AP-3C Orion A9-756 officially handed over to SAAM!

Mike Milln
Guest and members at the official handover ceremony
WGCDR Colin Smith speaking at the official handover ceremony
Martin Ball speaking at the official handover ceremony

The Orion was officially handed over to SAAM by AIRCDRE John Meier of RAAF Heritage on 2 December 2018 at a ceremony beside the reassembled aircraft in SAAM’s Hangar 2. 

WGCDR Colin Smith, CO of 10Sqn; Martin Ball, VP-Fixed Wing Airbus Australia Pacific; and Jim Whalley, Nova Group Chairman and SAAM’s Patron were included in the official party and around 100 members and guests attended.

The disassembled Orion was delivered to SAAM on 10 December 2017 and has been reassembled by a team of SAAM volunteers. The aircraft is presently displayed without its starboard wing and vertical tail surfaces because of space constraints, but SAAM’s forward plans include expansion of the display space to allow completion of the assembly.

Our December/Christmas newsletter is now ready to download!

Mike Milln


It has been a busy month for SAAM with two squadron dinners, the Orion official handover ceremony, our members’ Christmas party and more … all reported in this issue with copious photos… plus interesting RAAF History articles, part 1 of Robert Zweck’s Connair experiences and Nigel Daw’s profile of F.27s in Airlines of SA service. Just click http://www.saam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PM-Dec18.pdf to download, or go to the Newsletters tab to browse past issues.

New History Group Profile ready for download!

Mike Milln

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.

SAAM statement on calls to relocate Vickers Vimy G-EAOU

Mike Milln

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

November newsletter ready for download!

Mike Milln

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.

RAAF Heritage offical handover of Orion A09-756 to SAAM!

Mike Milln

 

On 10 December 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 10 Sqn’s Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Colin Smith; our Patron, Jim Whalley; 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.

F-111 tours special Christmas price!!

Mike Milln

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!

Volume 2 of “South Pacific Air War” now available

Mike Milln

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

www.avonmorebooks.com.au

 

Mirage IIID A3/115 finally arrives at SAAM!

Mike Milln

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.

 

New History Group Profiles to download!

Mike Milln

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.