AUSTRALIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT - 1960s

A selection of my photographs from the Black & White negative days


Lockheed C-130A Hercules were the RAAF's heavy transports during the decade. Here's A97-205 at Adelaide Airport in July 1966.

C-130A A97-209 at RAAF Laverton in September 1965.   This view shows the A model's 3 bladed propellers.

RAAF Bristol Freighters were used to support the Woomera weapons testing range. A81-3 was at Adelaide in May 1964 on a medivac.
Black & white does not do justice to their paint scheme of blue and white with liberal areas of bright dayglo orange.


RAAF 34 Squadron was tasked with VIP duties which mostly involved carrying politicians to and from Parliament in Canberra.
Their aircraft included two immaculate highly polished Convair 440s, A96-353 seen above in July 1963 on a regular visit to Adelaide.
 

The other RAAF Convair 440 A96-313, photographed at Adelaide Airport November 1963, retained its original nose.


Two Vickers Viscount 816s entered RAAF service during 1964 with 34 Squadron. A6-436 began in this all bare metal finish as seen at
Adelaide Airport in January 1965, before both were painted pale grey with blue trim.

Both RAAF Viscounts were fitted with slipper fuel tanks on the outer wing leading edges and an airstair front door.
A6-435 was photographed at Adelaide in April 1965 in an interim paint scheme of pale grey with blue trim line.

Newer equipment for 34 Squadron later in the 1960s comprised two BAC-111s jets and two Hawker Siddeley HS.748s.
Here HS.748 A10-595 in pristine paintwork awaits its VIP passengers at Perth Airport in July 1968.

RAAF P2V-5 (SP-2E) Neptune A89-305 in original midnight blue paint scheme at Adelaide Airport in November 1961.

RAAF single-seat DH Vampire jet fighters had been retired with many put on display. A79-202 was at RAAF HQ in North Adelaide


Two-seater Vampire trainers were still in use.  Vampire T.35 A79-644 was being refuelled on the flight line at RAAF Pearce in August 1968.

However a rear apron at RAAF Pearce in August 1968 held a dozen retired trainer Vampires waiting to be sold for scrap metal.


Aermacchi MB.326 "Macchis" replaced Vampire trainers .  A7-016 in original all-silver finish is seen taxying at Perth Airport.

RAAF frontline fighter was the Dassault Mirage III.  Here's A3-30 is taxying away from the flight line shed at RAAF Pearce


Mirage IIID two-seat trainer model A3-105 was photographed at Government Aircraft Factory, Avalon Vic in March 1968.

Government Aircraft Factory at Avalon built over 500 GAF Jindivik pilotless drones used by RAAF at Woomera and RAN at Jervis Bay.
Large numbers were also sold to Britain.    A92-20 was a RAAF travelling exhibit, seen at an airshow at Hamilton Vic in 1967.

Two RAAF DHC-3 Otters were based at Woomera. Allover white A100-390 is seen taxying at RAAF Edinburgh in February 1965.

The RAAF had five DHC-2 Beavers. This bright orange Australian National Antarctic Expedition-ANARE Beaver VH-PGL visited
Adelaide Airport on 17 January 1961 prior to being taken on RAAF charge as A95-205 and operated on floats in Antarctica.


RAAF Bristol 171 Sycamore A91-1 at Adelaide Airport in October 1965 after being retired at Woomera.

The Sycamore role at Woomera was replaced by Sud Alouettes. Allover white A5-167 was at RAAF Edinburgh in February 1965.


Douglas C-47 Dakotas were still in full RAAF service in a variety of roles. Here A65-90 with passenger seating and curtained windows
has its P&W Twin Wasps running while waiting for a late passenger to board at Sydney Airport in September 1965.

Dakota A65-108 at Parafield in February 1965, awaiting collection after overhaul at the DAP hangars.

A65-124 also at Parafield in February 1965 was the last of the 124 C-47s on post-war RAAF strength.

Australian Army operated Cessna 180s. A98-351 was a 180A model, at Adelaide Airport in September 1963.

Royal Australian Navy Dakota A65-23 under overhaul at Parafield in September 1962


Royal Australian Navy Dakota N2-43 (ex RAAF A65-43) midnight blue and white, visiting Parafield in May 1967 from RAN base Nowra NSW.
It was modified with DH Sea Venom avionics as an in-flight Sea Venom tactical training simulator.

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