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Walrus

Now on display in the Technology Hangar, the RAAF Museum's Supermarine Walrus was recovered from Heard Island in 1980, and returned to Point Cook. In 1993, on completion of the Maurice Farman Shorthorn, work began on the Walrus in earnest.

As recovered, the project consisted of the very badly damaged hull, the engine pod and the aircraft's original engine. The majority of the wing sections recovered were so badly damaged as to be unusable, and the fin and horizontal stabiliser had been torn from the hull by the force of the storm that destroyed the aircraft in 1947.

Over an eight-year period, Museum staff and Volunteers reconstructed the damaged sections of fuselage, fitting out the aircraft's internal equipment, and built the wings, tail surfaces and engine nacelle from scratch. In addition, the lower starboard wing and starboard tailplane were covered in clear mylar film to enable visitors to see the internal structure of this aircraft. HD874 was 'rolled-out' in 2001 and was placed on display in the Technology Hangar.


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