For many regional areas the local airfield used to be a very important link to the rest of the country, passenger services, mail, and some freight would pass through these airports. As cities and towns changed with the prevalence of cars and greater use of motorways, road transport became increasingly important in the lives of the people in these areas, and with much of what a regional airport does for the community has gone out of sight, but it is still vital for those communities. In an age where more people and freight are moved by air than ever before, it’s in places like regional airports where most of the pilots needed for these services will have started their training. These photos are a collection of portraits and still lifes taken at Warnervale Airport, on the NSW Central Coast. Many of these portraits are also accompanied with a short audio interview with the subject, these interviews were recorded in the locations where their portrait was made capturing the sounds of the environment along the their voices.

Peter Hobson recreational pilot and long term member of the Central Coast Aero Club in hanger, and epaulette from the Newcastle Aero Club

Listen to interview with Peter

Peter Hobson in a Warnervale Air Cessna 150

Below, a collection of aviation paraphernalia used by pilots. Kindly loaned by Peter Hobson.
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Navigation Protractor
Navigation Protractor
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Aircraft Computer Slide Rule
Royal Newcastle Aero Club Patch
Royal Newcastle Aero Club Patch
Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Aust badge
Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Aust badge
Royal Newcastle Aero Club Badge
Royal Newcastle Aero Club Badge
Inverell East Travelling Bowlers Badge
Inverell East Travelling Bowlers Badge
Jodie Smith, office manager and file partitions

Listen to interview with Jodie

Office space in Warnervale Airport admin building

An extensive collection of headsets used in flight on board aircraft
Andrew Smith, flight instructor in classroom and model airplane used as a teaching aid.

Listen to interview with Andrew

Old (on left) and new (on right) uniforms of Warnervale Air.

Below flight instruments taken from planes and used as training aides.
Daniel Buzalski, flight instructor and directional gyro used for training

Listen to interview with Daniel

James Stewart, flight instructor who runs his own flying school from Warnervale airport and wheel spat taken from a plane.

Below, collection of various wheels spats that have been removed from plane wheels. These spats go over the wheels under planes that have fixed undercarriages to reduce wind drag. At some airports the taxi ways are unsealed where grass and mud can collect inside the spats, some pilots choose to take the spats off to avoid this.
Tony Moore, flight instructor and propeller

Listen to interview with Tony

15 year old Emma, did her work experience in the maintenance shed as part of her high school curriculum, and an oil rag made from a child's pyjamas

Listen to interview with Emma

Emma

Engine block on stand
Engine block on stand
Engine block on stand II
Engine block on stand II
Low chair used in maintenance shop
Low chair used in maintenance shop
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Oil rag
Like many garages where machinery or dirty work is being done you'll always find a collection of rags for clean up, the best source is always old cotton clothing and sheets.
David Tennant, chief mechanic and disused plane seat belts.
Below parts found in maintenance shed
Paul Ross, general hand working in the maintenance shed and a plane door in the paint room

Listen to interview with Paul

Paraphernalia in paint room
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