Maryborough vintage aircraft museum to close

Following the death of its founder John Fisher, who died in a plane crash in 2012, Maryborough’s Old Aviator's Flying Museum is to close.

The rare vintage aircraft museum sits in a hangar at the airfield in the central Victorian town.

It was created by local entrepreneur and pilot Fisher after he flew a single-engine Tiger Moth from England to Australia in 1996.

Soon after his return, he began building a collection of vintage aircraft and war memorabilia, with a particular focus on planes designed by the British aviation icon Geoffrey de Havilland.

His wife Carolen Fisher told the ABC “that's what he wanted to do, two or three days a week he was over here collecting, and at night he'd be phoning people and bringing things together."

However, since Fisher’s death in a flying accident, Carolen Fisher says that no-one has stepped up to bring her husband's project to fruition.

She explained “iIt was going to get bigger and bigger, but now, there's no-one driving it.

"The volunteers have been good, but there's just not the passion; there's nobody with passion driving it."

The collection includes some rare items, including a 1930s fully restored Hornet Moth that Fisher had intended to fly.

The de Havilland aircraft was not only designed by the celebrated Briton, but used by him to travel between his factories.

When the museum closes, the items will be sold off or distributed to other collectors.

Carolen Fisher said she hoped that wherever the planes end up, they will be seen, stating "I think if people want to see these things they should be on display somewhere.”

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Image: John Fisher at the Old Aviator's Flying Museum prior to his death in 2012.

21st June 2012 - STELLAR GUEST LANDS FOR CARNARVON SPACE MUSEUM OPENING