Central Australian Aviation Museum

Visit Central Australia’s Aviation Museum precinct and meet some of the industry’s Heroes, Visionaries and Villains through the informative displays which celebrate the spirit, determination and courage of the people behind the stories.

The Aviation precinct is located on the original site of Alice Springs‘s first aerodrome, known as Townsite, established by visionary, EJ Connellan and his team of committed ‘troops’. The first flight into the Alice Springs landed nearby. The original Connellan Airways hangar is Heritage listed.

Get up close to iconic aircraft as well as the Silver Ghost Rolls Royce modified for clearing bush landing strips (yes that’s correct), fly a simulator, try your hand at Morse Code and hear stories about ‘how it was’ from past pilots and crews.

View the evocative Kookaburra diorama display near where, Heroes, Hitchcock and Anderson took off in the Kookaburra plane to search for Smithy’s Southern Cross. Their forced landing in forbidding, remote country ended in disaster.

Meet a Villain who 50 years ago hijacked an ANSETT flight to Alice Springs – see how it played out.

We haven’t forgotten the kids. Teachers/parents can download class packages and/or activity sheets. Or ask for one at the counter.

Allow plenty of time as there’s lots to see.

The Aviation precinct is volunteer run and open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Entry is by donation.