Fleet Air Arm Museum, Military aviation museum at HMAS Albatross base in Nowra, Australia
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is a military aviation museum on the grounds of the HMAS Albatross naval base, near Nowra in New South Wales. It displays aircraft and helicopters of the Royal Australian Navy inside a large hangar-style building that sits beside an active runway.
The museum's origins go back to 1974, when volunteers saved five retired Navy aircraft from being scrapped. It opened formally in 1990 and has kept adding to its collection ever since.
The museum keeps memorabilia relating to Australia's aircraft carriers, alongside aircraft flown by the Fleet Air Arm, the naval aviation branch of the Royal Australian Navy. The building also houses the Albatross Aero Club, so civilian flyers share the site with the collection.
The museum stands at HMAS Albatross naval air station near Nowra, and the building also houses the Albatross Aero Club. It is open to the public except on major public holidays, so check the website for actual opening hours before travelling.
From the museum grounds, you can watch active military aircraft taking off and landing on the HMAS Albatross runway right next door. Few museums in the world give you the chance to see historic aircraft indoors and real flight operations outdoors at the same time.
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