Aircraft

SAAM has 27 significant Aircraft on display, all of them under cover in our display hangars. Several of our aircraft are the only examples of their type on display in Australia. Most of the aircraft have flown in South Australia at some point in their life and every one has a story and a history. Six of SAAM's aircraft have done service in the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU). Visitors can enter the cabins of 7 of the aircraft. To find out more about our aircraft, click on the photos (or links) below.

Cessna CC-1 Replica
The original aircraft was flown by Clyde Cessna on 11 August 1911 at Enid Oklahoma. This replica was built by Rossair, Adelaide and was displayed at Parafield and Edinburgh during the 1966 National Air Show. In February 1968 it was on display at Australia Square, Sydney. Its location was unknown for more than 40 years.
For more information, click here.

deHavilland DH-60G Gipsy Moth VH-ULO (In Storage)
Assigned to Australian Aero Club (S.A. section) in 1929 at Parafield. Crashed at Kapunda 1937. VH-ULO was flown by Brownie Lunn and Roy Gropler and possibly was the aircraft that Jimmy Melrose first went solo in. Received from Birdwood Mill Museum 2012. Awaiting major restoration.
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deHavilland DH-60G Gipsy Moth VH-ULJ
First Registered in 1929 as VH-ULJ for Holden's Air Transoprt. Based at Salamaua, New Guinea, servicing the Bulolo goldfields. Sold to Guinea Airways in 1937 and evacuated to Adelaide in 1942 (WW2). Used by Education Department of S.A. for instructional purposes.
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Sheppard CS2
Designed and built in 1930 by Clem Sheppard. Powered by a Henderson (Indian) motor cycle engine. This plane had fold back wings so it could be towed behind a car. It was flown at Virginia by Bill Maddocks (an RACSA instructor).
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Fairey Battle N2188 (Under Restoration)
Built in UK. Delivered to RAAF in 1939. Shipped to Australia 1941. No.2 BAGS Pt. Pirie (air gunnery training). Recovered from mangroves 1975.
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Avro Anson I EF954 (Under Restoration)
EF-954 was delivered to No2. AP Bankstown in 1942. Transferred to No.6 SFTS Mallala in 1944. Sold after the war for scrap. Donated to SAAM in 1984.
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Supermarine Spitfire MK Vc EE-853 UP-O RAAF A58-146
Constructed in 1942 by Westland Aircraft Ltd. in UK. Arrived in Australia in 1943. Allocated to 79 Sqn. at Goodenough Island & Kiriwina Island PNG. Damaged at Kiriwina Island and abandoned. Retreived by Langdon Badger in 1973 and restored to display condition.
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Percival Proctor RAF NP184 (In Storage)
Built at Trafford Park, Manchester by F. Hills & Sons Ltd as a Proctor IV. Taken on RAF charge as NP184. Registered G-ANYP by Wiltshire School of Flying Ltd, Thruxton. Brought to Gunnedah (Aust.) 1990. Stored in a shipping container at Gawler (SA) 2020-21. Acquired by SAAM 2022.
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Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota A65-114
Delivered to the RAAF in June 1945. Returned POWs from Singaopore (WW2) and served in Korean War. Later used for VIP transport for several Prime Ministers. At ARDU at Laverton & Edinburgh. Visitors to SAAM can enter the main cabin.
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deHavilland DH-100 Vampire FB.31 A79-202
Delivered to the RAAF in November 1951. Allocated to RAAF Base Williamtown. Damaged in a wheels up landing in 1953. CAF 23 Sqn., 21 Sqn., and ARDU (at Laverton). Gate Guard at ATC North Adelaide.
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English Electric Canberra T4 WD954 (Forward Fuselage)
Built at Woodford, UK as a B2 Version and delivered to the RAF in December 1951. Converted to a T4 trainer and used by the RAF. Transferred to WRE for trials at Woomera. WD954 was used as a weapons target for the Karinga cluster bomb trials.
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English Electric Canberra B2 WK165
Built at Woodford, UK. Delivered to RAF March 1955. Transferred to RAAF and in 1956, to Weapons Research, Edinburgh. Used for aerial photographs of Maralinga atomic bomb tests. Also used for flying radar calibration tests at Woomera.
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deHavilland DH-112 Sea Venom WZ931
Purchased by RAN Fleet Air Arm in 1956. Ferried to Australia on HMAS Melbourne. 724 Sqn. HMAS Albatross at Nowra (also 805 Sqn.)
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Fokker F27-109 Friendship VH-CAT
Served with Department of Civil Aviation from 1959-1978. In 1978 it was transferred to CSIRO for atmospheric research projects. In 1993 it was purchesd by Australian Flight Test Services (Parafield). Visitors can enter the main cabin.
For more information, click here.

