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The Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra Australia

	The Fleet Air Arm Museum is located 8 kms south of Nowra at HMAS Albatross. Developed from a small collection of naval aviation relics and five obsolete RAN aircraft by a very energetic team of Navy volunteers originally established in 1974, the museum has grown to be on of the largest aviation museums in Australia. The museum now displays more than 34 aircraft and many aviation artifacts. The aircraft range from a rare early 20th CAG Fairey Firefly Mk IV to the last of the RAN’s fighters, the A-4 Skyhawk. Displaying the history of Naval Aviation and the development of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Latest additions being a Sea King and a TA-4G is the last surviving TA-4G that was issued to the RAN retuned from New Zeeland In 2000, the museum was renamed Australia's Museum of Flight and its role expanded to displaying artefacts related to Australian aviation. In 2006, ownership and management of the museum were handed to the Royal Australian Navy and it was renamed the Fleet Air Arm Museum. A number a privately owned aircraft are on loan and you can view some being worked on for restoration, recently among those has been an ex Rhodesian Hawker Hunter and a Fairey Firefly. In the past few years extra floor display space has been created by hanging a number of exhibits from the roof.

The ‘Wings Over Water’ exhibition depict the various eras of Naval Aviation in Australia. Commencing with biplanes operating from Australian cruisers in World War I, progressing though World War II, the foundation of the Fleet Air Arm in Australia via the carrier age to the now helicopter force.

With aircraft from the 20th Century, ranging from a World War 1 Sopwith Pup to a A4 Skyhawk jet fighter. Over 25 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, some now very rare, are displayed alongside a wide range of unique naval aviation related artefacts.

These include piston and jet engines, aircraft ordnance and relics from the days of operating from the flight decks of aircraft carriers at sea. The exhibition also includes examples of allied and foreign aircraft, like the MiG-17 fighter.

On the floor level is also an exhibit commemorating the RAN's Emu Flight in Vietnam. The partial fuselage of a UH-1 is fitted out as used in the conflict and with photos tells the story of Australian Navy aircrews' experience in that war.

The RAN Historic Flight is also based at HMAS Albatross and as well as displaying their aircraft on Museum Air Days, you may frequently see them undertaking routine training and display practices at the Naval Air Station.

Next to the bistro on the second floor is a outside viewing platform, from there a good view is possible over the flight line and runway.