I could never get Phil’s original link to work, but fortunately HARS has made another post which has stuck around (copied here for non-Facebook folk):
AP-3C Orion Handover to HARS
HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT RESTORATION SOCIETY Inc
Media Release
CHIEF OF AIR FORCE, AIR MARSHAL LEO DAVIES
AP-3C ORION
The Chief of Air Force Air Marshall Leo Davies AO CSC, will be holding a special handover function at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society facility, Illawarra Regional Airport, at 11 am Friday 3rd November following the RAAFAIR Australian Department of Defence’s recommendation to the United States State Department to release for historic flying operations one of the RAAF AP3C Lockheed Orion surveillance aircraft.
This is a very historic event recognising the role the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has played in saving our aviation heritage, in particular the RAAF aircraft that have served Australia since WWII. In fact HARS has over 20 former RAAF aircraft in its collection, many of those have been restored to flying and it is intended now that the transfer of ownership of the Orion has been approved, to also fly that aircraft in support of RAAF history.
The Orion replaced the Lockheed Neptune aircraft that had served with the RAAF from the late 40’s up to 1977. The new P-8A Poseidon aircraft is now progressively replacing the Orion aircraft in RAAF service which is expected to take place over the next few years. HARS not only operates and has a number of former RAAF Neptune aircraft (serial number 273 flying, and on public display 281 and now at our Parkes museum satellite 272). We also operate a Catalina flying boat which the Neptune replaced following WWII operations.
Media and the public are cordially invited to be with the Chief of Air Force making this presentation at 11 am on Friday 3rd November. No RSVP is required and there will be opportunity for the media and the members of the public to talk to the Chief of Air Force on the significance of this event and the very important role that the Air Force plays in Australian security.
The HARS AP-3C Orion has itself participated in overseas operations as well as searching for the lost MH370 airliner and many other very important security and historical events and the history of this aircraft will eventually be disclosed and showcased with it at our HARS facility.
They followed up with this:
The acquisition of an AP-3C by HARS is a really big thing. This requires specific approval by the United States Government.
Until the handover, it is still the property of the Defence Department and despite the fact it has been sitting on the tarmac at HARS for these few months, we have not had access to the aircraft – as it should be – and even though it has had the appropriate equipment removed.
Yes we are excited – as are the people here who have operated this aircraft in one of their previous lives.
Sign In