Piper PA-24-250/A1 Comanche VH-DOL
Manufactured by Piper Aircraft Corp. US in 1959. Brought to Australia in 1962. Competed in 1969 London to Sydney Air Race. Retired from service 1992
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Aero 145 VH-ZCL/ZCL
Manufactured at Kunovice, Czechoslovakia in 1961. Imported into Australia in 1962. Used by Commodore Aviation at Port Lincoln for tuna spotting. Also used for supplying remote lighthouses. Withdrawn from service around 1979.
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Aero Commander 680 VH-PSG (Forward Fuselage)
Manufactured in Oaklahoma USA. First registered in Australia in 1961 for use in the Snowy Mountains. Brought to Adelaide in 1967 and had several owners. Used by Skytours Air Charter. Children can sit in the cockpit.
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Westland Wessex HAS31B N7-224 (WA224)
First flew in 1963. Served on HMAS Melbourne & HMAS Stewart. Acquired by SAAM 1998.
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Scneider Grunau IV Glider VH-GDV (In Storage)
Prior to 1963 at Dubbo, Armidale in 1963. Newcastle in 1966, Camden in 1978. 971 hours, 2,457 landings.

Victa Airtourer 100 VH-BWT (Under Restoration)
Originally registered to Victa Ltd. in 1964 (VH-MRG) Sold to Royal Aero Club SA 1966. Reregistered VH-BWT. Sold to Chris Sperou March 1973 to use as an aerobatic aircraft. Also flown by Ted Acres. Withdrawn from use 1980.
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deHavilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou A4-225
Accepted by RAAF in June 1965. 38 Sqn. Richmond & New Guinea from 1965-1971. Retired in 2009. Visitors can enter the main cabin.
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Hall Cherokee II Glider VH-GPR
Built at Deniliquin, NSW in 1966. Flown out of Locheil SA by Lloyd Stewart.
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Aermacchi MB-326H/CAC CA-30 A7-026
Manufactured in Australia by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in 1968. Central Flying School (RAAF East Sale) 1968-1970. RAAF Roulettes 1970-1985. For more information, click here.

Lockheed AP-3C Orion A9-756
First RAAF Service 1968 (10 Sqn.). 92 Wing operational & training including maritime surveillance. Acquired by SAAM 2017.
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Dassault/Government Aircraft Factory Mirage IIID A3-115
A3-115 was part of an order for six extra 2 seat versions placed in 1970. It was delivered to RAAF in December 1973. Served with 2OCU and 77 Sqn. Williamtown. Also served with ARDU before being retired in 1986. This mirage was the gate guard at Edinburgh. A3-115 is currently undergoing restoration but is on display in Hangar 2.
For more information, click here.

G.A.F. Nomad N22 VH-SUP (In Storage)
VH-SUP was the first Nomad Prototype (N-22 Military Variant). First Flight was at Avalon in 1971. In 1986 the airframe was painted as VH-MSF for a TV Series. SAAM purchased VH-SUP from the Ballarat Aviation Museum 1977.
For more information, click here.

Bell 206B-1 / OH-58A Kiowa A17-010
Build at Fort Worth Texas (later Kiowas were built by C.A.C. in Australia). Delivered to RAAF January 1972. Served with 161 Sqn. Darwin & 162 Sqn. Townsville.
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Twister 134 Hang Glider
Flown extensively by local paraplegic Wayne Blackmore. Wayne was a founding member of the Hang Gliding Association of South Australia and inaugural president of the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia.
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General Dynamics F-111C A8-132
Delivered to RAAF Amberley (1 Sqn.) July 1973. ARDU Edinburgh 1979-1988. Its primary role at ARDU was testing and clearance of new systems and weapons for service use, completing over 30 trials programs including a range of guided and unguided weapons including the Harpoon missile.
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McDonnell Douglas / Boeing F/A-18A Hornet A21-32
Built 1981 (one of 2 fitted with flight test instrumentation) 3 Sqn. then ARDU (including numerous Woomera Tests). Delivered to SAAM 2022. Accepted by S.A. Premier Mr. Peter Malinauskas for SAAM.
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Government Aircraft Factory Jindivik N11-752y
Delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 1987. Crashed on take-off Nowra in 1992. Aquired by SAAM 2004.
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Hornet 130S Flying Wing (In Storage)
Hornet 130S Flying Wing was a plywood prototype that first flew at Noarlunga in 1979. It was designed and developed by Mr David Betteridge of Free Flight Gliders of Adelaide, SA. Later models were compsite construction.

Pilatus PC-9/A A23-032 (in ARDU A23-045 livery)
A23-032 received by RAAF in September 1990. Served with CFS/Roulettes 77 Sqn. & 4 Sqn. Forward Air Control Aircraft Retired 2019. Repainted as ARDU A23-045 before relocation to SAAM.
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Van's RV-4 VH-NOJ
Kit plane built by Jon Johanson. Completed in 1992. Three round-the world flights. Many records broken. First fixed-wing aircraft to go over the South Pole.
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British Aerospace BAe 146-300 VH-NJL (Forward Fuselage)
Manufactured in UK by British Aerospace in 1992. Leased to National Jet Systems in 1994 and flown as VH-HJL. National Jet Systems became Cobham Aviation Services in 2009. Retired in May 2017 (donated to SAAM by Cobham). Visitors can sit in the passenger cabin.
For more information, click here.

Socata TB-10 Tobago VH-YTG
Manufactured in France in 1992. Flown by Flight Training Adelaide. Retired in 2018. Wings have been clipped and it is now an interactive display where visitors can sit in it.
For more information, click here.