Ever since I was a kid I've loved planes. The look, the smell, the sound and the feeling of flying. So this Gallery is just some of those photos I've taken over time.

Planes, Planes and even more Planes

I snapped this at the Wings Over The Illawarra 2021 Airshow. A bit grey and miserable but I love watching the old war birds fly

Grumann TBF Avenger in flight

Both the aircraft in this photo were built in Australian factories during WW2. The CAC Wirraway and the CAC P-51.

Australian made war machines at Wings Over Illawarra 2021

So this is the replica Southern Cross that is being hangered at the Historical Air Restoration Society facilities at Shellharbour Airport. There's a bit of a story behind it which you can find <a href="https://hars.org.au/fokker-fviib-southern-cross-replica/">here</a>This shot was taken waaaay back in 2020, so I need to chase it up with a new one because I think it's just about ready to fly again

Replica Southern Cross - 2020

The Historical Air Restoration Society has a Super Constellation as one of its headline displays. It still flys and is affectionately known as Connie

Connie at rest

The Caribou is a STOL Cargo plane first launched in 1958.

The Australian Army used them extensively during the Vietnam war.

The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society has two flight worth Caribou which go for semi regular flights as well as participating in things like ANZAC Day flybys

Caribou at rest

The Caribou were designed to carry up to 32 paratroopers or over 3500kgs of Cargo into places where the luxury of a long prepared airfield were a luxury. 

Caribou - Ready to load

Painted on the side of the Caribou are the campaign and battle honours detailing its history with the Australian Army

Caribou - Battle Honours

This little guy is stuck on the end of the nose of an F-111C, which the Americans nicknamed the Aardvark (supposedly for its long nose and ground hugging capabilities) but the Australians called "The Pig".

It's a huge aircraft to sit next to in a chair.

Pigs might fly

A soft plastic pig sits taped to the end of a pole that appears to be attached to the nose of an Airplane

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The front of a plane. The cockpit sits high behind a bulbous nose. There is a ladder leading up to the door next to the cockpit.  Painted on the fuselage, under the cockpit are the honours that the plane earned in active service.

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We're looking at the rear of an aircraft. The tail section towers over the viewer, which a ramp has been lowered from the back of the plane.  You can see the wings and engines further along the plane

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A plane sits on a tarmac. It is painted in army camoflage and has a short, rounded nose. The tail sweeps high allowing for a rear ramp to deploy