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Vampire

Currently on display in the Technology Hangar, A79-375 was received from RAAF Base Wagga in 1977, where the aircraft had served as a training aid at the RAAF School of Technical Training. Displayed at Point Cook air pageants during the 1980s, the aircraft was missing a variety of fairings, and soon showed signs of deterioration caused by external storage at Wagga.

             

In the late 1990s, initial preventative conservation work commenced on the aircraft, but only as time was available between other projects (such as the Walrus and Mustang aircraft).

During 2000, work on A79-375 restarted in earnest, largely performed by members of the Friends of the RAAF Museum. During this time, the cockpit was fitted out, and the ejection seat was restored, and the fabric covering on the wooden fuselage pod was applied. After moving to the Museum's Paint Shop, final traces of corrosion on the upper wing surfaces were treated to prevent re-occurrence, and the aircraft was prepared for painting. After extensive research, it was decided to give this aircraft the identity of A79-876, one of only two Vampire fighters known to carry the distinctive black and yellow stripes applied to a target-towing aircraft. This aircraft was completed in June 2003, and placed on display in the Technology Hangar.