Fighter World is a great aviation museum just outside Newcastle, NSW.

Fighter World

Fighter World is not where you take your toddler to fight it out with another toddler, would that be insane. It’s an aviation museum.

Fighter World is dedicated to preserving the proud history of fighter aircraft operations in the Royal Australian Air Force.

We really enjoyed our visit to Fighter World. I took over 120 photos. It was one of the few things I really wanted us to do on our trip up the coast to Port Stephens. And I’m glad I persisted and made my husband stop on the way home to specifically check it out.

If only my dad had been there with us, he would absolutely love this place.

What I really love about Australian places like this is that it’s not limited to Australian exhibits, there are historic planes from all over the world. There are actual planes that have been restored, replicas which have been used in movies and a model airplane collection that may be the biggest in Australia.

I’ve also included a bit of the history of Fighter World in this post because it’s a great space that has been carefully curated over the years.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.

Fighter World

Fighter world is all about aviation. Display items included aircraft parts and equipment, uniforms, photographs and memorabilia.

It’s not the same as the one in RAAF Museum in Point Cook. Fighter World focuses on “fighter aircraft and their operations” and provides a “detailed explanation of the component systems of the air defence environment”.

There are smaller planes hanging from the ceiling, bigger planes all over the two hangars and then if you’re lucky enough there are even planes taking off from the airbase behind the museum.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.

Where is Fighter World

Location

Fighter World is between Sydney and Port Stephens, 20 minutes north of Newcastle.

It’s located just at the entrance to RAAF Base Williamtown at Newcastle Airport.

Address

The official address is 49 Medowie Rd, Williamtown NSW 2314.

Parking

There is limited parking outside the hangars but, sadly, the museum isn’t very busy so I don’t think you’ll struggle to find parking.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.
My daughter and husband looking down into the F-111C at Fighter World.

What is Fighter World

The Exhibits

There are loads of exhibits and as above, it’s not just planes. The exhibits reflect:

  • The early days of aviation.
  • Propulsion systems.
  • Armament. Yes there are even some massive machine guns on display. My son couldn’t get past this.
  • Escape and life support systems.
  • Operations in the defence of Australia.

Planes on display

  • Mirage III which was the first Western European combat aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in horizontal flight.
  • A3-3, the first Mirage built in Australia.
  • Australian Avon Sabre.
  • Gloster Meteor which was the first British jet fighter and the Allies only jet aircraft to achieve combat operations during World War 2.
  • F-111 the American, supersonic, medium range interdictor and tactical attack aircraft that also acted as a nuclear bomber.
  • Russian designed MiG-21 jet fighter
Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.
Sidewinder Aim-9B Missile

You can read all about the history and specifications of the planes on The Fighter World website HERE.

Lots of these aircraft were restored by squadrons who were involved with those types of planes. So the Sabre was sponsored by 3 Squadron and is painted in 3 Squadron colours. and the Meteor was operated by 77 Squadron in Korea and painted in the original colours of that aircraft.

The Vampire is a tribute to 26 Squadron whose technicians rescued it from severe deterioration related to its time spent sitting in the open and it remains one of the very few intact aircraft of its type. It was also the first Vampire built in Australia.

Isn’t that just so special. I think there is something about pilots that aviation is in their blood and it is just part of who they are. For them, I would think that working with and doing something to commemorate their squadrons and restoring planes like this is an honour.

There is are also a WWII Spitfire replica and a Messerschmitt replica.

Sitting in the planes

Fighter World also offers the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Mirage interceptor and Macchi jet trainer.

My kids weren’t that keen to get in but my husband and I were!! We got in and even got a random visitor to take pictures of us pretending to fly. After that the kids also had a try.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.
My son sitting in one of the planes at Fighter World.

The Norm Forrester Collection

Inside the main hangar you’ll find the Norm Forrester Collection which is one of Australia’s greatest displays of hand built model aircraft.

The QR tour

Fighter World has introduced a QR Tour. You can use your smart phone, tablet or iPod’s even. I didn’t know about this at the time and wish I had because we didn’t get a chance to utilise this.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.

The Williamstown Base

One of the highlights of the location is it’s proximity to the Williamstown Base runway.

Perched on the Observation Deck you can witness the various aircraft of the RAAF’s premier Fighter Squadrons take-off and land.

And, you can listen to all the action on the live audio feed direct from the Williamtown Control Tower.

Fighter World Facilities

Fighter Beans Cafe

There is a little cafe on site that has food available for sit down or to take away.

There are breakfast options and lunch time options too. I saw sandwiches, wraps and salads, hamburgers and fish and chips on the menu.

I didn’t get a chance to check this out so can’t really recommend it from personal experience.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.

Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening Hours

10am to 4pm every day except Christmas.

Tickets

Price
Adult$16
Child under 5Free
Child
(5 to 17 years)
$10
Family
(2 adults and all dependent children)
$42
Senior / Pensioner$13
Service Personnel Free
Disabled PersonsFree

There are special rates for school tours and groups.

The History of Fighter World

Fighter World has its origins in the original RAAF Williamtown Base Museum. In the 1980s it used to be a wartime hut at the main gate to the base.

But the building was insufficient and causing increased risk to the planes. In late 1989, the original museum building was condemned as a structural and fire hazard and closed. Thankfully the year before a grant had been given to the museum allowing a new hangar to be built.

Fighter World is an aviation museum with hundreds of exhibits. There are planes to see, planes to sit on, artillery, engines and all sorts of equipment.
In memoriam.

One thought on “Fighter World

Comments are closed.