If you love history, the Darwin Aviation Museum offers a fascinating insight into the city’s aircraft and engines.
The museum has aircraft displays and engines, providing an opportunity to learn about the aviation history of Darwin, the Northern Territory, and Australia. To fully appreciate everything the museum has to offer, plan to spend around an hour and a half exploring the exhibits and photos.
What to see
-
Aircrafts
The museum features 19 aircraft and replicas, including the B-25 Mitchell Bomber, the B-52 Bomber, and a replica Spitfire. There is also the Royal Australian Navy Wessex helicopter that helped the clean-up of Darwin from Cyclone Tracy. There are many other aircraft to discover, each with its own rich history and stories.
-
Female aviators
Learn about pioneering female aviators, including Amy Johnston. Amy Johnston, who in 1930 was the first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia. She departed from Croydon, London, on 5 May and on May 24 and landed in Darwin on 24 May. She earned worldwide recognition for her incredible achievement in covering 18,000 kilometres.
-
Engines and relicts
The museum holds 21 engines and various aircraft relics. Highlights include Rolls-Royce Avon/Derwent engines, Prat and Whitney engines, and the Allison V-1710 engine. Visitors can also view relics such as the wreckage of the Japanese Zero fighter that was shot down during the 1942 air raids on Darwin.
-
Historical collection
The historical collection offers an in-depth look at the bombing of Darwin that happened in 1942. It includes the only known colour footage of Darwin’s first air raid and displays celebrating epic flights by famous pilots such as Ross and Keith Smith in the Vickers Vimy in 1919.