Indies. It was evacuated to Australia from Batavia ahead of the enemy invasion in 1942 when it was taken over by the US Army Air Force under General MacArthur’s orders. An enemy bombing raid in 1942 badly damaged it in Port Moresby.
After the Second World War ended, it was reconfigured to seat 17 passengers for Australian National Airways (ANA), Australia’s predominant airline from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s. Its next life was operating weekend joy flights over Sydney from Bankstown Airport (BWU) under the registration VH-CDZ.
It was again damaged in 1957 and struck off the aircraft register, later passing through various owners with aims to restore or harvest it for parts, before being donated to HARS. While restoration will eventually put this 89-year-old historic airliner on display, at least at this stage, there are no plans for it to fly again.
What’s on show this weekend
Starting today and running until Sunday, this month’s Tarmac Days will feature open cockpits, including former Cold War MIG 15/17/21 fighter jets, a former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Grumman Tracker, a Huey helicopter gunship, a Neptune submarine hunter and a former RAN Wessex helicopter.
Photo: Howard Mitchell
Visitors will also see heavy maintenance happening on the Lockheed Neptune, Super Constellation and Catalina aircraft. They can also walk through the Constellation, the double record-setting Qantas 747-400, a former Queen’s Flight Dakota and a classic Fokker Friendship airliner.
Photo: Mark Mennie
The museum, located at Wollongong Shellharbour Airport (WOL), is open from 09:30 until 15:30 and easily accessible by train or road from Sydney. The volunteers also host museum tours, with the last tour starting at 14:00, and Cafe Connie is onsite to provide delicious food and beverages for the day out.