Of the 75 Hornets delivered to the RAAF, all but the first four were built in Australia at the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) plant in Avalon, VIC. This one served 3 Sqdn from 1988 then ARDU before the fleet was retired in 2021

Squeezed into SAAM's newer hangar along with their P-3, this Caribou is one of 29 taken on strength by the RAAF from 1964. It was allocated to 38 Sqdn at RAAF Richmond but soon deployed to New Guinea till 1971, training crews for Vietnam service. During one of its flights there, an RAAF C-47 missing since 1945 was discovered. A4-225 continued in service with 38 Sqdn at Richmond and Amberley until retirement in 2009 and was placed in open storage at Oakey, QLD till acquired by the SAAM in 2016

I'm not keen on modern fighter aircraft but have to say the performance put on by this F-35, one of 72 ordered by Australia and operated from RAAF base Williamtown, was nothing short of spectacular and enough to give UK airshow validators an apoplectic fit! At the amazing Adelaide Valio 500 car race event.

One of many CAC-built MB-326 all-through jet trainers used by the RAAF, A7-026 was assigned to the CFS at East Sale in 1968 and later flew with the 'Roulettes' aerobatic team. It crashed in August 1985 at Saltash but like several of the type, it ended its service life as a ground instructional airframe with the RSTT at Wagga Wagga. Acquired by the SAAM in 2004. The Macchi's service life in Australia was cut short by structural fatigue and while some were re-winged in 1990, all remaining aircraft were withdrawn by 2001

A3-115 was part of an order for six extra two-seat Mirages, built by GAF in Australia. Delivered in 1973, it was flown by 2 OCU and 77 Sqdn then ARDU until withdrawal in 1986. After 1999 it was displayed inside the gate at RAAF Edinburgh, one of the bases used by ARDU. Moved to SAAM in 2018

First taken on charge by the RAAF in 1942, this is a very long-term restoration project using parts from other Ansons, primarily AW965/VH-FIA

One of 68 PC-9s acquired by the RAAF, this is actually A23-032 painted to represent an ARDU aircraft. It originally flew with the CFS 'Roulettes' team and then moved on to FAC duties with various units in the toned-down grey livery.

One of over three dozen PC-12s operated by the RFDS under maintenance, photographed after visiting their excellent museum downtown.

Delivered in to Canada in 1969 and had Spartan titles on rear fuselage, although not visible in this view. Also obscured is the tail magnetometer boom. Went to Kenting Earth Sciences in 1974 and North Cariboo Air in 1986 before moving to the US as N200MU in 1997. To Jamaica as 6Y-JLB in 2000 then 6Y-JSX in 2002 and back to N200MU with Tropic Air Charters in 2004, still current.

Here in the previous colours to those worn at the time of my photo #20489, this C-54 is now displayed in USAAF marks with its original serial of 44-9063 at Frankfurt Rhein-Main. After brief war service it was converted to DC-4 N88887 with Pan Am, HB-ILU with Swissair followed by Balair, then after Aer Turas ownership from 1969 to 1977 with Globe Aero reverting to N88887. In 1983 it was registered ZS-LMH with National Air Cargo, once more returning to N88887 in 1987 before sale to Liberia World Airlines as EL-AJP, again back to the N-reg at the end of 1988. Bought by the USAF Museum in 1990

Seen here during its time with the 494th TFS/48th TFW at neighbouring Lakenheath, this F-100D-45-NH ended its service life with the 110th TFS/131st TFW at St Louis and entered MASDC at the end of 1975, being scrapped in 1996

This Tu-104 was based at Leningrad from service entry in 1959, the registration being cancelled in April 1977. It was then preserved in a park in Riga till the late 1980s when scrapped.

Built at Brooklands and making its first flight on Christmas Eve 1959, BEA's fourth Vanguard was delivered in January 1961 and broken up at Heathrow in May 1973

Delivered new to United Breweries in December 1961, the company becoming Charrington United Breweries in 1962 and Bass Charrington after merger in 1967, this P.166 was pwfu at Leeds-Yeadon in early 1972. It was originally painted in a basically white c/s but during the Charrington United period it wore an unusual bottle green and orange livery before changing to the final version seen here.

One of 200 CA-6 trainers built by CAC, bought as war surplus for £20 in 1946 after RAAF service as A3-139. In January 1962 its owner was flying from Melbourne to Perth when compass malfunction took hime well off course on the leg between Caduna and Cook, SA. He landed in the desert low on fuel. A 19-day search failed to locate the pilot, his remains never being found. The aircraft was not located until spotted by an Adastra survey Hudson in 1965, messages scratched into the fuselage paintwork. The aircraft was recovered in 1977 and restored in 1981

This Dove was delivered 1958 and spent its whole active life with the same operator fitted out as an air ambulance. Withdrawn from use in 1978 on replacement by the GAF Nomad, it was stored here at Alice Springs till sold to Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - CSIRO in 1980. Although flown to Adelaide-Parafield, SA, it was never operated by CSIRO and in 1982 it was acquired by CAAM, a permit for ferry flight from Parafield to Bond Springs airfield, 15 miles north of Alice Springs being used in December 1982. It was then roaded down to the CAAM at Townsite Aerodrome.

Built as standard Heron 2D with Gipsy Queen engines and delivered to the WGAF as CA+001, this was one of two for the Chief of Staff and Chancellor, returning as G-ASFI in 1964. It was sold on to Transportes Aereos de Guinea Portuguesa as CR-GAT and bought by Connellan Airways in 1970, who rebuilt VH-CLW at Alice Springs in 1972 as a Riley Heron with four Lycoming IO-540 engines and 3 blade props. It was leased to Kendell Airlines in 1976 and sold to Air Tungaru, Kirabati becoming T3-ATA in 1981 and then DQ-FDY with Sunflower Airlines, Fiji in 1984. Back to Australia in 1997 and to CAAM in 2012

One of three Beech 18s used by Connellan Airways here at Alice Springs in the early/mid 1960s. Ex ZK-BQE, N3010V and NC80013. The same registration was later used by Connellan on a Queen Air.

Exceedingly difficult to satisfactorily photograph whole! This C-47 is actually VH-BAA, which flew with Brain & Brown Airfreighters until 1979, painted to represent VH-EWE of Connellan Airways colours as operated from here at the old Alice Springs airport. Previously VH-EBW/EBH/EAL/BAK with Qantas, A65-49 and 42-93199

Took a spectacular flight over Kings Canyon in this classic JR. Was originally ZK-HPO before import to Australia in 1989 and served as 'Firebird 318' with Heli-Serve from 2004