Aviation Historical Society OF Australia VOI_X )) S>pe.cJ»C3il ~ 1 ^72 11 it fillililiisi ill liilf ■iiiii IBilipiiiMi it lii ■iiilill 1: R.A.A.F. AIRCRAFT 1921-1971 ■■ A1 De Havilland 9a S.E.Sa li I li IliiB^^ . li.... liilP ^3^4 Srnmmmm A3 Avro 504 K ■IIIHH ii 3 1 m A5 Vickers Vimy A6 De Havilland 9 jiiiiiiiM ill ■Iliiili ■■■■■■1111 11 A7 De Havilland 60 Moth ■t-iT........ A9 Supermarine Seagull III A10 Fairey HID AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, 1921 TO 1971. A1 DE HAVILLAND9A 1 X 400 hp Liberty Max Speed 114 mph Span 46 ft 0 ins Length 30 ft 0 ins The aircraft were first received as part of the Imperial Gift allocations in 1920, and served with the RAAF until about 1929 as light bombers, survey machines and on army co-operation duties. A2 S.E.BA 1 X 200 hp Woisley Viper Max Speed 132 mph Span 26 ft ins Length 20 ft 11 ins These aircraft were also part of the Imperial Gift allocation in 1920 but did not reach full service until 1925 when they served with No. 1 and 3 Squadron. Most were retired by 1928 after use in the fighter role. A3 AVRO 504K 1 X 130 hp Cierget (usually) Max Speed 95 mph Span 36 ft 0 ins Length 29 ft 5 ins Also received as a gift with the DH-9 and S.E. 5A, the Avro 504K served as the Tiger Moth of the twenties. Six of these air­ craft were built at Mascot. They were replaced in 1928 by the DH-60 Moth as the RAAF's trainer aircraft. A4 SOPWITH PUP 1 X 80 hp Le Rhone Max Speed 111 mph Span 26 ft 6 ins Length 19 ft 4 ins Used as an advance trainer from 1920 to about 1925, the Pup was famous for its perfect aerobatic qualities. It was used with great distinction in World War One although not operated by an A.F.C. Squadron. A5 VICKERS VIMY The serial was allocated to Sir Ross and Keith Smith's famous Vimy, G-EAOU, but the aircraft never served with the RAAF. The A5 group was re-allocated in 1928 to the Westland Wapiti. A6 DE HAVILLAND 9 1 X 230 hp Siddeley Puma Max Speed 112 mph Span 42 ft 5 ins Length 30 ft 6 Ins These aircraft, also secured as part of the Imperial Gift allotment, served with the RAAF from 1921 until about 1929, when replaced by the Wapiti. Although they did not serve with the AFC during World War One, the aircraft won fame when flown by Parer and McIntosh in the 1919 England-Australia air race. A7 DE HAVILLAND 60 CIRRUS MOTH 1 X 60-90 hp A.D.C. Cirrus Max Speed 91 mph Span 30 ft 0 ins Length 23 ft 8% ins The aircraft replaced the Avro 504 in service with the RAAF at Point Cook as a basic trainer in 1928 although the RAAF had previously evaluated two in 1926 before the order was placed. A7 was retained when the DH-60G Moths were ordered. A8 DE HAVILLAND 50A 1 X 240 hp Siddeley Puma Max Speed 112 mph Span 42 ft 9 ins Length 29 ft 9 ins Only one DH-50 served under this number, first entering service in 1926. It made several long distance survey flights while on RAAF charge, both as a seaplane and as a landplane. It was originally purchased for the use of the Governor-General. A9 SUPERMARINE SEAGULL III 1 X 450 hp Napier Lion Max Speed 105 mph Span 46 ft 0 ins Length 37 ft 0 ins Ordered in 1925 to replace the Fairey MID, they arrived in 1926 and were used as a survey aircraft, and for naval reconnais­ sance and spotting from HMAS "Albatross", "Canberra" and "Australia". They were retired about 1935. A10 FAIREY MID 1 x375 hpR.R. Eagle VIII Max Speed 106 mph Span 46 ft 114 ins Length 37 ft 0 ins Originally delivered to the RAN in 1921, the six aircraft were handed over to the newly formed RAAF. One aircraft, A10-3 made the first circumnavigation of Australia by air in 1924. All SHORT F.5 Originally planned for delivery in 1921, the aircraft were never ordered due to financial restrictions. The serial block was re-allocated to the Short Southampton. All SHORT SOUTHAMPTON 2 X 450 hp Napier Lion V Max Speed 108 mph Span 75 ft 0 ins Length 49 ft 8 ins First delivered to the RAAF in 1927, these wooden hulled flying boats formed the nucleus of the Coastal Reconnaissance Flight at Point Cooke. They served until at least 1938 as parachute and seaplane trainers. A12 BRISTOL BULLDOG 1 X