Caloundra is a town at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, approximately an hour and half's drive north of Brisbane. Primarily a coastal holiday town, in the hinterland half an hour west of the town centre is the Queensland Air Museum. The museum has been established on the outskirts of the Caloundra regional airport.
1931 Wicko (replica). The home-built Wicko was the first aeroplane built in Queensland. The original had a very short life, being struck off the airworthy register in 1932 after less than a year of trials. 13 improved versions were built and sold in subsequent years before the company went out of business.
https://qam.com.au/collection/wicko-cabin-sports-vh-upw/
Tailplane of a early civilian aircraft
Flying helmet
Avro 504K model. Australia's national carrier, Qantas, started life with a single Avro 504K running a mail and passenger (singular!) service in rural Queensland.
Replica First World War Bristol Scout D. Aircraft like this saw valuable service after the war as civil mail-carrying aircraft.
https://qam.com.au/collection/bristol-scout-d-replica/
Calair Skyfox https://qam.com.au/collection/calair-ca21-skyfox-vh-cal/
Bristol Bloodhound Mk 1 reseach missile. Missiles like this were used for research, radar testing and target practice. Funnily enough, one of these popped up on Australian eBay a few years ago. The things people have to sell!
https://qam.com.au/collection/bristol-bloodhound-mk-i-c-n-unknown/
DeHavilland Canada Chipmunk.
Transavia PL-12 Airtruk. These unorthodox aircraft were designed as a flying tractor, capable of performing tasks like cropdusting, transport as well as carrying passengers (in a somewhat cramped rear facing cabin). In popular culture the aircraft is remembered as the 'Sky Pirate's' aircraft in the movies Mad Max II and Mad Max III.
https://qam.com.au/collection/transavia-pl-12-airtruk-zk-cwx-c-n-818/
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Winjeel trainer
https://qam.com.au/collection/cac-ca-25-winjeel-a85-410-c-n-ca25-10/
Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer seaplane
https://qam.com.au/collection/lake-la-4-200-buccaneer-vh-ejx-c-n-596/
For the Kawasaki collector who thinks he has everything, how about a Kawasaki helicopter?
https://qam.com.au/collection/kawasaki-47g3b-kh4-vh-ahq-c-n-2171/
Canberra bomber
Douglas DC 3 https://qam.com.au/collection/douglas-dc-3-194b-vh-anr-c-n-1944/
DeHavilland Sea Venom. The naval version of the DH Vampire.
https://qam.com.au/collection/de-havilland-sea-venom-f-a-w-mk-53-wz898-c-n-12755/
Hawker Hunter
https://qam.com.au/collection/hawker-hunter-fga-mk-74bs-533-c-n-41h679972/
Gloster Meteor
https://qam.com.au/collection/gloster-meteor-f-mk-8-wa880/
KS-3 Wackett Cropmaster. This was a civilian version of the CAC Wackett trainer.
https://qam.com.au/collection/ks-3-wacket-cropmaster-vh-ajh-c-n-283/
DeHavilland Vampire (dual seat)
DeHavilland Vampire (single seat fighter version)
Lockheed Ventura. The Ventura was used as a medium bomber in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War. They continued in Australian service well into the 1950s.
This aircraft has completed a substantial restoration. Check the link for photos of the aircraft as originally acquired.
https://qam.com.au/collection/lockheed-pv-1-ventura-a59-96-c-n-6371/
Piaggio P166. Piaggio, now possibly more well known as the manufacturer of the Vespa scooter, was originally an aircraft manufacturer. They only turned to scooters and motorcycles after the company was banned from manufacturing aircraft after the war. This highly unusual aircraft with pusher mounted propellers was used by Queensland Airlines for short-hop regional air routes.
https://qam.com.au/collection/piaggio-p166-vh-bhk-c-n-370/
Supermarine Spitfire project. This example was a non-flying, static replica built by an enthusiast in Queensland who donated it to the museum. It is now in pretty poor condition but a full restoration is planned.
https://qam.com.au/collection/supermarine-spitfire-mk-i-k9789/
DeHavilland Canada Carribou transporter. These were used by the Royal Australian Airforce for several decades and transport aircraft. This example is under restoration.
https://qam.com.au/collection/de-havilland-canada-caribou-a4-173-c-n-173/
Beechcraft
MIG-15. Specifically this is a license built copy from Poland.
https://qam.com.au/collection/wsk-mielec-sb-lim-2-c-n-1a0-636/
When the MIG-15 made its first appearance over the skies of Korea, it was the most advanced and versatile fighter aircraft in the air, outperforming US jets such as the Sabre.
Lockheed SP-2H Neptune. The Neptune was also used for martime patrol duties alongside the Orion.
https://qam.com.au/collection/lockheed-sp-2h-neptune-a89-277/
DeHavilland Heron (the four-engined version of the DH Dove) https://qam.com.au/collection/de-havilland-heron-2d-a1-vh-kam-c-n-14123/
Lockheed Orion https://qam.com.au/collection/lockheed-l-285d-ap-3c-orion-a9-760-brooke-msn-5676/
Nord 262 Mohawk
https://qam.com.au/collection/nord-262a-mohawk-298-vh-hix-c-n-42/
The striking pusher engined Beechcraft 2000A Starship.
https://qam.com.au/collection/beechcraft-2000a-starship-n786bp-c-n-nc-28/
The Beechcraft Starship is very usual design with two pusher turbo-prop engines mounted on the main wing, which is placed far to the rear of the aircraft. A canard wing is mounted in the nose for stability. Certainly original and interesting and a very rare aircraft.
Lockheed Orions were used by the RAAF for naval patrol duties. They are still in service with many armed forces including the US.
Royal Airforce uniforms
The Queensland Air Museum is located at 7 Pathfinder Dr, Caloundra West QLD 4551, on the Sunshine Coast. It has a very good collection that is well worth visiting. For more information, check out their informative website here:
https://qam.com.au/
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