SAAM to acquire Bell 206B-1 Kiowa A17-10…

Mike Milln

Well, it’s official – Defence Disposals has awarded SAAM Kiowa A17-10 after a disposal tender process. The aircraft is presently at Damascus Barracks, Brisbane, and SAAM volunteers will collect it and arrange transport back to SAAM at the end of August.

The aircraft is not complete, but A17-10 is more complete than many of the disposals and we are confident that with a bit of parts foraging we will be able to present a complete display before too long. We plan to include the aircraft with Caribou A4-225 and Canberra WD954 nose section in a new Vietnam War exhibition. We’ll keep you posted on timing.

SAAM member Nigel Daw took the photos – 1/Holdsworthy 8/1/1972, 2/Oakey 6/8/1980 and 3/ Avalon 12/3/2009

Props, Jets & Rotors 16th Annual Aviation Scale Model Display and Competition …

Mike Milln

SAAM is very pleased to be hosting the 16th Annual Props, Jets & Rotors Scale Model Display & Competition in the Museum on 12th-13th August 2017.

Come along and see a huge range of models produced by dedicated craftsmen – and women –  who really know what they are doing! You may pick up some hints for your own efforts …

Full details under the “Events” tab or just click on the poster

Last week of school holidays July 17th to 23rd…

Mike Milln

Why not use the opportunity to bring the kids to the Aviation Museum??

We are open 10:30am-4:30pm every day with lots of free parking. For location and pricing details, go to the “About” tab.

The kids can have lots of fun and learn about our aviation heritage since 1910 as well. We are an accredited Children’s University Learning Destination too so, if you kids are in that program, be sure to bring their passports.

They can:

  • See the iconic F-111 and Spitfire and many more exciting displays
  • Climb aboard 4 aircraft
  • “Fly” the Aero Commander
  • Try their skill on our RAAF hand-eye-foot coordination tester
  • View our new display hangar that we are gradually filling up
  • Browse our shop – with 10% discounts on all Airfix and Runway models

AND – if the sun shines by any chance – bring a snack and use our picnic tables!

SAAM takes delivery of donated Bell 206B Jet Ranger II…

Mike Milln

SAAM volunteers loaded a Bell 206B Jet Ranger II donated by Hartwig Aviation at Parafield for transport to SAAM today 5th July. The donation was a legacy of Paul Daw, who facilitated it with Hartwig. This video shows Mark of Adelaide Heavy Haulage loading the aircraft at Parafield.

The aircraft, while incomplete, includes many parts SAAM will need to complete its Kiowa display when that aircraft is received from Defence Disposals (the acquisition is pending completion of a Deed of Transfer and payment to Defence). Our thanks to Hartwig Aviation for the donation and Adelaide Heavy Haulage for the transport.

WP_20170705_10_31_17_Pro from South Australian Aviation Museum on Vimeo.

SAAM’s Caribou moved to its final display position…

Mike Milln

DHC4 Caribou A4-225 was jockeyed into its final position in our new 1,200 square metre display hangar today (1 July 2017). This was harder than it sounds because it involved much delicate manoeuvring with the tail swivelling in its raised “loft” section of the hangar. The aircraft is now angled to maximise available display space and allow attachment of the port wing.

 

 

More Progress on Caribou Reassembly!

Mike Milln

SAAM volunteers reinstalled the rudder on DHC-4 Caribou A4-225 on 17 June 2017. This involved raising the nose to lower the tail to a workable height, lifting the rudder with our forklift, installing the bolts with a scissor lift on one side and work platform on the other, then carefully lowering the nose to make sure we had sufficient roof clearance as the tail rose. It was a close call, but our building design calculations proved correct and the top of the rudder fitted nicely under the raised roof of the eastern bay of our new display hangar. A fine piece of team work!

June Newsletter now available!

Mike Milln

 

There’s lots of good reading this month as usual – check out the President’s update, Nigel’s touching Eulogy for his brother Paul Daw, restoration updates, Dean Robinson’s part 2 of his DC6/DC6B story … and more! Just click on the front page image at left, or browse through past numbers at the “What’s New” tab above.

Another History Group Profile available for download!

Mike Milln

 

We have loaded another of our History Group’s research profiles – this one on SAAM’s collection of 27 aviation trophies. The profile pictures each trophy and provides a description of its history: its donor, for what it was awarded and who won it. It’s probably not light reading but if you have an interest in a particular trophy, or just want to browse through them all, just click on the image of the Advertiser Cup at left. Or go to the History Group tab above and check out the mass of interesting stories there.

SAAM Library Expansion!

Mike Milln

SAAM has one of the best aviation historical research libraries around but it was busting at the seams with over 5,000 books plus historical document, photographs and videos. Librarian Nigel Daw has undertaken a comprehensive reorganisation of the library, including the installation of a new 9-bay compactus, which has added over 70 metres of additional shelf space and provided lockable storage for our more valuable items. This is Nigel in front of the new facility. If you have any aviation related non-fiction that’s surplus to requirements, consider donating it to us!