Douglas C-47 Skytrain To Fly Over Sydney Harbour & Coast South To Shellharbour For Douglas DC-3’s 90th Anniversary

A Douglas C-47 Skytrain will fly in tribute from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Aviation Museum in Shellharbour to Sydney & back via the coast at 12:39pm, 17th of December for the 90th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3.

The approximate flight path
Image: Google Maps

The route in Air Traffic Control (ATC) terms is designated ‘Victor 1’ & ‘Harbour Scenic 1’. After take-off, altitude begins at a mandatory 152.4 metres (500 feet) above mean sea level (AMSL) (Sydney Query Nautical Height). As they go past the Royal National Park, they will ascend to 304.8 metres (1000 feet) AMSL to Long Reef. From Long Reef & around Sydney Harbour the altitude is increased once again to a mandatory 457.2 metres (1500 feet) AMSL. The return journey is the same.

The approximate flight path in Sydney
Image: Google Maps

After the tribute flight, the Douglas C-47 SkyTrain will be back at the HARS Aviation Museum in Shellharbour on display. The HARS Aviation Museum is open daily at Shellharbour Airport from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Schedule

  • 9:30am – HARS Aviation Museum opens
  • 12:39pm – Shellharbour Take-Off
  • 12:48pm – Stanwell Park Southerly Flypast
  • 12:54pm – Cronulla Southerly Flypast
  • 12:59pm – Coogee Southerly Flypast
  • 1pm – Bondi Southerly Flypast
  • 1:02pm – Manly Southerly Flypast
  • 1:03pm – Long Reef Turn-Around
  • 1:04pm – Manly Northerly Flypast
  • 1:06pm – Sydney Harbour Bridge Flypast
  • 1:06pm-1:08pm – 1st Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:08pm-1:10pm – 2nd Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:10pm-1:12pm – 3rd Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:12pm-1:14pm – 4th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:14pm-1:16pm – 5th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:16pm-1:18pm – 6th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:18pm-1:20pm – 7th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:20pm-1:22pm – 8th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:22pm-1:24pm – 9th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:24pm-1:26pm – 10th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:26pm-1:28pm – 11th Sydney Harbour ‘orbit’
  • 1:29pm – Manly Southerly Flypast
  • 1:30pm – Long Reef Turn-Around
  • 1:31pm – Manly Northerly Flypast
  • 1:33pm – Bondi Northerly Flypast
  • 1:34pm – Coogee Northerly Flypast
  • 1:39pm – Cronulla Northerly Flypast
  • 1:45pm – Stanwell Park Northerly Flypast
  • 1:54pm – Shellharbour Landing
  • 3:30pm – HARS Aviation Museum closes

The Planes

The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner, first built in 1935, that revolutionised airliner travel but the Museum’s own is currently undergoing planned maintenance.

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a military transport aircraft developed from the Douglas DC-3 will instead fly in tribute, which incidentally had its 80th anniversary this year. The HARS Museum has 4 of these, 1 of which is undergoing restoration.

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain was built during World War II in Oklahoma City in the United States Of America in early 1945. The particular one that will fly around Sydney Harbour was used to make the first Royal Australian Air Force operational mission of the Vietnam War, delivering food & medical supplies to fleeing refugees. It was also flown by the United States Air Force for a month in 1945.

The time & order of the flypast may change on the day, subject to aircraft serviceability, prevailing weather & ATC.