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| Sabre show By Bradley Owen Volume 49, No. 03, March 08, 2007 |
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The Museum’s star of the show will be the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation’s Avon-Sabre prototype A94-101, the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in Australia. A variety of exhibits for both static and flying display will be drawn from the Museum. Usually located at Point Cook, A94-101 will be on display in the ADF Historic Display Pavilion at Avalon. A local re-design of the North American F-86 aircraft, the Avon-Sabre was fitted with a more powerful engine and two 30mm Aden cannons to become the best of the numerous Sabre variants built throughout the world. The Sabre entered RAAF squadron service in 1954 and was replaced by the Mirage III by 1971. Sabre prototype A94-101 was first flown on August 3, 1953, with an imported Avon engine, piloted by FLTLT William Scott. During his test flight at Avalon Airfield on August 21, 1953, FLTLT Scott put the aircraft into a dive and became the first pilot to exceed the sound barrier (at about 1042km/h) in Australia. 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. By June 1977, the aircraft had been transferred to Point Cook because of its historical significance and placed on display by the Museum. In the lead-up to the Avalon display, the RAAF Museum’s technical staff and volunteers have carried out some minor conservation works, in addition to thoroughly cleaning the airframe for display. Joining the Sabre at Avalon will be an example of the RAAF’s first helicopter, the Sikorsky S-51; the RAAF’s first Mach 2 fighter, the Mirage III; and the only Australian-designed jet aircraft, the Government Aircraft Factory (GAF) Pika, a predecessor of the Jindivik pilotless target aircraft. In addition to its ground display, the Museum will unleash some of its prized warbirds to the sky with a number of flying displays using the CA-18 Mustang and versatile Tiger Moth trainer, with its replacements, the Winjeel and CT-4A. Sabre specs - Sabre A94-101 is an Australian modification of the North American F-86F Sabre fighter aircraft, which first flew in 1947. - It was in RAAF service from 1954 to 1971. - Length: 11.43m - Wing span: 11.3m - Height: 4.37m - Weight empty: 5443kg - Take off weight: 8038kg - Power plant: Single 3402 kg-thrust CAC Avon 26 turbojet engine - Max speed: 1126km/h - Cruising speed: 885km/h - Range: 1850km Ceiling: 15,850m - Crew: Single pilot - Armament: Two 30mm Aden cannons (162 rounds each), external; option of two AIM-9B Sidewinder AAM; or up to 24 12.7cm rockets; or two 500 or 1,000-lb bombs. Warbird history - The RAAF ordered 885 Tiger Moths in 1938 and operated them in a variety of roles until the early 1950s. The Tigers were then stricken from service and replaced by the Winjeel trainer until its replacement in 1977 by the CT-4. - The RAAF received its first of some 200 Mustangs in 1944 and they flew combat missions with a number of squadrons during the final days of WWII and the early days of the Korean War. - The Museum’s Mustang (A68-170) was received in 1950 and had a varied career until 1956 when it was stricken from active service. In 1970 it was transferred to the RAAF Museum and after many years of restoration was returned to its former glory in 1999. |
