Spitfire Association
65th Anniversary Celebration
· Hunter Warbirds Museum, Scone NSW
At a glance
- Date
- Saturday 17 October 2026
- Arrival
- 9:00 am
- Luncheon
- 12:30 pm
- Finishes
- 4:00 pm
- Venue
-
Hunter Warbirds Museum
10 Walter Pye Avenue
Scone NSW - Dress
- Smart casual
- Tickets
- $75 member · $85 non-member
- Open to
- Everyone. Membership of the Spitfire Association is not required to attend.
Your ticket covers a full day's access to the museum and its aircraft, the flying program and the luncheon. The set pieces run to the times in the program below; between them you can take the collection at your own pace.
Your day includes
- Entry into the museum
- A guided tour of the warbird aircraft — their history and their restoration journey
- A special viewing of restoration projects in progress
- Private flying displays of vintage aircraft, including Spitfire VH-TR9
- Luncheon with guest speakers
Program
| 9:00 am | Gates open |
|---|---|
| 9:30 am | Museum tour and Pay's Restoration tour |
| 10:30 am – 12:30 pm | Flight displays, warbird flights and simulator |
| 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Luncheon with guest speakers |
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Flight displays, warbird flights and simulator |
| 4:00 pm | Official close |
| From 4:00 pm | Warbird flights continue for anyone still to fly |
Flight displays are included in your ticket. Warbird flights and simulator flights are booked separately — see Optional extras below.
Guest speakers
Paul Bennet
Paul Bennet transformed a lifelong love of aviation into an extraordinary aerobatic career. He quickly excelled in competition, winning state and Australian titles including the Advanced and Unlimited championships. Today, through Paul Bennet Airshows, he thrills audiences worldwide with precision low-level aerobatics, warbird displays and powerful stunt flying.
Michael “Newbs” Newby
Michael “Newbs” Newby is an Australian aviator with more than 15 years in the RAAF, flying fast jets including the F/A-18 Hornet and serving as an instructor pilot on the RAAF's 5th-generation F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter. Since leaving the Air Force he has flown warbird displays in a variety of aircraft.
Tickets
| Ticket |
Price
Tickets close 11:59pm, 13 Oct for catering and seating numbers. |
|---|---|
| Member | $75 |
| Non-member | $85 |
Per person. Member rates are limited to 2 tickets per member; beyond that, the non-member rate applies.
Optional extras
Booked separately — these are not included in the ticket price.
Warbird flights
Fly in a vintage aircraft on the day, operated by Pay's Air Service. Bookings are essential and places are limited. The Association takes no payment for these — Pay's Air Service will contact you to arrange a time and payment, and registering is not binding.
-
Spitfire TR9
$4,950
-
T-6G Harvard
$695
-
Stearman
$400
Register for a flight when you purchase your ticket.
Simulator flights
Take the controls of the Spitfire simulator — $30 for 15 minutes, booked and paid for on the day.
Getting to Scone
Scone is in the Upper Hunter, roughly three and a half hours' drive north of Sydney and about an hour and a half from Newcastle. If you are travelling up for the day, plan on an early start.
Hunter Warbirds Museum
10 Walter Pye AvenueScone NSW 2337
Get directions
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Parking
Free onsite parking is available.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Enquiries
Questions about the day, the luncheon, dietary requirements or the extras?
Images courtesy of Pay's Air Service, Paul Bennet Airshows and Michael Newby.