Military Aircrafts and Planes in Australia I South Australian Aviation Museum Video Tour of History

This Tour around Military Aircrafts and Planes in South Australian Aviation Museum was presented by John Jefferson (Tours/Events Manager).

The Tour shows some aircrafts with their stories:

1:26 A65-114 Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota (manufacturer's construction number: 16712/33460) Built at the Douglas plant in Oklahoma, under a US Army Air Force
Twin engine military transport (military version of the DC-3)

The aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in June 1945. Early work was bringing POWs back from Singapore and later operations in the Korean War. The aircraft was known for carrying VIPs such as Prime Ministers Ben Chifley and Sir Robert Menzies, Governor General Sir William Slim, famous explorer Sir Douglas Mawson and General ‘Red Robbie’ Robertson.

2:00 Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc - EE853
Single engine military fighter

Constructed in 1942 by Westland Aircraft Ltd, Yeovil, Somerset, UK, it was shipped to Australia in 1943. It became part of the RAAF’s 79 SQN at Goodenough Island and later Kiriwina Island, PNG, using Squadron code UP-O. From these bases (with a drop tank of extra fuel) the aircraft helped protect our bombers as far as Rabaul, New Britain. On 28 August 1943 it had a landing accident on Kiriwina Island and was transported back to Goodenough Island. Langdon Badger found the aircraft in 1971 and had it shipped to Adelaide in 1973. After four years of restoration at Parafield Airport, Langdon displayed the Spitfire at his home in Adelaide. In October 2001 the aircraft was put on display in the Museum on a long-term loan basis.

3:00 General Dynamics F-111C A8-132
Multi crew strike bomber

A8-132 was the eighth F-111 from the production line allocated to the RAAF and made its first flight on 21 October 1968. It was delivered to RAAF Amberley on 25 July 1973 following a period in storage in the United States due to concerns about the type’s serviceability.

4:40 De Havilland Vampire FB.31 A79-202

The aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in November 1951 and allocated to RAAF Base Williamtown. It was damaged in a wheels-up landing in 1953 and after repairs served with Citizens Air Force No. 23 SQN from August 1955. From July 1956 it served with No. 21 SQN. The aircraft was withdrawn from service in March 1960 and became a gate guardian at the Air Training Corps on Barton Terrace, North Adelaide, in March 1962. The Vampire was later sold and came to the Museum in July 1989.

5:38 The De Havilland DH 60G Gipsy Moth
Single engine civil and military trainer

DH.60 Moth is a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. DH 60G Gipsy Moth, formerly VH-ULJ

First registered in 1929, the aircraft went to Holden’s Air Transport Services Ltd in 1933 and was flown to PNG. Based initially at Salamaua, it was purchased by Guinea Airways Ltd in November 1937 and based at Lae. It operated until September 1941.

6:05 Van's Aircraft RV-4, registered VH-NOJ by Jon Johanson

Jon Johanson has spent thousands of hours building, modifying and testing his single engine RV-4 sport aircraft, VH-NOJ for the long distance flights..

Jon Johanson holds 48 FAI world records. His record making flights have included:
• Three times around the world (heading east, west and north)
• Over the north pole (part of the third round the world flight)
• Over the south pole. (first solo single engine)

7:27 1919 England to Australia flight

In 1919 the Australian government offered a prize of £A10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Of the six entries that started the race, the winners were pilot Ross Smith, his brother Keith Smith as co-pilot, and mechanics James Bennett and Wally Shiers, in a modified Vickers Vimy bomber.

In May 1919, Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, and Senator George Pearce, Minister for Defence (Australia), in consultation with the Royal Aero Club, stated that valid aircrews must all be Australian nationals, the aircraft must have been constructed in the British Empire, and the journey must be completed within 720 consecutive hours (30 days) and be completed before midnight on 31 December 1920. The departure point must be either Hounslow Heath Aerodrome (for landplanes) or RNAS Calshot (for seaplanes and flying boats), with reporting points at Alexandria and Singapore, and final destination in the region of Darwin. Each flight was to take place under the competition rules of the Royal Aero Club, that would supervise the start, and control the competition generally.
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The South Australian Aviation Museum, located in Port Adelaide, South Australia, is an aviation museum which displays aircraft, aircraft engines, and rockets of relevance to South Australia, and the history of aviation and the aerospace industry in Australia.

Open: Daily – Every day except Christmas Day
10.30am-4.30pm

Address: 66 Lipson St, Port Adelaide SA 5015

Website: www.saam.org.au