Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility — Attraction in The Gap

Royal Flying Doctor Service at Alice Springs Visited on 10/6/2019

I heard much about The Flying Doctors, and what they did. However, I knew little about the history, nor understood the harsh conditions of the Central Australia and the outback.

It was John Flynn's dream to assist the country Australian communities, and pioneered the world's first aerial medical service known as the Australian Inland Mission Aerial Medical Service in Cloncurry, Queensland on 15 May 1928. It was later renamed the Royal Flying Doctor Service, RFDS.

RFDS "claims" to deliver urgent medical care across a 7.69 million square km ‘waiting room’ - the Australian outback.

The tourist centre has a souvenir shop and a general area for the public to browse. However, there is a charge to visit the museum.

All proceeds from admissions and merchandise sales at the go towards the purchase of new aircraft and vital medical equipment.

The legacy of John Flynn lives on, with a life-size hologram of to take visitors through the history of the Flying Doctor from 1928 until the present.

There are exhibits of a large variety of historic radios, and communication and navigation devices. In addition, there is also a large display of historic medical equipment used during the services.

Hung from the ceiling.ing are two replica aircraft's.

One of the highlights is to climb into a decommissioned RFDS Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to view a fully aeromedically...

Cashier seemed pretentious and arrogant, and failed to tell the kitchen about one of our meals. Once we had ordered, we went to find a table and found only dirty plate covered tables available. We waited to see if staffs were clearing the tables but we waited at a dirty table until one meal arrived and the waitress took two glasses back to the kitchen. It seemed as if that was all she was capable of carrying. Each time she came to clear a table she would take two small items and return to the kitchen, then wait 10 mins before coming back out to clear another two glasses. I waited or my meal for 20mins before having to go back to the cashier to ask were my meal was, to which he replied with “Oh, you wanted that meal?” well yeah, I mean, I ordered and paid for it so yeah. He seemed so surprised that I would actually want food I had paid for and begrudgingly went to get the meal. Meal was served with veggies left in bread while being toasted, which made it soggy and greasy. Dirty tables with staff barely making an effort to clear them, food was mediocre at best and odd food menus, not quick and easy meals, and staff were rude and arrogant to customers’ needs and wants, I MISS THE OLD RFDS CAFE BEFORE IT WAS A...

Wow! A very informative experience. I came out very impressed with the passion of the team on duty during my visit and the quality of the exhibits. Learnt so much about the history of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and its past and ongoing contributions to Australians.

Tours conducted every 30 minutes and are highly recommended. The museum and the VR stations are also very interesting.

Souvenir shop is also well stocked. All proceeds from ticket sales and merchandise sales go to their operations.

Toilets are ridiculously clean! Hospital grade!!

Their on-site cafe (Base Cafe) is also highly recommended but please be patient due to their...