The Southern Cross is arguably Australia's most famous aircraft, and its exact replica is nearly ready to take to the skies again.
Painstakingly restored by volunteers at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) over more than 10 years, the 1980s-built plane needed major repairs to fix a wing broken after an emergency landing in 2002.
"The wing was by far the major focus for us because it has the original wooden wing, and wooden wings are a thing of the past," Southern Cross replica engineer Jim Thurstan said.
"Even though I'm an old bloke, I didn't do much wood when I was young, but we've gathered people around here to pick up those skills and we just did it."
The original Southern Cross was flown by Charles Kingsford Smith on the first transpacific flight from the United States to Australia in 1928.
The plane's replica was the project of South Australian flying instructor John Pope, who created the plane as a travelling history lesson that would fly around the country.
Plane to fly next year
With three new engines freshly fitted and tested, the replica aircraft is expected to take off in 2022.
"It'll be very satisfying indeed, just getting it out to run the engines is a big step forward," Mr Thurstan said.
"It's always a significant point to run the engines because it means a whole lot of stuff is connected up, there's fuel and oil available and it puts life in the project and increases the enthusiasm as well."
He said once the plane was airworthy again, it would hopefully resume its original purpose, travelling the country and teaching people about the early days of aviation.
"John Pope, who conceived it in the beginning, that's what he dreamed of doing and it was very successful.
"It flew in the Bicentennial celebrations and to New Zealand, but it flew around Australia, going to country towns where school children came out and a got a history of aviation in general."
A primitive way to fly
The original Fokker aircraft was flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, Harry Lyon and James Warner from the United States to Australia in a 11,670-kilometre journey.
That plane provided none of the comforts of modern aviation, and Jim Thurstan said the replica would be the same.
"Compared to modern planes, this is very primitive, but back in 1928 it's as good as it got — these were the jumbos of the day," he said.
"There were about 170 of them built in England, Holland and America and to fly in them would be noisy.
"They're not pressurised or air-conditioned, they'd be bumpy, hot and cold, but that's what it was."
The aircraft with its new engines will be on display as part of Wings Over Illawarra this weekend – Australia's biggest air show.
"We've had people from all walks of life [work on the plane], and we did have pilots from Qantas help out when they were out of a job recently," Mr Thurstan said.
"Some will probably get to fly this aircraft, which a lot of pilots would like to do."
