Initially allocated RAF serial AL807, this Boston was one of 22 instead shipped to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) and overpainted with the markings of the Kon Marine (Dutch Navy), assigned serial 240. In March 1942 with the fall of Java it was diverted while still in transit to the RAAF's 22 Sqdn but crashed on Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea off New Guinea in September 1943 after bombing Gasmata, occupied by the Japanese forces, on the southern coast of New Britain. The wreck was recovered by an RAAF Chinook and onward shipment to Amberley in 1987 for restoration.

Mirages entered service with the RAAF in 1965 and were used in a front-line role by seven RAAF units. A total of 116 were supplied, the first 50 as Mirage IIIO(F)s to serve as interceptors. The rest were designated IIIO(A) and equipped to serve in the ground attack role after the addition of Cyrano radar. Initially they were delivered in a natural metal finish but soon silver paint became standard, replaced by camouflage for the ground attack role. Between 1968 and 1987 A3-92 served 3, 79 and 77 Sqdns. The last Mirages were withdrawn in 1988 as the F/A-18 Hornet took over.

Built by A.V. Roe & Co at Newton Heath, Manchester and first flown in February 1939, crated and shipped to Melbourne. Operated by the RAAF's CFS and 8OTU during the war years, the Cadet was sold as surplus in 1945 becoming VH-AHI, changing hands several times and being used as a crop duster at various stages. In February 1961, by now VH-BJB, it was heavily damaged in a crash and rebuilt at Moorabbin, but crashed again just nine months later while crop spraying. In 1993 it was restored to flight, taking registration VH-RUO in 2000 and making its final flight to Point Cook for the museum in 2003

A1-8 was one of 18 Demons manufactured by Hawker Aircraft Ltd at their Kingston factory and shipped to Australia in 1935. Repaired after an accident in 1936, it was written off after a further crash in early 1937 in bad weather over Tasmania. Accompanying Demon A1-3 suffered the same fate. Some parts were salvaged but it was not until 1977 that remaining elements of the wreck were recovered using an Iroquois helicopter in the wooded mountainous terrain. On 3rd Feb 1987, 50 years to the day of the crash, a fully restored A1-8 was handed over to the RAAF Museum, the pilot even being present too.

The RAAF Museum's Avro 504K is a replica constructed from the original drawings by Hawker Restorations in the UK in 1999 using original fittings, instruments and Le Rhône engine. It is flyable and was registered G-BYKV. Painted as E3747, it represents one of the 20 received by the Australian Flying Corps in 1919 for the Central Flying School. Only one original Australian Avro 504 survives, E3-4 which was placed at the Australian War Memorial near Canberra as long ago as 1929

From 1949 to 1953, De Havilland Aircraft constructed eighty single-seat Vampires at the plant in Bankstown, NSW for the RAAF, using the more powerful Rolls-Royce Nene (built by CAC) rather than the Goblin in most Vampires. This is actually A-79-375 (restored using tail and booms from A79-733) painted as A79-876 in the Target Tug black and yellow paint scheme worn in 1955 before it was re-serialled A79-476. Coincidentally the Nene engine fitted is the actual one removed from A79-476. After its flying career it became an instructional airframe at Wagga Wagga and moved to Point Cook in 1977

This is actually CA-16 Wirraway A20-687 which was taken on charge by the RAAF in December 1944 and was modified for target towing. Post-war, it suffered four accidents before disposal to a private buyer in 1960 who may have intended to convert the aircraft for crop spraying. In 1968 it was taken to Moorabbin where over the next eight years a restoration was undertaken to represent a CA-9 Wirraway in the dive-bombing role. Moved on loan to the RAAF Museum in 1977, it was purchased in 1999

Withdrawn from use and sold in the civil market. Became VH-NTN. Paul Daw photo

Struck off in 1979. Became VH-SOB in December 1981. Paul Daw photo

Used as a training aid until sold in the civil market. Became VH-WMF. Paul Daw photo

Registered VH-MMR in 1998. Mike Madden photo

Registered VH-TOB iin 1998. Mike Madden photo

Michael Smith arrives on completion of his circumnavigation of Australia in SeaBear VH-OMS 'Southern Sun'. Michael departed RAAF Point Cook on 6 April to re-trace the first circumnavigation of Australia by air, by Wing Commander Stanley Goble and Flying Officer Ivor McIntyre in a Fairey IIID floatplane. Michael's objective was to re-trace their route as closely as possible in both stops and timing. His arrival at Point Cook, at 2.10pm, was 100 years to the minute from Goble and McIntyre's arrival in home 1924.

Michael Smith taxies to a halt on completion of his circumnavigation of Australia in SeaBear VH-OMS 'Southern Sun'. Michael departed RAAF Point Cook on 6 April to re-trace the first circumnavigation of Australia by air, by Wing Commander Stanley Goble and Flying Officer Ivor McIntyre in a Fairey IIID floatplane. Michael's objective was to re-trace their route as closely as possible in both stops and timing. His arrival at Point Cook, at 2.10pm, was 100 years to the minute from Goble and McIntyre's arrival in home 1924.

Registered VH-BFX in 1982 three years after being withdrawn from RAAF use. Eric Allen photo

This aircraft one of 14 built against an order from Switzerland that turned out to be an attempt to beat an arms embargo on Rhodesia (Zimbabawe). After six years in storage they were bought by the RAAF at a bargain price. In 1991, A19-065 returned to NZ as ZK-EUN, which had been its ferry registration in 1981. Mike Madden photo

Sold in the civil market as VH-TRF in 1993. Mike Madden photo

Sold in the civil market as VH-YVV in 1993. Mike Madden photo.

Sold in 1993 as VH-ANH. Mike Madden photo

Sold in 1993. Became VH-JDN. Mike Madden photo