History Group member Nigel Daw has written a detailed chronicle of the F.27’s service with Airlines of South Australia.
The profile includes 22 historic photographs, fleet and routes tables and three complete representative timetables.
Just click the image at left to download, or go to the History Group drop-down tab above to browse through the many other profiles available.
It seems that nothing stirs controversy like the Vickers Vimy at Adelaide Airport – the latest being that it should be moved to the Eastern states.
Of course it should not be, especially since plans are already underway to relocate it to a much more accessible site as part of Adelaide Airport Ltd’s terminal expansion.
The South Australian Aviation Museum has been a long-term advocate of increasing the access of South Australians and visitors to this iconic aircraft.
We assisted Adelaide Airport Ltd (AAL) in planning the refurbishment of the existing memorial as an interim measure, and we strongly support AAL’s intention to relocate it.
We recognise that will take time and money, and we urge State and Commonwealth Governments to assist AAL with funding to effect the relocation as soon as possible.
In the meantime we will continue to support AAL’s demonstrated careful custodianship of this precious artefact and will provide whatever technical advice we can in the planning for its future.
David Byrne (President) and Committee
South Australian Aviation Museum Inc
It’s a big issue this month – starting with a great front page photo by Matt Welsby of the Mirage unloading, news of our Armistice Centenary activity and a quick summary of the year’s major achievements. There are also articles from RAAF History about Caribou deployments to PNG including our A4-225; Ko’s cartoon about the downing of our Fokker DR1 replica; Robert Zweck’s story about his Pearl Harbor Museum visit; Langdon Badger’s last ramble through his flying reminisces; and a continuation of Chas Schaedel’s fine “Brothers-in-Arms” series about sibling airmen of the Great War.
Just click on the front page image at left to download, or go to the Newsletters tab to browse past issues.
On 10 De
cember 2017, AP-3C Orion A09-756 arrived at SAAM in pieces on 6 semi trailers from Edinburgh Airbase, courtesy of RAAF Heritage and Defence Disposals. In barely eleven months SAAM has assembled and refurbished the aircraft for display in its new display hangar.
On 2 December 2018, Air Commodore John Meier of RAAF Heritage will officially hand the aircraft over to SAAM in a ceremony that will include addresses by the Air Commodore and our Patron, Jim Whalley; Group Captain John Grime of 92 Wing; Martin Ball, VP Airbus Australia Pacific; and our President, David Byrne.
Visitors are welcome to share the event with us and entry is free until noon. Access to the aircraft interior will be available to visitors for the first time.
You can download the program by clicking on the image at left.
If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift or just want to indulge yourself, consider one of our F-111 tour Gift Vouchers.
For the period 15 November until 31 December they are reduced by 25% to $75.
This is a 2-hour, one-on-one personalised tour with one of our experienced guides and lots of cockpit time.
Click on the image for more details!
Peter Ingman, co-author of this authoritative
trilogy and Chairman of SAAM’s History Group, has completed the 2nd volume in the series.
SOUTH PACIFIC AIR WAR
Volume 2: The Struggle for Moresby March – April 1942
Michael Claringbould & Peter Ingman; softcover; 250 x 176mm; 232 pages; full colour throughout, fully illustrated; 2018. ISBN: 978-0-9945889-7-5 RRP $44.95
This second volume chronicles aerial warfare in the South Pacific for the two crucial months of March and April 1942 when a deadly struggle for Port Moresby played out. It can be read alone or as part of a trilogy that culminates in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.
The period begins with the stunning 10 March US Navy carrier strike against Lae and Salamaua, which caused the Japanese to pause their advance until their own carriers were available. Instead, they tried to grind the Allied forces at Port Moresby into submission through an unrelenting air assault by their Betty bombers and superlative Zero fighters.
After a long wait, Allied land-based fighters finally arrived in the form of Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron Kittyhawks. These were backed up by a growing collection of United States Army Air Force bombers, including A-24 Banshees, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-25 Mitchells and B-26 Marauders (the latter two types making their worldwide combat debut over the skies of New Guinea).
Together, this motley force took the fight to the Japanese, resulting in a complex aerial campaign that saw units from both sides reach exhaustion. Never before has such a detailed chronicle of this air war been published, and for the first time the authors match Allied accounts with Japanese records. The result is both thrilling and surprising, with the resulting dispositions of the air forces of both sides setting the scene for the Battle of the Coral Sea in May.
Available from:
SAAM’s Shop or online through
WP_20181102_11_10_20_Pro from South Australian Aviation Museum on Vimeo.
Mirage IIID A3-115 was transported from its long-time gate guard position at RAAF Base Edinburgh to SAAM on 2 November 2018. The aircraft has been donated to SAAM by RAAF Heritage, to whom we are very grateful.
Alltrans Heavy Haulage and Nicks Cranes teamed up in an intricate wide-load and crane lift operation – the same contractors who served us so well with the AP-3C Orion delivery in December 2017.
The aircraft has been positioned in SAAM’s courtyard for interim display until inside space can be arranged. In the meantime it is in a sheltered area of the courtyard in the corner between two hangars, and shade cloth is to be installed soon.
Three new profiles are available for download – just click on the images at left or go to the History Group tab to browse other profiles.
Mike Milln’s profile of the 1969 UK-Australia Air Race commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1919 race won by Ross and Keith Smith in Vickers Vimy G-EAOU, is derived from chapter 35 of his book “Wing Tips, The Story of the Royal Aero Club of South Australia – Book 2 – 1941-1986”. If the profile interests you in obtaining the book, you can do so at SAAM or through www.mikemillnbooks.com.
Chris Doudy has written a fascinating profile of his father’s company Commodore Aviation’s experience with the Aero 145, one of which – VH-WWC and later re-registered as VH-ZCL – is now at SAAM awaiting reassembly.
Chas Schaedel has continued his “Brother-in-Arms” series of profiles of siblings serving as airmen in the Great War with this new profile of Peterborough boys Charles and Laurence Matulich.
SAAM’s October newsletter is ready to download – just click on the front=page image at left or go to the Newsletters tab to browse this and previous issues.
October is a big issue with news of SAAM’s hosting of the AAMN Conference earlier this month, obituaries of two members sadly lost last month, restoration updates, another chapter of Langdon Badger’s flying reminisces, Captain Phil Hogg’s memories of VC10 flying in Africa, and Mike Milln’s profile of the 1969 UK-Australia air race. The 1969 race commemorated the 50th anniversary of Ross and Keith Smith’s Vimy flight in 1919, and the profile is particularly pertinent with the Centenary coming up next year.
Museums in the Port Sat 13th/Sun 14th October
Special pricing at all three Museums and special events!
Why not use free parking at the Aviation Museum…
and visit us first? Then you can catch the free bus
running between all the Museums and the Warf
every 20-30 minutes – or catch a historic train to
the National Railway Museum for $3!
Go to the events tab to download program, or just click on the image at left.
