About Wings on the Warrego
Where Aviation Past Meets the Future
A celebration of flight in all its forms, connecting Charleville's heritage skies with tomorrow's possibilities and inspiring the next generation of aviators.
Our Story
A Celebration of Flight
Wings on the Warrego celebrates flight in all its forms, from the roar of classic aircraft to the quiet hum of cutting-edge drones, merging the charm of traditional airshows with cutting edge drone technology.
Set in Charleville's aviation-rich heartland, this family-friendly festival brings entertainment, education, and innovation together under the vast western Queensland sky.
Just one hour's flight or a day's drive from Brisbane, Charleville offers an outback welcome that's closer than you think, yet feels a world away.
What We Do
Our Core Focus
Heritage
Honouring Charleville's proud aviation past, from early Qantas flights to secret WWII operations, and celebrating the outback spirit that shaped our skies.
Innovation
Showcasing the future of aviation through drones, STEM activities and emerging technologies that are shaping how we live and work.
Education
Inspiring curiosity, learning and career pathways for all ages through hands-on workshops, science experiences and aviation insights.
Community
Uniting visitors, industry, families and locals together under one sky to celebrate what makes outback Queensland special.
Adventure
Celebrating the thrill, discovery and wonder of flight in Outback Queensland, inviting all ages to look up and be inspired.
Our Heritage
Charleville's Aviation History
From launching one of Australia's first scheduled air services to hosting secret wartime operations, Charleville has played a remarkable role in our nation's aviation story and continues as a vital regional hub today.
Qantas First Flight
Qantas scheduled its first fare-paying passenger service from Charleville to Cloncurry, with stops in Longreach and Winton. This was only the second planned air route in Australia, making this remote outback town a crucial launching point for what would become one of the world's major airlines.
MacRobertson Air Race
Charleville was one of only five compulsory stops in the MacRobertson International Air Race from London to Melbourne, alongside Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, and Darwin. The world's greatest aviators landed here, with locals providing cold beer and eager autograph hunters swarming the pilots at the Corones Hotel.
WWII Secret Base
Charleville hosted 3,500 United States Army Air Force personnel as a secret military installation. The town became home to the highly classified Norden Bombsight, technology considered as secret as the atomic bomb project. Soldiers couldn't write home about it, and locals didn't know what was happening. This precision targeting system would later become the foundation for modern GPS and drone technology.
A Living Aviation Hub
Charleville remains a vital aviation hub in outback Queensland. Rex Airlines operates regular passenger services connecting the town to Brisbane, while the Royal Flying Doctor Service maintains a base here, providing critical aeromedical care across the remote outback. The same runways that launched Qantas and welcomed wartime aircraft continue to serve the community today.
