South Australian Aviation Museum

South Australian Aviation Museum

Location	Port Adelaide, South Australia
Coordinates	34°50′54″S 138°30′42″E / 34.8482°S 138.5117°E
Type	Aerospace museum
Website	http://www.saam.org.au

The South Australian Aviation Museum displays aircraft and aircraft engines of relevance to South Australia and aviation in Australia. It is also the home of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's heritage rocket collection. It is located in Port Adelaide, South Australia.

The Museum's origins can be traced to 1984 when it was started by a group of enthusiasts interested in aviation history and aircraft restoration. In 1990 it became the official aviation museum for South Australia when it was awarded Provisional Accreditation by the History Trust of South Australia. The following year it became responsible for the State's historical aviation collection.^[1]

In 1996 the Museum became the home of the heritage rocket collection associated with the Woomera Test Range in the period 1950-1980. The heritage rocket collection is the property of the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation.^[2]

Displays

Sea Venom (WZ931) at the South Australian Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide

The following aircraft are on static display:^[3]

• Avro Anson EF954
• De Havilland DH.60 Moth VH-ULJ
• De Havilland Vampire A79-202
• De Havilland Sea Venom WZ931
• Douglas C-47 Dakota A65-114
• English Electric Canberra B.2 WK165 and T.4 WD954
• Supermarine Spitfire EE853 (A58-146)
• Westland Wessex helicopter N7-224
• Van's RV-4 amateur-built aeroplane VH-NOJ
• General Dynamics RF111C A8-134
• Gloster Meteor cockpit A77-851

The following aircraft engines are on static display:^[4]

• Lycoming O-540
• Pratt & Whitney R-985
• De Havilland Gipsy Queen
• Gnome Rotary
• Rolls-Royce Merlin
• Rolls-Royce Kestrel
• Packard Merlin
• Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
• Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX
• Rolls-Royce Nene
• Westinghouse J34

Restoration projects

Two aircraft are currently undergoing restoration by museum volunteers:^[5]

• Fairey Battle. When restored, this will be the only Fairey Battle on display in Australia, and one of only four in the world.^[6]
• Fokker F27 Friendship VH-CAT. This aircraft was formerly operated in Australia by the Department of Civil Aviation and the CSIRO.^[7][8]

See also

• List of aerospace museums

Notes

1. "SAAM History". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
2. "Woomera". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
3. "SAAM Aircraft on display". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
4. "SAAM Aircraft engines on display". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
5. "SAAM - Restorations". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
6. "SAAM - Restoration of Fairey Battle". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
7. "SAAM - Restoration of Fokker Friendship F27/100". Retrieved 2011-05-07.
8. "What's new? Fokker Friendship restoration". Retrieved 2011-05-08.

References

• South Australian Aviation Museum - Home Page