The Avon-Sabre

As early as 1949 the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) began searching for a replacement for the locally-built Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Mustang and De Havilland Vampire.

Initially the Gloster Meteors, obtained in 1951 for service with No 77 Squadron in the Korean War, fulfilled this role.

However, in May 1951, plans were finalised for a more permanent replacement- CAC would build a locally-redesigned version of the North American F-86F Sabre swept-wing fighter.

Due in part to the technical investigations initiated by CAC Manager, L. J. Wackett, the RAAF decided to install the Rolls-Royce Avon RA.7 turbojet in place of the General Electric J-47 engine. Other modifications included a larger nose-intake, increased fuel capacity, a revised cockpit layout, and replacement of the six 0.50" machine guns with two 30mm Aden cannons. Consequently, CAC had to redesign 60 per cent of the airframe. The resultant aircraft, sometimes called the Avon-Sabre, became the best of the numerous Sabre variants built throughout the world.

A Sabre Mk 30 prototype first flew on 3 August 1953, with an imported Avon engine, piloted by Flight Lieutenant W. Scott. During a test flight of this aircraft at Avalon Airfield on 21 August 1953, Scott put the aircraft into a dive and became the first to exceed the sound barrier in Australia, at an approximate speed of 1042 kilometres per hour.

After initial flying in the hands of the manufacturer, the aircraft was loaned to the RAAF's Aircraft Research and Development Unit in April 1955 for testing.

The aircraft was converted to an instructional airframe in August 1957, and was received at Base Squadron Wagga in March 1958 for use by the RAAF School of Technical Training.

From 1964, the Mirage III began to replace the Sabre and on 31 July 1971, the RAAF officially retired the Sabre from service.

The Avon-Sabre