First ever NQ Military Muster coming to Woodstock’s Donnington Airport
Passionate war historians have banded together to run a free ‘military muster’ outside Townsville this weekend. It’ll have trucks, planes and a motorcycle shooting flames. Get the details.
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A group of passionate war historians and military gear hobbyists have come together to pull off an ambitious goal – a first-of-its-kind North Queensland Military Muster.
Free to enter, the Military Muster is billed as a weekend gathering showcasing all things military history, including displays of memorabilia, re-enactors, restored vehicles and 20 minute ‘adventure rides’ on-board a Yak-52 warbird plane.
Those interested in taking to the skies are highly recommended to book ahead with Widebay Warbirds.
Highlights of the event include the appearance of a world-famous Merlin motorcycle powered by parts of a Rolls-Royce V12 engine salvaged from a WWII-era Mosquito bomber.
The motorcycle’s creator, Lucky Keizer, will be bringing the bike up from Mackay and organisers are planning to make full use of the flames the bike is capable of spitting out.
Donnington Airpark operations manager Christian Smith said the motorcycle will be doing engine runs multiple times a day, but a special after-dark one is planned for Saturday for full impact.
“We plan to include the Merlin bike after the Yak in the engine run on Saturday evening – it spits fire from the stub exhausts, same as the V-12,” Mr Smith said.
“We’ve had a lot of interest and events like this bring a lot of people out of the woodwork.”
Also coming to the muster is a Martin mid-upper turret project currently in-progress under the hands of talented local restorer Brad ‘Spoox’ McCartin.
Donnington Airpark was built by the Smith family in 1970 and continues to be run by the family in Woodstock, hosting monthly social fly-in days, the RAAF for night-training and is used as a cheaper stopover alternative to Townsville Airport.
NQ Military Muster will be held at Donnington Airpark this Saturday (9am to 4pm) and Sunday (8am to 3pm).
Camping overnight is available at the event.
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Originally published as First ever NQ Military Muster coming to Woodstock’s Donnington Airport
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