South Australian Aviation Museum
Encyclopedia
The South Australian Aviation Museum displays aircraft and aircraft engines of relevance to South Australia
and aviation in Australia. It is also the home of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's heritage rocket collection. It is located in Port Adelaide, South Australia.
The Museum's origins can be traced to 1984 when it was started by a group of enthusiasts interested in aviation history and aircraft restoration. In 1990 it became the official aviation museum for South Australia
when it was awarded Provisional Accreditation by the History Trust of South Australia. The following year it became responsible for the State's historical aviation collection.
In 1996 the Museum became the home of the heritage rocket collection associated with the Woomera Test Range
in the period 1950-1980. The heritage rocket collection is the property of the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation
.
The following aircraft are on static display:
The following aircraft engines are on static display:
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and aviation in Australia. It is also the home of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's heritage rocket collection. It is located in Port Adelaide, South Australia.
The Museum's origins can be traced to 1984 when it was started by a group of enthusiasts interested in aviation history and aircraft restoration. In 1990 it became the official aviation museum for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
when it was awarded Provisional Accreditation by the History Trust of South Australia. The following year it became responsible for the State's historical aviation collection.
In 1996 the Museum became the home of the heritage rocket collection associated with the Woomera Test Range
Woomera Test Range
The RAAF Woomera Test Range is a weapons testing range operated by the Royal Australian Air Force Aerospace Operational Support Group...
in the period 1950-1980. The heritage rocket collection is the property of the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation
Defence Science and Technology Organisation
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation is a branch of the Australian Department of Defence which researches and develops technologies for use in the Australian defence industry....
.
Displays
- Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
- De Havilland DH.60 MothDe Havilland DH.60 MothThe de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
- De Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
- De Havilland Sea Venom
- Douglas C-47 Dakota
- English Electric CanberraEnglish Electric CanberraThe English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
- Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- Westland WessexWestland WessexThe Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
helicopter - Van's RV-4 amateur-built aeroplane
The following aircraft engines are on static display:
- Lycoming O-540Lycoming O-540|-Specifications :-See also:-External links:...
- Pratt & Whitney R-985Pratt & Whitney R-985The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder air-cooled radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced , while the most widely used versions produce...
- De Havilland Gipsy QueenDe Havilland Gipsy Queen|-Survivors:Of the 11 Gipsy Queen-powered de Havilland Doves on the British register, only two remain airworthy .-Engines on display:Preserved de Havilland Gipsy Queen engines are on public display at the following museums:*de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre...
- Gnome Rotary
- Rolls-Royce MerlinRolls-Royce MerlinThe Rolls-Royce Merlin is a British liquid-cooled, V-12, piston aero engine, of 27-litre capacity. Rolls-Royce Limited designed and built the engine which was initially known as the PV-12: the PV-12 became known as the Merlin following the company convention of naming its piston aero engines after...
- Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
- Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX
- Rolls-Royce NeneRolls-Royce Nene|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgman, L, Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7-External links:* *...
- Westinghouse J34Westinghouse J34-See also:-External links:* http://www.arkairmuseum.org/engines/engine-westinghouse.php* http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/j34.htm...
Restoration projects
Two aircraft are currently undergoing restoration by museum volunteers:- Fairey BattleFairey BattleThe Fairey Battle was a British single-engine light bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company in the late 1930s for the Royal Air Force. The Battle was powered by the same Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine that gave contemporary British fighters high performance; however, the Battle was weighed...
. When restored, this will be the only Fairey Battle on display in Australia, and one of only four in the world. - Fokker F27 Friendship VH-CAT. This aircraft was formerly operated in Australia by the Department of Civil Aviation and the CSIRO.