Hangar 180

CAC Boomerang

When Japan entered World War II in December 1941, the RAAF did not possess a single fighter aircraft for home defence and, consequently, a decision was hurriedly made to produce a local fighter as a stop-gap measure to meet the threatened Japanese onslaught. more....

Catalina

One of the most valuable aircraft in the war against Japan, the Catalina entered RAAF service in February 1941. Crewed by eight and capable of carrying as many as 20 people, the "Cats" were used for reconnaissance missions, bombing, mine laying, dropping supplies and air/sea rescues. more....

GAF Pika

Built as a manned version of the Jindivik pilotless aircraft, the GAF Pika first flew in October 1950 from the Woomera airfield. Known initially as 'Project C', two Pikas were built, and logged over one hundred flying hours in testing. more....

GAF Jindivik

In 1948, the British Ministry of Supply issued a specification for a high-speed pilotless target aircraft for use in guided missile testing. With the majority of this missile development occurring on the Woomera test site, it was decided that the target aircraft would be developed in Australia. more....

Hawker Demon

Built as a two-seat fighter version of the Hawker Hart bomber, the Demon first flew in February 1933. The Demon was to be the first two-seat fighter operated by the Royal Air Force after World War I, and was the last two-seat biplane fighter to be manufactured in significant numbers. more....

Avro Cadet

Developed as an improved version of the earlier Avro 631, the 643 Mk II Cadet was powered by the 150 horsepower Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1A engine, and was intended for use as a military and civilian ab initio training aircraft. The prototype first flew in 1935, more....

DH 84 Dragon

First flying in November 1932, the DH 84 Dragon was designed as a 'feeder-liner' and achieved commercial success due to its low operating costs. Beginning in 1940, the RAAF impressed seven civilian Dragons into service, before ordering eighty-seven of the type to be constructed under more....

CAC Sabre

The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Avon Sabre was based on the design of the North American F86 Sabre, modified to meet local conditions and requirements. CAC won the contract to produce one prototype (A94-101) and 70 production aircraft in February 1951. more....

Dassault Mirage III

Selected to replace the Avon Sabre as the RAAF's fighter aircraft in 1960, the Mirage was the first aircraft in RAAF service capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. Entering operational service during 1965, the Mirage served as the front-line fighter until 1988, making the aircraft the longest serving fighter in RAAF history. more....

Iroquois

The RAAF had operated Dragonfly and Sycamore helicopters in the 1950s, and had been involved with the introduction of the Bell Sioux to Army service. But it was not until 1962, as the Iroquois was introduced, that the full capability and flexibility of the modern helicopter was realised in the RAAF. more....

Cessna Bird Dog

In the late 1940s the US Army saw the need for a new observation and liaison aircraft which would be free of the shortcomings of earlier aircraft. As a result, a specification for an all-metal, two-seat observation and liaison monoplane was circulated to US light aircraft manufacturers. more....