8 May 2023
RAAF Base Edinburgh has hosted a tour for volunteers from the South Australian Aviation Museum (SAAM) to say thank you for preserving Air Force history.
SAAM is the principle organisation devoted to preserving military aviation heritage and has a large collection of former Air Force aircraft and other items of historical significance.
In recent years, SAAM and Air Force have built a close relationship on community heritage projects such as the Epic Flight Centenary of 2019 and the Air Force Centenary in 2021, but the mutually beneficial partnership goes back many years.
Assistant Senior ADF Officer at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct Group Captain Greg Weller said SAAM was a partner in promoting and preserving Air Force's history and heritage.
“The tour was an opportunity for us to say thank you to them and to show how much we value their role in preserving and promoting Air Force heritage to the broader South Australian community,” Group Captain Weller said.
During the tour, SAAM President Nigel Daw was presented with a piece of Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) history - a long standing ARDU hangar sign - for preservation and display.
The large sign featuring the ARDU logo dates from the mid-1970s and until recently was prominently positioned at the hangar entrance.
It will join the SAAM’s impressive collection of former ARDU aircraft and heritage items, including an F/A-18, an F-111C, a C-47C Dakota, a PC-9A and an 111O Mirage.
Mr Daw said the relationship between SAAM and Air Force continued to strengthen over time and as the museum obtained more ex-Air Force aircraft and other historical items.
The museum’s connection to Air Force was as much about people as planes.
“Many current and retired Air Force personnel are members and volunteers at our museum, with many of them involved in restoration of former RAAF aircraft,” Mr Daw said.
“Their expertise is not lost when they leave Air Force.”
Further information on the South Australian Aviation Museum can be found at: www.saam.org.au