Bristol Jupiter ViF Max Speed 174 mph Span 33 ft 11 ins Length 25 ft 0 ins First delivered to the RAAF in 1930, the Bulldog was the Mirage of its day and was always the centre of public attention being the RAAF's main fighter. The A12 allocation was retained when the second series of numbers were Issued. A1 HAWKER DEMON 1 X 600 hp R.R. Kestrel Max Speed 182 mph Span 37 ft 2 ins Length 27 ft 7 ins First entering service in 1935 the Demon was the first one to receive the re-allocated series. Used on fighter-bomber and army co-operation duties, the Demon remained in service until the early war years. A2 SUPERMARINE SEAGULL V 1 X 755 hp Bristol Pegasus Max Speed 135 mph Span 45 ft 10 ins Length 37 ft 3 ins Used by the RAF as the Walrus, the Seagull V's were intended to operate from HMAS "Albatross” and later RAN cruisers. They served with distinction during World War Two and were used by the RAAF until at least 1947. A3 DE HAVILLAND89 DRAGON RAPIDE See A33 for technical details. The A3 Rapide was acquired in 1935 for use as a sur- vey aircraft. Later aircraft of this type were allocated the A33 designation. A3 C.A.C. WACKETT TRAINER 1 X 175 hp Warner Scarab Max Speed 100 mph Span 37 ft 0 ins Length 26 ft 0 ins Ordered in 1938 as an intermediate trainer between the Moths and Wirraways. When production approval was given the unavail­ ability of the Gypsy Six engine caused it to be fitted with a Super Scarab. It served with training units throughout the war. A4 AVRO ANSON 2 X 350 hp Siddeley Cheetah IX Max Speed 188 mph Span 56 ft 6 ins Length 42 ft 3 ins Ordered in 1936 for general reconnaissance and bombing, the Ansons served in the communications role until the 1950's. During World War Two many Ansons were flown on training duties with RAF serials. A5 WESTLAND WAPITI 1 X 550 hp Bristol Jupiter Max Speed 135 mph Span 46 ft 5 ins Length 32 ft 6 ins Introduced during 1929 as a general purpose aircraft, the Wapiti served with distinction for more than fourteen years — one still being in service in 1943 as a glider tug. A6 AVRO CADET 1 X 150 hp Siddeley Genet Major Max Speed 116 mph Span 30 ft 2 ins Length 24 ft 9 ins Introduced in 1935, 34 Cadets were used as intermediate trainers until the end of the War. A7 DE HAVILLAND 60G MOTH 1 X 100 hp D.H. Gypsy I Max Speed 98 mph Span 30 ft 0 ins Length 23 ft 11 ins Used in the elementary training role, some of them were converted to seaplanes. A8 D.A.P. BEAUFIGHTER 21 2 X 1400 hp Bristol Hercules Max Speed 320 mph Span 57 ft 10 ins Length 41 ft 8 ins First flown in 1944 the Australian built Beaufighters served until 1957. (The British built aircraft were A19). A total of 364 Beaufighters were built in Australia for use in the strike role. A9 DA.P. BEAUFORT 2 X 1200 hp P & W Twin Wasps Max Speed 267 mph Span 57 ft 10 ins Length 44 ft 472 ins 700 aircraft were produced in Australia, and established an impressive operational record, in all areas of the S.W. Pacific. Some 46 were converted for use as transports, called Beaufreighters. Phased out of service by 1948. A10 DE HAVILLAND 50A 1 X 450 hp P & W Wasp Max Speed 126 mph Span 42 ft 9 ins Length 28 ft 9 ins Impressed during 1942 when transport aircraft were at a premium, this aircraft had previously been used by the RAAF as A8-1. A11 AUSTER A.O.P. 1 X 130 hp D.H. Gypsy Major Max Speed 130 mph Span 36 ft 0 ins Length 23 ft 5 ins Derived from the pre-war American Taylorcraft series, the Auster was used as an aerial observation post for the ground forces, from 1944 until replaced by Cessna 180's in 1959. A12 BRISTOL BULLDOG See under A12 in the first series. A13 LINK TRAINER 230 Volts A.C. Max Speed Nil Span 10 ft 0 ins Length 9 ft 0 ins. 161 of these ground trainers were acquired between 1938 and 1957 for elementary and advanced Instrument training. A14TUGAN GANNET 2 X 200 hp D.H. Gypsy Six Max Speed 150 mph Span 52 ft 0 ins Length 34 ft 6 ins Designed in Australia by L.J. Wackett, It first entered service in 1935 and five aircraft were used for photographic and survey work, later as air ambulances until the last two were broken up in February 1946.