Showing the 79 Sqn patch, the other side of the fin has the 76 Sqn patch.

Taking off on Rwy 30 heading for Cyprus after an overnight stop. In company with A97-441.

Taking off on Rwy 30 heading for Cyprus after an overnight stop. In company with A97-465.

One of two on an overnight stop before departing south.

Constructed in 1942 by Westland Aircraft at Yeovil, EE853 was ferried to Australia in June 1943, being damaged on landing at Gurney Strip, New Guinea. Allocated A58-146 it joined the RAAF's 79 Sqdn at Goodenough Island and later Kiriwina Island, NG providing bomber escort. In August 1943 it suffered a landing accident on Kiriwina and was moved back to Goodenough. Abandoned after the war, it was rediscovered in 1971 and shipped back to Australia in 1974, then undergoing four years of restoration at Parafield Airport, Adelaide. In 2002 it was placed on long-term loan with the SAAM

With the starboard wing of the museum's Caribou as a backdrop, this Australian-built Vampire joined the RAAF at Williamtown in 1951 and although damaged in a wheels-up landing in 1953, went on to operate with 23 Sqdn, 21 Sqdn and ARDU Laverton. Wfu in 1960, it became an Air Training Corps gate guard in North Adelaide then was at Mildura Warbirds Museum from 1974 to 1980. Acquired by the SAAM in 1989

Built as C-47B-35-DK 44-77128 and delivered to the RAAF in June 1945, A65-114 was immediately involved in the return of POWs from Singapore, later in Korea and as a VIP transport. In 1954 it was transferred to 38 Sqdn at Richmond and after 10 years joined the Aircraft Research and Development Unit at Laverton, moving on to Edinburgh when the ARDU relocated there. In October 1986 it was substantially damaged after a double engine failure on take-off and left gear collapse. Withdrawn for use with 13,897 hours recoded, it was transported to Port Adelaide for preservation in 1992

A8-132 was the eighth F-111 allocated to the RAAF and made its first flight in 1968, not delivered to RAAF at Amberley till July 1973 following storage in the US due to concerns about the type's serviceability. After operating with 1 Sqdn, from 1979 to 1988 it was allocated to ARDU at Edinburgh. The white lower surfaces were added to provide contrast in images of weapons release during trials. It later returned to testing as the prototype for the Avionics Update Program (AUP) and also engine replacement using surplus US stocks. In 2019 SAAM exchanged their preserved F-111 A8-134 for this one.

Of the 75 Hornets delivered to the RAAF, all but the first four were built in Australia at the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) plant in Avalon, VIC. This one served 3 Sqdn from 1988 then ARDU before the fleet was retired in 2021

Squeezed into SAAM's newer hangar along with their P-3, this Caribou is one of 29 taken on strength by the RAAF from 1964. It was allocated to 38 Sqdn at RAAF Richmond but soon deployed to New Guinea till 1971, training crews for Vietnam service. During one of its flights there, an RAAF C-47 missing since 1945 was discovered. A4-225 continued in service with 38 Sqdn at Richmond and Amberley until retirement in 2009 and was placed in open storage at Oakey, QLD till acquired by the SAAM in 2016

I'm not keen on modern fighter aircraft but have to say the performance put on by this F-35, one of 72 ordered by Australia and operated from RAAF base Williamtown, was nothing short of spectacular and enough to give UK airshow validators an apoplectic fit! At the amazing Adelaide Valio 500 car race event.

One of many CAC-built MB-326 all-through jet trainers used by the RAAF, A7-026 was assigned to the CFS at East Sale in 1968 and later flew with the 'Roulettes' aerobatic team. It crashed in August 1985 at Saltash but like several of the type, it ended its service life as a ground instructional airframe with the RSTT at Wagga Wagga. Acquired by the SAAM in 2004. The Macchi's service life in Australia was cut short by structural fatigue and while some were re-winged in 1990, all remaining aircraft were withdrawn by 2001

A3-115 was part of an order for six extra two-seat Mirages, built by GAF in Australia. Delivered in 1973, it was flown by 2 OCU and 77 Sqdn then ARDU until withdrawal in 1986. After 1999 it was displayed inside the gate at RAAF Edinburgh, one of the bases used by ARDU. Moved to SAAM in 2018

First taken on charge by the RAAF in 1942, this is a very long-term restoration project using parts from other Ansons, primarily AW965/VH-FIA

One of 68 PC-9s acquired by the RAAF, this is actually A23-032 painted to represent an ARDU aircraft. It originally flew with the CFS 'Roulettes' team and then moved on to FAC duties with various units in the toned-down grey livery.

Landing Rwy 12. It has now lost its 100th Anniversary markings after a repaint.

One of the greatest investments the Australian tax payer ever made was to develop the Wedgetail platform. Now in service with Turkey, and South Korea and soon to be deployed by the RAF, USAF and NATO.