Is it a truck? Is it a plane? Turns out it’s both.
This is certainly not something you see every day – but earlier this week an RAAF Classic Hornet jet was among three large pieces of equipment that made their way through Canberra.
The Australian War Memorial is currently undertaking its largest relocation of military technology to date, with plans for these objects to be on display by 2026.
Along with the RAAF F/A-18F Classic Hornet, a C-130 Hercules and Bushmaster have also made their way from the Australian War Memorial’s Mitchell warehouse to its Anzac Hall in Campbell, Canberra.
The Hornet was the first of these large objects to hit the road, travelling on the night of Monday, March 31.
This Hornet, A21-022, retired in 2020 after over 6000 flying hours. The Australian War Memorial revealed it was the first RAAF fighter jet to drop bombs in combat since the Korean War, taking part in patrol and combat missions over Iraq and Syria.
Video captured by a member of the public showed the Hornet travelling past the intersection of Hindmarsh Drive and Athlon Drive, at around 11.40pm, under police escort.
The video was posted to Instagram by @jess_lizzy_ and has been shared below with her permission. When she originally shared the video, she told Big Rigs she had no idea it would be seen by so many people.
“My daughter called me on her way home to see if I knew what was blocking the traffic. I was on my ambulance night shift, so when she said there was a truck with a plane on it, we definitely had to check it out as we were close by.”
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The huge C130 Hercules was then moved on Tuesday night, and a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle and Long Range Patrol Vehicle were transported on Thursday.
The C-130 Hercules has been used to carry Australians out of crisis zones, flown life-saving aid into disaster-stricken regions, and has returned Australia’s fallen home with dignity.
The sheer size of these moves means there is meticulous planning every step of the way. Helping to ensure things run smoothly is Kassandra Hobbs, Manager, Collection Logistics and Projects at the Australian War Memorial.
She was responsible for the temporary transfer of these large items from the Anzac Hall in 2021 and is now involved in refilling the space.
Kassandra has a background in history and collection management, spending 16 years across various Memorial departments. During that time she’s spent six years mastering the delicate and often perilous process of relocating priceless artefacts.
Ahead of Monday night’s move, she explained, “The Hercules move is going to require two cranes to load onto the truck, specialised mounts, and a detour of 38.1 kilometres – nearly three times the normal distance – due to height restrictions under Canberra’s light rail.
“My job involves a lot of communications and paperwork. We have ACT Police, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, specialised transport teams, aircraft specialists and engineers all working together to make it happen.”
For the Hornet fighter jet, which is wider than the C-130, tree trimming, electrical line adjustments, and road signage removal had to be arranged.
“There’s a lot of maths,” she said. “Each crane has a different reach and weight limit. The engineering studies tell us the pressure on the outriggers, and then we bring in geotechnical experts to make sure the ground can handle it. I always have a tape measure on me – every placement has to be exact.”
Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matt Anderson, added, “With every move, from tiny lucky charms to the C-130, Kassandra ensures that history remains intact and each of her teammates are safe at the end of the day.
“From military aircrafts to the Stone of Remembrance, her work isn’t just about logistics – it’s about preserving the past for future generations.
“Moving into Anzac Hall will be huge piece of work for Kassandra, her team and the whole of the Memorial, but this isn’t about scale – it is about stories.”