The Aviation thread

[drew`SEVNT5]

Was the Mirage a good plane?

My uncle used to fly em, back in the day.

Flew some mission taking photos of Franklin Dam, got in trouble apparently.

[Burnout]

They were a good aircraft, the Frogs still fly them. I have some photos around here some where, just cant find them as the file is huge and not edited into workable name files. Keep watching, when I find them I'll post a couple up.

[xbrules]

Little known fact about that Hienkel He. 111. That one and many more of them along with many messerschmidt Me. 109E's were used in the film The Battle Of Britain. all of the spanish aircraft actually had rolls Royce Merlin V12's in them hence why their engine cowlings didn't look right.

I've been going through some of my Dads slides from his days in the RAAF as an armourer.

he worked on many aircraft including CAC Sabres, English Electric Lightnings, Dassult Mirage IIIO's, Canberra Bombers, and many others.

here's a few "Action Shots"

George "Maverick" Newbury








these are the 30mm Aden Gun packs fitted to the mirage


the Business end of the RAAF Phantoms (Note: Several of the barrels of the 20mm vulcan cannon visible under the nose)


a CAC Sabre


The Aussie Mirages were actually sold to Pakistan after we finished with them where they are still flown today. they were called Mirage IIIO's because they were actually a Mirage IIIE built for australia. I.E. E-AU EAU means roughly O in french

[Burnout]

Fantastic photos xbrules, very rare quality today.
The 'Lightning' was an all out speed monster....... even vertical.

[Burnout]

Current RAAF Aircraft:

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by drew`SEVNT5

Was the Mirage a good plane?

My uncle used to fly em, back in the day.

Flew some mission taking photos of Franklin Dam, got in trouble apparently.

I thought they sed the RF-111 for that? Back in the Hawke days? Gareth Evans was the Minister responsible I think.

[Grunter]

For those with Foxtel, I noticed an advert detailing an upcoming program called " The Roar of the Kittyhawk". It's showing on the 1st of September on the History Channel.

To commemorate ‘The Battle for Australia Day’, The History Channel will broadcast its latest exclusive local production with the world premiere of THE ROAR OF THE KITTYHAWK on Wednesday, September 1 at 8.30pm AEST.

The Battle for Australia Day was proclaimed a National Day by the Federal Government in 2008 and commemorates the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943, when Australia faced the gravest threats following the Fall of Singapore.

THE ROAR OF THE KITTYHAWK takes an in-depth look at the brave Australian pilots that flew the Kittyhawks of the 75 and 76 squadron RAAF, successfully defending the shores of Kokoda in 1942.

The gripping one-hour documentary is told through the life of one of the pilots, squadron leader B.A. ‘Mick’ Grace. Grace was also the son and heir to the Grace Bros fortune, an international rugby player who played for the Wallabies in 1934 and a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross award.

In mid 1942, the situation in the Pacific was getting desperate for the Australians – Singapore had fallen and a whole Australian Division had gone into captivity. Britain was on its knees and little help could be expected from the Mother country. The Japanese had landed on the northern coast of New Guinea and were pushing south to Kokoda.

But it was here that the tide turned. The young Australian pilots in their Kittyhawks decimated the Japanese landing barges and their supply dumps and the ground troop fought off determined Japanese charges.

Featuring extensive interviews with WWII pilots, many who have since passed away since the making of the film, THE ROAR OF THE KITTYHAWK pays homage to the efforts of the Kittyhawk heroes – and the crucial role they played in breaking the Japanese army.

THE ROAR OF THE KITTYHAWK is produced by historian, writer and filmmaker Will Davies and is exclusive to The History Channel.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Peuty

I thought they sed the RF-111 for that? Back in the Hawke days? Gareth Evans was the Minister responsible I think.

Correct.

[Fled74]

This was hovering over our suburb last week.

It's actually a 1/18 static model(toy) by BBI under their Elite Force line.

[Burnout]

[Burnout]

Carrier fun:

[NC1183]

Whats the story with the bloke ejecting from the F-8. Did he survive?

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by NC1183

Whats the story with the bloke ejecting from the F-8. Did he survive?

He did - rear landing gear fire, hit tooooo hard.

[Burnout]

F-111 at Avalon 2009:



& at Amberly:



All at 44 gallons per second......

[Burnout]

Some Mirage action, starting with a RAAF Mirage:

[gaz084]

Wouldnt it be insane to fly one of these things,with nothing but sky infront of you and a few thousand pounds of thrust behind you....heaven.

[galaxy xr8]

Love this thread, keep the pic's comming people, it's great to see such machinery in action, I can't wait till Avalon again.

[drew`SEVNT5]

Originally Posted by Peuty

I thought they sed the RF-111 for that? Back in the Hawke days? Gareth Evans was the Minister responsible I think.

I remember talking to my uncle about it, and the ever reliable Wikipedia says this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Dam#Postscript

In April 1983 the Federal Government tasked an RF-111 and later a Mirage jet, from the Royal Australian Air Force, to perform a reconnaissance mission over the dam as part of its case that the Tasmanian Government was not complying with Federal legislation to stop work.

[Burnout]

A little colour:

[Burnout]

Lets go for a swim:





& for Flappist:

[wrongwaynorris]

Mozzies:



They're Sea Hornets M8

[wrongwaynorris]

[QUOTE=Burnout]Some Mirage action, starting with a RAAF Mirage:



Love the ARDU Mirages .

[Peuty]

What the story with the bird in the water?

And the one up a bit taken from the top of the yacht? What are we looking at there Simon?

[NC1183]

Whats the tiger painted plane?

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

Mozzies:

They're Sea Hornets M8

You are right, I realised my mistake a short time ago,

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by Peuty

What the story with the bird in the water?

And the one up a bit taken from the top of the yacht? What are we looking at there Simon?

Sorry Dan, don't know how they ended up there.

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by NC1183

Whats the tiger painted plane?

Tornado, I reckon.

[eed-250]

I reckon its a Jaguar.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by eed-250

I reckon its a Jaguar.

Looks like a jaguar to me. Another unsung hero there...was pivotal in the gulf war too with its laser sighting ability. That aircraft was a special aniversary one off for a particular squadron not long before that aircraft was retired from UK frontline service. That is all based on my sketchy memory though...

[NC1183]

After a quick Google with both names, I have come to the conclusion of Jaguar as well