A decades-old military plane will soon come out of storage in the dead of night for one more mission.
The Australian War Memorial's transport aircraft C-130 Hercules is one of many iconic artefacts that will be taken on an odyssey across Canberra as the institution's controversial $550 million renovation reaches a new milestone.
At about 10 metres tall with a hulking wingspan, transporting the plane from the memorial's storage facility to its almost-complete Anzac Hall is a logistical feat.
Two cranes will be required to load it onto a truck, which must take an almost 40km detour - as the aircraft's height could clash with Canberra's light rail infrastructure - and arrive at its destination before 5.30am.
And that's not even the most difficult part of the move.
The memorial's collection, logistics and projects manager Kassandra Hobbs, who has done most of the heavy lifting, says one of the largest objects to be transported is the Hornet fighter jet.
Not only is it wider than the Hercules, it must be transported in one piece which means trees must be trimmed, road signs have to be removed and electrical lines must be adjusted before its journey through the capital.
Ms Hobbs has been planning the installation with a team of specialists and engineers since 2019, but some things remain out of their hands.
"You plan for all the possibilities, but the one thing we can't control is the weather," she told AAP.
"Something like a rain shower will throw everything apart."
While some artefacts, like submarines, can get wet, Ms Hobbs is also transporting objects that have undergone significant conservation work.
For example the German V2 rocket and Meillerwagen launching trailer, which were used during the Second World War, have never been displayed before because of structural issues.
"Before, it couldn't move an inch, and now it needs to move all the way into town," Ms Hobbs said.
The Australian War Memorial's new Anzac Hall is slated for completion in 2026 and will be able to host even more items with more than 3000 expected to populate its displays.
Visitor favourites like the G for George heavy bomber, which flew 90 missions over Germany and occupied Europe during World War II and is considered one of the most prolific surviving Avro Lancasters, will return to Anzac Hall with new viewing angles and context.
"We're able to flesh out those stories a lot more, bring in new objects and also revisit some of the things we already had and be able to tell more," Ms Hobbs said.
Anzac Hall found itself at the centre of controversy after it was revealed it would be demolished as part of major renovations announced under the former coalition government.
The award-winning building was less than 20 years old at the time.
