This is the first part of a 4 part series about the Epic Flight of the Vickers Vimy from England to Australia presented by Mike Milln.
Pre-Flight History
Part 2 – The Race will be available next week. Stay tuned!
F-111C A8-132 arrives at SAAM!
On Saturday 18 May 2019, ex-ARDU Edinburgh F-111C replaced RF-111C A8-134 at SAAM. A8-134 had been on display at SAAM since March 2013 but, as the only remaining F-111 in Australia having undergone operational deployment, it will be transported to Canberra for display in the Australian War Memorial.
RAAF Heritage instead arranged the refurbishment of A8-132, which with its rich history of ARDU weapons testing at RAAF Base Edinburgh, will fit very well in the 
Museum’s collection.
A8-132 arrived at SAAM on Thursday 16 May and was assembled by RAAF personnel. On Saturday 18 May A8-134 was towed out of SAAM’s display hangar and parked adjacent to A8-132 for a one-hour photo opportunity before A8-132 was positioned in the display hangar where it will remain on display. A8-134 was then dismantled for transport to the AWM.
SAAM is very grateful to RAAF Heritage for this classic win-win outcome and for the care and professionalism of the RAAF personnel who carried out such a flawless operation.
Many local photographers took advantage of the opportunity to photograph the activity, and we thank Daniel Turbin for the image of the two aircraft together used here.
The big F-111 exchange is on!!
SAAM’s present display of RF-111C A8-134 will come to an end during the week of 13th May 2019. That aircraft is being relocated to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, as the only remaining RAAF F-111 that underwent operation deployment. It, with A8-143, operated INTERFET support overflights of East Timor in November 1999.
During the week of 13th May, A8-134, will be exchanged with A8-132, which is coming to us from ARDU at RAAF Base Edinburgh. We are very grateful to Air Force Heritage, Defence Disposals, RAAF WOE-Projects, RAAF Edinburgh and all involved in this fantastic project.
This will be a rare opportunity to photograph two F-111s parked beside each other at SAAM, so for all you keen photographers, here’s the plan – subject to change/weather etc of course:
Thurs 16th May – 132 arrives approx. 10am and reassembly will start in a temporary fenced compound behind the Museum;
Sat 18th May about 11am – Reassembled 132 will be positioned just outside SAAM’s back fence and 134 moved next to it from display – this will be the only opportunity to photograph both aircraft together;
Mon 20th May – 134 disassembly starts while set up of 132 display in Hangar 1 continues;
Wed 22nd May – 134 prepared for road transport; and
Thu 23rd May – 134 loaded and departs….
All subject to change at short notice – watch our Facebook page for updates!!
May Newsletter ready for download!
Our May newsletter is ready for download – just click on the image at left, or go to the Newsletters tab to browse previous issues.
This Issue is a big one – 26 pages of news about SAAM’s activities, plus interesting stories on the 1954 REDeX Around Australia Aircraft Reliability Trial, RACSA’s 7-Victa formation flight over the Orsova in 1966 to farewell their retiring Chief Engineer, Sir Hubert Wilkins’ 1928 flight over the Arctic Sea, a gallery of photos from our 28th April Open Day – and lots more!
April newsletter ready for download!
Our big April issue is ready for download – just click on the image at left, or go to the Newsletters tab to browse past issues.
This month the President brings you up to date on SAAM’s big events, headlined by our Epic Flight Centenary Vimy Mural project sponsored by the RAAF Association SA Division; there’s other Epic Flight Centenary articles about the opening of the Vimy Memorial in April 1958 and a reminder about SAAM’s Epic Flight presentations during the History Festival next month; RAAF History contributes an interesting article about the hiccup 50 years ago with Australia’s P-3B deliveries; The Australian Air League Port Adelaide tell about their Avalon adventure; there’s a profile of 95-year old member Jimmy Pink who celebrated his birthday this week; and member Chris Doudy writes about his father’s restoration of Auster VH-SEB and his flight down from Singapore.
History Festival – SAAM’s Epic Flight Centenary presentations!
Mike Milln from SAAM’s History Group will be making four presentations during the History Festival celebrating the Epic Flight Centenary of the first flight from England to Australia by the Smith brothers in Vickers Vimy G-EAOU in Nov/Dec 1919. Each presentation discusses different phases of the Epic Flight, illustrated with many photographs.
Bookings by Ph 8240-1230 or email enquiries@saam.org.au
Note – Normal SAAM entry prices apply – one entry allows attendance at all 4 presentations
Free parking at the Museum available, and morning/afternoon tea at $4!
Click on the image at left to download a poster of the events, or go to the History Festival website here: History Festival
RFDS Quiz Night at SAAM!
Here is a max fun event in a very good cause you won’t want to miss!
The Royal Flying Doctor Service is holding its Quiz Night Fundraiser at SAAM on 4th May 2019 from 6-10pm.
Don’t miss it – you can download all info and how to purchase tickets by clicking on the image at left!
Open Cockpits & Engine Run Day – 28th April 2019!
You can download the program for SAAM’s Open Cockpits & Engine Run Family Fun Day on Sunday 28th April 2019 by clicking on the image at left.
Note we haven’t included Barossa Helicopters although we are hoping they will attend. There attendance is always subject to weather of course and we will confirm their intentions closer to the day.
Our March newsletter is ready for download!
You can download our March newsletter by clicking on the image at left, or go the Newsletters tab to browse past issues.
This month president David Byrne summarises SAAM’s contributions to the Epic Flight Centenary celebrations; we say goodbye to Honorary Member Chas Schaedel; Mike Milln puts in a plug for his presentations on the Epic Flight during History Month in May; Langdon Badger has more memories about Edinburgh Air Shows; David Leicester DFC & Bar, OAM, Legion d’Honneur (Fr) comes to visit; RAAF History tells us about the capture of Jericho and TAP-3B Orions in the RAAF fleet; Nigel Daw contributes a profile of Lawrence Matulich; and more!
