SAAM Home

The South Australian Aviation Museum started in 1984 as the South Australian Aviation & Warbirds Restoration Group. In 1995, the name was changed to the South Australian Aviation Museum. Our focus is to collect, record and display the history of civil and military aviation in South Australia. SAAM volunteers have rescued and restored many notable (historic) aircraft, and are currently working on an Avro Anson, a Fairey Battle and our latest aquisition, a Victa Airtourer. SAAM wishes to acknowledge the support and encouragement provided by RAAF History & Heritage and RAAF ARDU Edinburgh for assisting us to source, display and maintain such an amazing collection of historic aircraft.

SAAM is a non-profit organisation run by volunteer members. For more information about SAAM membership, click here.

Donating to SAAM

SAAM's Collection relies on the generosity of people who donate objects. We accept donations ranging from complete aircraft, aircraft parts, books, models, collectables and memorabilia, subject to our selection criteria and storage limitations. Our priority is for items that relate directly to South Australian Aviation history and especially items that add to our displays. If you have objects that you are considering donating, please contact us. Click here to go to our donations page for more information.

Of course, SAAM is also very pleased to receive financial support. Donations can be made directly to SAAM or, to the SAAM Foundation. The SAAM Foundation was established in 2022. The foundation is incorporated as a public ancillary fund trust and is endorsed as a deductible gift recipient so all donations to it are 100% tax deductible. Our objective in forming the Foundation is to establish it as a prudently managed and safely invested capital base to enable us to anticipate and provide for the major longer-term funding needs of the Museum. This is vital if the Museum is to maintain its inspirational community role of telling the South Australian Aviation story for future generations. For more information about the Foundation's structure, mission, vision and goals, and how to donate, click here to go to the Foundation's website.

What's New at SAAM

History Group Biography
SPAFFORD, Fred (Spam)
Bomb Aimer, Dambuster 617 Sqn.

History Group Biography
POPLE, Bill
Aircraft Recovery Specialist

History Group Biography
HAMILTON, Lew
Battle of Britain Pilot

Full Size F35 Model
DSTO Iron Bird Test Model
Delivery expected late 2023.

For those who have visited the South Australian Aviation Museum, especially those with small children, you may be familiar with the fleet of push aircraft used to entertain the kids. Recently, the fleet was expanded with the addition of a Jeep, a model of a vehicle which was used on thousands of airports as Ground Support Equipment (GSE). Made by SAAM member, Laurie, this Jeep is likely to be a favourite for the kids (under 5 please).

SAAM's latest acquisition of a FA18 Hornet came to us late last year. Here's a short film of the handover ceremony where we offically took charge of FA-18 Hornet A21-32. This Hornet flew mostly with ARDU at RAAF Edinburgh flying test missions. She was piloted by SAAM patron Sqn Ldr Jim Whalley and FltLt Emily Willis who was Australia's first female fast jet combat pilot.

The Morris Minor Clubs held their National Rally in Adelaide at the end of March. On Friday the 31st, 300 of their members drove 100+ Morris Minors to SAAM for a BBQ tea and tour of the museum. The afternoon/evening was deemed a great success. And the SAAM voluteers enjoyed looking at the Morris Minors as well.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

The South Australian Aviation Museum acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional owners of the land on which we stand, the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains. SAAM is also pleased to announce that we are working with the traditional owners of the Woomera Rocket Range Area (the Kokatha people) in the renovation of our 'Rockets in the Desert' display.