Remarks: RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team. The Team Leader, Roulette One (A7-054), leads A7-079 and A7-090 in a group take-off from RAAF Fairbairn. (Canberra Airport hangars are visible at rear.) A7-054 was involved in a mid-air collision with A7-049 during formation aerobatics over East Sale in March 1988. The pilot of A7-049 ejected safely, and A7-054 was skillfully landed 'wheels-up' after the nose wheel bay was damaged in the collision. (A7-054 was Delivered to the RAAF in July 1969. This Macchi type was also identified as a MB-326H.) Low res 1987 photo. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
Remarks: Front View of the RAAF's First F/A-18A Hornet, A21-1, at RAAF Base Fairbairn on 12Feb1999. The aircraft was flown to Fairbairn from Williamtown by WGCDR Mark Binskin, CO 77 Squadron. WG CDR Binskin is under the nose of the Hornet, and the Canberra Control Tower is visible at rear. His name was on the nose (Port side) of the RAAF's First F/A-18A Hornet. Deja Vu. On 08July2009, Air Marshal Binskin, Chief of the Air Force (CAF), attended the rollout of the RAAF's First F/A-18F Super Hornet (Rhino) at the Boeing facility in St Louis Missouri. That aircraft, A44-201 (Bu 167957), bore the name 'AIRMSHL Mark Binskin' on the nose beside the cockpit. (Photo in Australian Aviation Magazine, August 2009 Edition.) Low res 1999 photo. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
Remarks: Rare 1990 view of the Ramp at RAAF Base Faribairn at the Joint-User Canberra Airfield (YSCB), taken in 1990. The photo shows both the RAAF's oldest and (then) newest aircraft on the military apron. This image shows the tail of In-Service RAAF C-47B Dakota A65-94 with two 34 Sqn Falcon 900s being serviced/ re-fuelled at rear, including A26-070. The ARDU tailflash and logo is prominent on the Dak's tail. Photo taken after a 3.6 hour flight from RAAF Edinburgh (YPED) in A65-94. Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
Remarks: A rare photo of an in-service US Navy C-47 at RAAF Fairbairn in 1968. This former R4D-6 was redesignated to C-47L and assigned to the US Attache to Australia from July 1, 1968 until March 1969, before a USAF VT-29B Samaritan was based in Canberra. (Note the US flag on the tail.) Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this 41 year old photo.
Remarks: Rare close cropped In-Service View of RAAF UH-1B Iroquois A2-384, photographed in 5 Squadron Hangar 46 at RAAF Fairbairn in August 1983. The occasion was a Reunion which marked A2-384's 21st Birthday. A2-384 was the First Iroquois Delivered to the RAAF - in Oct 1962 - in Silver and Dayglo Orange 'Rescue' livery. The aircraft ( US Serial 62-4606, Built July 1962) was withdrawn from use in Mar 1985, and transferred to RAAF Museum Point Cook Victoria in 1987. Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this 26 year old photo.
Remarks: Rare In-Service View of RAAF UH-1B Iroquois A2-384, and other Hueys, photographed in 5 Squadron Hangar 46 at RAAF Fairbairn in July 1983. UH-1B A2-388 and UH-1H A2-507 are also visible at rear. The occasion was a Reunion which marked A2-384's 21st Birthday. A2-384 was the First Iroquois Delivered to the RAAF - in Oct 1962 - in Silver and Dayglo Orange 'Rescue' livery. The aircraft ( US Serial 62-4606, Built July 1962) was withdrawn from use in Mar 1985, and transferred to RAAF Museum Point Cook Victoria in 1987. Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this 26 year old photo.
Remarks: The RAAF's oldest aircraft type in 1990. Rare close cropped photo of In-Service RAAF C-47B Dakota A65-94. (The Canberra ATC Tower is visble at rear.) This rear aspect photo was taken at RAAF Fairbairn (YSCB) after a 3.6 hour flight from RAAF Edinburgh (YPED). The distinctive ARDU tailflash and logo is prominent on the Dak's tail. This aircraft, operated by Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU), was originally delivered to the RAAF in May 1945 as 44-76774, Callsign VH-RFK. This aircraft is now operated as VH-EAF by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) from Albion Park/ Illawarra Regional Airport, Wollongong (YWOL) NSW. Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
Remarks: Monday 20July2009 was the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, making a 'Moon Shot' appropriate. Aerobatic ZLIN Z 242L VH-NZL flies past the moon on final approach to Canberra's Rwy 35. (Un-cropped photo. I was lucky to get the Moon in the frame.) The owner was returning from the NSW Aerobatic Champioships at Temora. I later went for a flight in this aircraft. It was my 1000th Flight!
Remarks: The RAAF's oldest aircraft type in 1990. Rare photo of In-Service RAAF C-47B Dakota A65-94. Photo taken at RAAF Fairbairn (YSCB) after a 3.6 hour flight from RAAF Edinburgh (YPED). This aircraft, operated by Aircraft Research and Development Unit, was originally delivered to the RAAF in May 1945 as 44-76774, Callsign VH-RFK. This aircraft is now operated as VH-EAF by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) from Albion Park/ Illawarra Regional Airport, Wollongong (YWOL) NSW. Low res photo. Apologies for the quality of this photo.
