With COVID concerns meaning many of the usual Australia Day community gatherings are not being held this year, the HARS Aviation Museum is planning a spectacular flyover by some of its most iconic aircraft to mark the day.

HARS Aviation Museum’s Ian Badham is excited by the opportunity to show off the aircraft to the Illawarra, saying it is all thanks to the three local councils.

“This is our first Australia Day flyover, made possible by the support of the councils,” he says.

“It will be noisy and it will be spectacular.

“It will be the biggest flyover that we have ever staged and just the thing to reach lots of people in a COVID environment.”

Five aircraft will take to the sky to travel up and down the coast at 1000 feet: a Dakota C-47 (above - a military version of the DC-3), a Caribou, a Mustang fighter plane from the 40s/50s, a recently restored Iroquois helicopter and Connie, the last flyable Lockheed Super Constellation.

“It’s a sight you will not see anywhere else in Australia and with Connie flying, you will see this flyover nowhere else in the world.” says Ian.

The flyby will begin at Albion Park at 11am, with aircraft flying over Kiama, Gerringong and Gerroa in a figure-eight manoeuvre.

They will then be continuing the loop past Shellharbour and Wollongong towards the Sea Cliff Bridge.