Narromine is located in Central West New South Wales, 40km west of Dubbo on the Mitchell Highway , and is a well known aviation mecca. Home to the oldest Aero Club in regional Australia , the aerodrome accommodates the Aviation museum, various gliding and flying schools and clubs, as well as an array of aviation related businesses.

Many people are surprised to learn that flying at Narromine started as early as 1919. Australia ’s first regional aero club, which is still active, was formed there ten years later in 1929. A host of famous aviators made regular visits during the 1920s and 30s, and were enthusiastically hosted by the townspeople.

During the Second World War, the aerodrome was upgraded to host firstly the No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School in 1940 with over 2800 pilots passing through during the war, and in 1945 a unique RAF Mosquito bomber squadron.

The post-war years saw Qantas conduct much of its pilot training there, as well as using the aerodrome as an alternative to Sydney ’s Mascot for international flights.  The sport of gliding, too, has roots at Narromine which go back to the 1940s. Today, the region is considered to be among the world’s best soaring sites.

The first Air Pageant was held in 1930.  The Air Pageant is now a major fundraiser for the Narromine Aviation Museum to enable it to collect, co-ordinate, and display our aviation stories.

 Narromine Aero Club has hosted a celebrity listing of aviators in their colourful history with well known aviatrix, Nancy Bird Walton AO, OBE, HON DSC, HON ME exclaiming that “you could say without fear of contradiction, that anyone of any consequence, who flew a plane anywhere in Australia before the war years, flew in Narromine…Narromine encouraged aviation, long before it was considered a possible means of transport”.

Last year, Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and moon walker, was added to the celebrity listing as Narromine hosted the biggest Air Pageant to date with the launch of the locally built and housed replica Wright Flyer attended by 13,000 visitors and locals. Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Arthur Butler, Jean Batten and Sir Francis Chichester also visited in the Barnstorming era of the 1920’s and 30’s and to this day, aviation in Narromine is encouraged and treasured by locals.