80 year old D.I.Y.

[Noyade]

29th May 1942.

The first flight of the mighty CAC Boomerang eighty years ago today. Designed and built in a very short period with our backs to the wall.

Certainly one of Australia's finest D.I.Y. moments.

Happy birthday Mr Boomerang! 👍

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC_Boomerang

[Noyade]

My wife and I had an interesting experience at Vinnies today.

She bought the basket - I bought the books.

At the checkout there was an elderly woman who looked at the B-17 booklet and commented.

"You have an interest in aviation?"  - I asked.

"Oh yes - my uncle flew Spitfires during the war"

And with a big grin she said  - "then he became Prime Minister."

Taken aback - I asked who that was.

"John Gorton".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gorton

[Noyade]

As far as aviation museums in Australia go - I was very impressed with the HARS museum down Wollongong way which we visited in 2020.

Another down that way was HMAS Albatross near Nowra.

https://hars.org.au/

https://mgnsw.org.au/organisations/fleet-air-arm-museum/

Plenty of photos taken - if interested.

CAC Sabre.

[EricL]

Hi @Noyade

Thanks for the photo and the links to the museums, I love the F-86 Sabre, it was one of the first model aeroplanes I built. Just a bit of info for our members, this variant only has the single 50 calibre gun mount that you'll see in grey near the red nose tip. But it has external fuel tanks that allow it to loiter past its 1200mile / 1931km range. In the event of a dog fight, the tanks can be jettisoned to allow the aircraft to maneuver more freely. 

Eric

[Noyade]

Hi @EricL 

"this variant only has the single 50 calibre gun mount that you'll see in grey near the red nose tip"

CAC went with a much bigger bang than the traditional F-86 - you're looking at the starboard 30mm Aden cannon above. Another is on the port side.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADEN_cannon

[KatieC]

That is so cool @Noyade! You never know who you're going to meet or what amazing stories they have to tell until you open yourself up to conversation. 

Really awesome shot of the CAC Sabre! @EricL  I would love to see a photo of your model plane. 

Katie