The Narromine Aviation Museum expects to double annual visitation to 7000 people in two years with the opening of its new wing on Saturday, when Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston will fly in as a special guest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The volunteer committee that has determinedly brought the $620,000 project to fruition predicts it will be a major tourist attraction for western NSW and encourage travellers to go beyond Dubbo.
In recent weeks there have been growing numbers of visitors to the museum, which has captured the importance of the aerodrome to the town in the "early days", Narromine Aviation Museum committee member Peter Kierath reports.
He and fellow volunteers were this week inviting the community to Saturday's opening ceremony, with the on-ground action to be complemented by a RAAF C-130 Hercules flyover.
"I think it's going to be a big day for Narromine," he said.
"It's a very significant project, we've now spent over $620,000 on it.
"It's going to be a major tourist attraction for Narromine but more importantly add to the tourist experience of western NSW."
Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, and the Wellington Caves are popular attractions in the region, but the long-time committee member wants to add one more to the list.
"I would like to see more people come further west than Dubbo," Mr Kierath said.
"There are other things (to see) at Cobar, Bourke and Nyngan.
"If we can give that area a lift.
"Spend an extra two to three days out here to get that experience."
Narromine's aviation story is a century of flying aces and achievements, starting in 1916 when a local farmer built himself a small aeroplane, through to the Second World War and continuing to the present day hosting air shows and championships.
The initial Narromine Aviation Museum project was started in 1998 from a desire to preserve the aviation heritage of the region and it opened in 2002.
In 2013 the museum was successful in applying for a $210,000 federal grant to build the extension.
Three aircraft form centrepieces of the new displays - a locally-built 1938 Corben Super Ace homebuilt aircraft restored by the local Men's Shed, a Venture glider built by the Dubbo Gliding Club in 1950-1953, and the Wright Flyer replica, which had its first flight in 2005, with US astronaut Buzz Aldrin officiating.
Air Chief Marshall Houston, Chief of the Defence Force before his retirement in 2011, and Air Marshall (retired) Geoff Brown, Chief of the Air Force from 2011 to 2015, are to fly in on Saturday morning.
"Those blokes wouldn't be coming up here if they didn't think this was an important story," Mr Kierath said.
He encouraged people to come to the museum before 1pm where the Lions Club will be cooking a barbecue.
The opening ceremony will be held at 1.30pm and will be followed by afternoon tea.
At 2.30pm there will be the flyover by the RAAF C-130 Hercules, and guided tours will be held throughout the afternoon.
