Lavington man Lyle Taylor showcases his impressive display of model planes

Lyle Taylor purchased his first model late in 2018, but now has 218 different planes on display at his home.

He finally got the chance to showcase them as he welcomed members of the public for an exhibition across the weekend.

Around 30 people enjoyed a guided tour from Mr Taylor as he shared stories of the various planes on display.

His mother worked for Ansett Australia before it ceased operations in 2002 and he has a dedicated shelf of memorabilia dedicated to the airline.

"Just before COVID hit in 2019, I was on board one of the final 747 flights on November 23," Mr Taylor said.

"I'm planning to get my own pilot's licence one day.

"My favourite type of plane will always be a Boeing 747."

Mr Taylor was at Albury airport for the first Jet Go flight in 2017, which operated a route from the Border to Brisbane before it went into voluntary administration the following year.

He said he had planned to do an open day for about four months, but COVID restrictions stalled it on three occasions.

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"On the fourth try it finally happened," he said.

"It first started in another room and now it has come out here.

"It's been set up like this for two months, but all of it took me a month to do.

"I've got a couple of rare ones. A plane from Singapore Airlines was one of only two that has been made.

"One is still flying at the moment and this one crashed and got written off straight away. All the 747s are rare now."

But it's not just planes Mr Taylor collects, he also has a range of airline safety cards which he has purchased on Ebay, various flags on display at the front of his home. He even has pajamas and toilet paper from his favourite airline, Qantas.

"On a flight from Adelaide to Brisbane, the cabin crew manager handed me a note from the captain and he gave me his wing (badge)," Mr Taylor said.

"I want to keep adding to the collection, but I think I'll need a bigger room first."

Mr Taylor, who works as a cleaner at the Albury-Wodonga Cancer Centre, said none of his model planes moved at the time of last week's earthquake.

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