Cessna A-37B Dragonfly
at Temora Aviation Museum

by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com
 

22 December. The summer solstice here in Australia was suitably hot, and accompanied by swarms of locusts.

I had been driving for several hours through the parched countryside of southern New South Wales on my way home after a visit to Albury. This time, though, I decided to detour via the Temora Aviation Museum. This museum is home to some of the finest flying heritage in Australia, including a Spitfire Mk.VIII, a Meteor Mk.8, a Vampire trainer, a Canberra, Tiger Moth and two Cessna T-37B Dragonflies.

Minutes after walking into the reception area, I heard the unmistakable din of a jet engine running up. I jogged to the runway apron to see one of the Museum's Dragonflies preparing for flight. I had left my video camera at home, but I did just happen to have my SLR on hand.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

---

After conducting pre-flight checks, the A-37 taxied to the opposite end of the airfield and took off, unsighted behind trees.

The Dragonfly soon reappeared though, flaunting its aerobatic capabilities in an impressive display.

Photography

The photographs were taken with my Nikon D70 digital SLR, alternating lenses between the 24-120mm AF-S VR and my inexpensive (less than AUD$200) 70-300mm AF-G.

ISO was set to 200 for the 24-120mm lens; and to 500 for the unstabilized 70-300 lens to permit a slightly faster shutter speed.

Lighting conditions were not ideal. I was on the shadow side of the aircraft and the harsh light made matters more challenging still, but there was no access to the tarmac available.

Museum Details

If you are driving between Sydney and Melbourne, a visit to Temora Aviation Museum is well worthwhile. Leave yourself an extra couple of hours for the detour to Temora, and another couple of hours for a thorough look at the Museum.

Details are:

Temora Aviation Musem
Hangar 1, Menzies Street,
Temora   NSW   2666

Phone +61 2 6977 1088

website: http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au
email: info@aviationmuseum.com.au

The Museum will also be holding eight Flying Days during 2005. Check their website for details.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Model, Images and Article Copyright © 2004 by Brett Green
Page Created 22 December 2004
Last updated 22 December 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Features Page