RAAF donates three aircraft to museums

05/02/201605/02/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7131 Views 0 Comments A84, Canberra, Neptune, SP-2H

Royal Australian Air Force today announced that three heritage aircraft that, up to now, have been on display at various RAAF bases will be donated to three historical aircraft museums where they will be restored for public display.

Lockheed SP-2H Neptune A89-272 (main photo above) served with 10 Squadron in the 1960s in a maritime-patrol role and, until recently, was on display at the entrance to RAAF Base Townsville in north Queensland.

This aircraft has been gifted to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society headquartered at the Illawarra Regional Airport but will be displayed at a new new facility in Parkes, NSW.

Canberra A84-203 was built in Australia in 1953 at the Government Aircraft Factory at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne.

It served with No 2 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley, was converted to a dual control Mk 21 trainer in 1958, and has been on display at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre near Ipswich, in south east Queensland.

This aircraft has been gifted to the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome and Heritage Aviation Association, for restoration and display at the Evans Head aerodrome in NSW.

Canberra A84-226 was built at the Government Aircraft Factory in 1955 and served with No 2 Squadron.

This aircraft participated in a good-will visit to the USA in 1956, became a ‘training aid’ at RAAF Base Wagga, and was a long-term resident adjacent to the trainees’ mess inside the base.

This aircraft has been gifted to the Australian National Aviation Museum (the Australian Aircraft Restoration Group) at Moorabbin aerodrome in Victoria for restoration to enhance its collection of Australian built aircraft.

The three aircraft have been on display at various RAAF Bases across Australia for decades but, following a competitive evaluation, they will now be restored by the successful organisations and placed on public display within their museums.

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Gavin Davies said Air Force was delighted to be able to gift these aircraft to public organisations that can help to preserve our aviation history and to help make our proud heritage available to all Australians.

“Air Force continues to preserve historical military aircraft and artefacts at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook in Melbourne, where the focus is on telling the story of Air Force people and the history of the RAAF, which was established on 31 March 1921.

“Most RAAF Bases have one or more static-display aircraft while regional heritage centres have been opened at RAAF Bases Wagga, Amberley, Williamtown, and shortly at Townsville to celebrate the link between the RAAF and the local community.”