and help preserve our aviation heritage for future generations
Leaving a legacy in your Will, also known as a bequest, to
the South Australian Aviation Museum Foundation is one of the most
beneficial ways you can support the long-term protection and
preservation of our aviation heritage.
Many people, after taking care of friends and family, leave a bequest
in their Will for the charity they wish to help in the future. This
bequest will support the work of preserving our heritage and educating
future generations about the history of our aviation achievements.
Some of our proud aviation achievements
Aviation history has been made by South Australians, from the first
flight from England to Australia by Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith in the
Vickers Vimy in 1919 — now on display at Adelaide Airport — to the
globe-circling flights of Jon Johansen, record holder for
round-the-world flights in a home-built aircraft. His Van's RV-4 is
proudly displayed as part of the collection of the South Australian
Aviation Museum.
The Vickers VimyJon Johansen's Van's RV-4
How your bequest will help
Your gift supports six areas of the Museum's work — from
the aircraft on the hangar floor to the people who care for them.
Conserving the aircraft we already hold
Bequests help ensure that the Museum's conservation work on existing
exhibits continues, keeping our Museum the pre-eminent museum of its
type in Australia.
As an example, part of our conservation work is rebuilding a rare
Fairey Battle that served as a trainer at Port Pirie during the Second
World War and crashed into the mangroves near the base. When complete,
the Museum's Fairey Battle will be one of only four intact examples in
the world.
From this
Circa 1980
To this
2026
Acquiring new exhibits
Your bequest will also greatly assist the Museum's acquisition of a
Bristol Freighter Mk.21 A81-1, which served in South Australia for 20
years at Woomera, Mallala, Maralinga and the Emu Field atomic test
sites. This is a rare aircraft — one of only four that served the RAAF,
and the only remaining intact example in Australia.
Bristol Freighter Mk.21 A81-1
This challenging project includes the significant costs of
dismantling this big aircraft, transporting it by road from Victoria
to South Australia, reassembling it, and conserving it for safe public
display.
Improving the displays that tell the story of SA aviation
An example of this ongoing work is the recent opening of the new
Royal Flying Doctor Service display at the Museum.
The new Royal Flying Doctor Service display
Employing staff to assist with expanding operations
The Museum has grown to a point where it is exceeding the
capabilities of an ageing all-volunteer workforce. Your bequest will
greatly increase the Museum's options to employ contractors or
in-house staff, and to keep growing and polishing the professionalism
of the Museum's many-faceted operations.
Developing a new Museum website
Considerable work has been done in 2026 to modernise the Museum's
website — see
saam.org.au.
Looking to the future, our web presence will need to grow in
sophistication, with interactive features, online exhibits and more.
Maintaining and improving the Museum's buildings
A recent example is the unveiling of a memorial to RAAF personnel
lost in accidents since the Second World War. This project was a
collaboration with the RAAF Association (SA), and the memorial has
already seen two ceremonies in 2026, with more to come.
Memorial to RAAF personnel lost in accidents since 1945
Your Will
The South Australian Aviation Museum Foundation is not a legal
practitioner and cannot provide formal advice regarding the terms of
Wills or bequests. You should seek qualified legal advice on making a
Will, or on adjusting the wording of an existing one.
The Foundation understands that including a charitable gift in your
Will is a very personal decision, and there are multiple ways of
making a bequest. We encourage you to speak with your family and your
legal advisor about which way is best for you and your circumstances.
Our details, to assist with your discussions
Full name
The South Australian Aviation Museum Foundation
ABN
35 996 072 891
ACN
639 320 915
Postal address
PO Box 150, Port Adelaide SA 5015
Address for service
16 Bedford Street, Port Adelaide SA 5015
The South Australian Aviation Museum Foundation is:
Incorporated as a company limited by guarantee.
Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
(ASIC).
Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) under the
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth).
Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits
Commission (ACNC) as a charity.
After you have taken care of your loved ones,
remembering the South Australian Aviation Museum Foundation in your Will
can leave a notable legacy in the preservation of our aviation heritage
for generations to come.
