Background

Aerotec Queenland specialises in the restoration of 
classic aircraft from the 1930's to the present day. 
Services include the sourcing of an aircraft of the 
customer’s choice, and the full restoration to either
 full airworthiness, or static display status.
Aerotec Queensland was formed in 1998, with
 Lynette Zuccoli heading the company as Managing 
Director. Lynette and her late husband Guido Zuccoli 
had been involved in aviation since 1969, but following 
the tragic death of Guido in an air accident in February
 1997, the company went through a restructuring 
programme, emerging as Aerotec Queensland. 
 
Whilst the company name altered, the heritage and 
reputation upon which it was built remained intact and
 today, Aerotec continues to be leaders in the field of
 aircraft restoration and maintenance. 
The company’s first involvement with warbird recovery
 and restoration can be traced back to 1980 when Guido
 obtained four ex-Iraqi Air Force Hawker Sea Fury’s 
from the United States. The Aircraft arrived in Darwin in 
1982 and to assist in facilitating the restoration of these 
aircraft a maintenance business was purchased; Darwin 
General Aviation.

One of the Sea Fury’s went to Rob Poynton, the other
 three were refurbished in the Darwin workshop during
the following five to six years. One Fury, VH-HFG was 
retained and expertly flown at countless airshows by
Guido for many years. That example has now had it’s 
engine inhibited, and is maintained in beautiful condition 
in Aerotec’s Toowoomba hangar.  
In between his construction commitments with his company, 
Steecon Constructions Pty Ltd, and assisted by Nobby 
Bartsch and Roy MacMillan, Guido restored four T-28 
Trojan’s and two North American T.6 Texan’s along with a 
wide selection of aerobatic aircraft.  The eventual outcome 
was Aerotec Pty Ltd being inaugurated in May 1988, 
continuing until 1998 when the Darwin and Toowoomba 
operations became separate companies.  

Aerotec Queensland has recently completed a Boeing 
Stearman, VH-ZYZ, with work under way on an A-37 
Dragonfly. As well as performing general aircraft 
maintenance for customers, the awesome collection of 
Aerotec owned aircraft is maintained and regularly flown 
at airshows by Aerotec Chief Flying Instructor Matt Handley,
Chief Engineer Wayne Milburn, Tim Berry and Matt Denning 
who is now flying his own  CAC Boomerang after a 28 year
 restoration.

Aircraft in the Toowoomba Zuccoli Classic and ex-military 
aircraft collection include:
• North American T-28 Trojan
• North American AT-6 Texan
• Hawker Sea Fury 
• De Havilland Chipmunk
• Fiat G-59B
• Boeing N2S-4 Stearman
• Falco F8L
• Pitts Special S2-B
• Pitts Special S1S
• CAC-19 Boomerang
• Ryan STA
• Stipa Caproni
• Flying Flea (static)
• CAC Sabre (static)

The Team

Matt Handley

Chief Flying Instructor and Manager of Aerotec 
Flight Training, has been instructing for 15 years. 
Matt also flies the Warbirds of Aerotec at Airshows
across Australia.  Included is the rare Fiat G-59, 
the Harvard T-6, the North American T-28 Trojan 
plus all the other Aircraft in the Aerotec Collection.  
Matt is also endorsed in the A-37 Dragonfly jet 
and the Grumman Avenger.  He conducts many 
other courses including low-level aerobatics, 
Spin Recovery Training and Emergency Recovery
Training. Matt also conducts joy flights in the 
Stearman and Pitts Special. 

Wayne Milburn 

Wayne is Aerotec’s Chief Engineer as well 
as Airshow Pilot.  His career in flying began
in New Zealand and has continued here in 
Toowoomba since 1989.  Wayne was 
endorsed on the Sea Fury by Guido Zuccoli 
and flies all the Aircraft in the Collection.  
Wayne is widely experienced as an aircraft 
engineer and holds many licences ranging 
from General Aviation to Exotic Warbirds.  
Wayne has also competed in Aerobatic 
Competitions and is highly experienced 
on rebuilding and maintenance of Pitts 
Special aircraft.

Annamaria Zuccoli

Annamaria manages both the offices of 
Aerotec and Aerotec Flight Training.  
Previously a Primary School Teacher, she 
has been working at Aerotec since 1997.  
She has worked in Darwin in the office of
Steelcon Constructions which was owned
by her father until 1993. Annamaria has 
been involved with collating the history of 
the Toowoomba Airport and its Aviators.  
Her role involves her in assisting the Team 
at Airshows.


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