Illawarra Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Illawarra Regional Airport (also known as Wollongong Airport) is an airport located 18 km southwest of Wollongong
, New South Wales
, Australia
.
Regional Airport, owned and operated by Shellharbour City Council
, is located at the intersection of the F6, Princes Highway
and Illawarra Highway
at Albion Park Rail
. The airport is an 80 minute drive from Sydney Airport
and 60 minutes from Sydney
's southern suburbs. An electric rail service is available between Sydney and Albion Park Rail on the South Coast rail line
.
The airport is home to a growing Light Aeronautics Industry Cluster, the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), Australian Aerial Patrol
, and a range of tourism related operations. Formerly a QantasLink
service to Melbourne
served the airport but the service has been since discontinued.
The Illawarra Regional Airport provides a cost effective alternative to the Sydney basin airports for light aircraft users. It is not encumbered by restricted airspace or controls, which at times, creates delays and difficulties for pilots. The airport provides opportunities for tourism and business development
(RAAF) Operational Base during World War II
.
microlight.
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society -
The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) is based at Illawarra Regional Airport.
HARS was formed in 1979 by a group of aviation enthusiasts interested in the preservation of Australian Aviation History. Its mission is "To recover and where possible restore to flying condition, aircraft or types of aircraft that have played a significant part in Australian Aviation History both in the Civil and Military arenas".
The HARS has restored:
Lockheed Super Constellation,
Consolidated PBY Catalina,
Lockheed Neptune (273),
Lockheed Neptune (566),
Douglas C47 Dakota A65-94,
Douglas C47 Dakota A65-95,
Convair 340-67 Airliner,
De Havilland Vampire A79-637,
De Havilland Vampire A79-665
Bristol Beaufighter,
Bell AH-1P Huey Cobra,
De Havilland DHA-3 Drover,
Cessna 310 VH-REK,
De Havilland Tiger Moth,
CAC Winjeel,
Cessna C-180 and
Cessna C-172.
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Airport features
IllawarraIllawarra
Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
Regional Airport, owned and operated by Shellharbour City Council
City of Shellharbour
City of Shellharbour is a Local Government Area located in the Illawarra region, on the east coast of Australia, about 100 km south of Sydney...
, is located at the intersection of the F6, Princes Highway
Princes Highway
The Princes Highway extends from Sydney to Port Augusta via the coast through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, a distance of 1941 km or 1898 km via the former alignments of the highway ....
and Illawarra Highway
Illawarra Highway
Illawarra Highway connects Wollongong to NSW Southern Highlands. It links Princes Highway and Hume Highway and signed as National Route 48.It is named after the geographical area it crosses, the Illawarra region...
at Albion Park Rail
Albion Park Rail, New South Wales
Albion Park Rail is a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia in the Local Government Area of Shellharbour. The South Coast railway line was opened to the railway station and Bombo in 1887. At the time the nearest town was Albion Park, several kilometres away...
. The airport is an 80 minute drive from Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
and 60 minutes from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's southern suburbs. An electric rail service is available between Sydney and Albion Park Rail on the South Coast rail line
South Coast railway line, New South Wales
The South Coast Line is in the intercity region of Sydney's CityRail services. It serves the coastal region to the south of the Sydney metropolitan area including the Illawarra region, most notably the regional city of Wollongong, and extended services reach as far as Nowra in Shoalhaven.- Line...
.
The airport is home to a growing Light Aeronautics Industry Cluster, the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), Australian Aerial Patrol
Australian aerial patrol
The Australian Aerial Patrol conducts fixed wing shark patrols on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. The patrol was created in 1957 and is based at the Illawarra Regional Airport....
, and a range of tourism related operations. Formerly a QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
service to Melbourne
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
served the airport but the service has been since discontinued.
The Illawarra Regional Airport provides a cost effective alternative to the Sydney basin airports for light aircraft users. It is not encumbered by restricted airspace or controls, which at times, creates delays and difficulties for pilots. The airport provides opportunities for tourism and business development
History
RAAF Albion Park was built in 1941 as an Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) Operational Base during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Businesses
Aero V. Australia - Makers of the Sadler VampireSadler Vampire
|-Specifications :-External links:* * * *...
microlight.
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society -
The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) is based at Illawarra Regional Airport.
HARS was formed in 1979 by a group of aviation enthusiasts interested in the preservation of Australian Aviation History. Its mission is "To recover and where possible restore to flying condition, aircraft or types of aircraft that have played a significant part in Australian Aviation History both in the Civil and Military arenas".
The HARS has restored:
Lockheed Super Constellation,
Consolidated PBY Catalina,
Lockheed Neptune (273),
Lockheed Neptune (566),
Douglas C47 Dakota A65-94,
Douglas C47 Dakota A65-95,
Convair 340-67 Airliner,
De Havilland Vampire A79-637,
De Havilland Vampire A79-665
Bristol Beaufighter,
Bell AH-1P Huey Cobra,
De Havilland DHA-3 Drover,
Cessna 310 VH-REK,
De Havilland Tiger Moth,
CAC Winjeel,
Cessna C-180 and
Cessna C-172.