www.navy.gov.

au/faam

AN INVITATION
The Royal Australian Navy invites you, your family and friends to visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS ALBATROSS Nowra. Explore and experience the story of Naval Aviation from its beginnings to the present day.

A CHANGING MUSEUM
During 2007 the Museum was rededicated as a unit of the Naval Heritage Collection and an entirely new exhibition entitled Wings Over Water was opened to the public. Museum displays now depict the various eras of Naval Aviation commencing with biplanes operating from Australian cruisers in World War I, progressing though World War II, the foundation of the Fleet Air Arm, the Vietnam War Helicopter Flight and up to the current ship-borne helicopters that now operate with the Fleet.

THE FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM

The Museum consists of a large main facility, based on the design of an aircraft hangar, located within the heritage precinct at the entrance to HMAS ALBATROSS. As well as the main aircraft exhibition gallery and supporting galleries, there is also a museum souvenir and gift shop to ensure our visitors enjoy and remember their stay. The Aviation Collection is a world standard exhibition. Over 25 xed wing aircraft and helicopters, some now very rare, are displayed alongside a wide range of unique naval aviation related artefacts. These include piston and jet engines, aircraft ordnance and relics from the days of operating from the ight decks of aircraft carriers at sea.

A HISTORY OF THE FLEET AIR ARM

Aviation in Navy began in World War 1 with RAN ships involved in the rst experiments of using aircraft at sea. Navys rst dedicated aviation ship was the seaplane carrier HMAS ALBATROSS that was built in 1929 and operated amphibian aircraft of the RAAF. The formation of the Fleet Air Arm was approved in 1947 and by the end of 1948 HMAS SYDNEY and her aircraft squadrons were commissioned along with the Naval Air Station HMAS ALBATROSS at Nowra. SYDNEYs squadrons, ying Sea Fury ghters and Firey ground attack aircraft, served with great distinction during the Korean War. The 1955 commissioning of HMAS MELBOURNE saw Navy enter the jet age. MELBOURNEs rst Air Wing included Sea Venom ghters, Gannet ASW aircraft and Sycamore

helicopters whilst her second generation Air Wing consisted of Wessex helicopters, Skyhawk jet ghters, Tracker ASW aircraft and Sea King ASW helicopters. These aircraft provided Navy with a strike and anti-submarine capability not previously available. During the Vietnam War the Fleet Air Arm operated the RAN Helicopter Flight-Vietnam which supported Australian and allied ground forces. With the decommissioning of MELBOURNE in 1982 and cessation of xed wing ying in 1984, the Fleet Air Arm continued to provide naval aviation combat power with rotary wing aircraft. Flights of Squirrels, Sea Kings and Seahawks were involved in the 1991 Gulf War, East Timor and Iraq. Today wherever Navy is so are the aircraft and the professionals who form the Fleet Air Arm.

WINGS OVER WATER

The Wings Over Water exhibition tells the story of Naval Aviation in Australia, with aircraft from the 20th Century, ranging from a World War 1 Sopwith Pup to a A4 Skyhawk jet ghter. The exhibition also includes examples of allied and foreign aircraft, like the MiG-17 ghter. Showcases and audio-visual displays add to the stories of these aircraft and those who ew and xed them. Individual displays include the US 135th Assault Helicopter Company that incorporated the RAN Helicopter FlightVietnam; there is a special exhibit on Admiral Sir Victor Smith and a display of airborne weapons. The Museums Flight Simulator provides a virtual experience, for all ages, on what it is like in the pilots seat. Through the exhibition and its interactive features, visitors can learn not just about Naval aircraft and hardware, but they can see and hear the stories of the men and women who have served the Navy and Australia in the Fleet Air Arm.

AIR SHOWS
The Fleet Air Arm Museum sponsors Air Days at least once a year. A variety of heritage and Warbird aircraft and current operational aircraft from Navy, Army and Air Force usually attend, together with visiting aircraft from other private collections and museums. The RAN Historic Flight is also based at HMAS ALBATROSS and as well as displaying their aircraft on Museum Air Days, visitors may frequently see them undertaking routine training and display practices at the Naval Air Station. A Fleet Air Arm Museum Air Day provides our visitors with a unique opportunity to get a sensory overload from some of the most famous heritage and modern aircraft available for viewing in Australia. Look out for the Air Day dates or contact the Museum by phone, e-mail or the web site.

LOCATION
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is located 8 kms south of Nowra at HMAS ALBATROSS on Albatross Road. From Sydney turn right from the Princes Highway in Nowra at Kalandar St, then straight through the round-a-bout on to Albatross Road. From Batemans Bay turn left from the Princes Highway at BTU Rd.

ADMISSION
Adults: $10 Children under 18: FREE Serving Defence members and APS Defence personnel: FREE (on presentation of a valid ID card)

OPERATING HOURS
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is open 10am - 4pm daily except New Years Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

SYDNEY
Shoalhaven River

NOWRA
os sR d Alb atr

BTU Rd

JERVIS BAY BATEMANS BAY Winner South Coast Tourism Awards 2008
CONTACT US Manager , Fleet Air Arm Museum PO Box 7015 Nowra Naval NSW 2540 Telephone: (02) 4424 1920 Facsimile: (02) 4424 1999

Princes Hwy