Why doesn't the raaf preserve its retired aircraft for future airshows

[Guest Capt Rex Kramer]

Can anybody tell me why our airforce cant preserve actual flying aircraft for future airshow displays. Does it really have to be the last performance of an F111, i am sure there would be plenty of volunteers within the airforce happy to keep this legend in the air .It doesn't have to be a full on afterburning fuel dumping demo just a few laps up and down the field, and spare parts shouldn't be a problem just use the remainder of the aircraft instead of scrapping them. Does any one here remember the mirage, what a fantastic sight watching it in action yet we sold all of them overseas with a few scattered around the country on static display, what a waste! I know we run some old Vampires-sabres and i think an old canberra bomber which i haven't seen around for a while so why did we stop there. i know these are maintained privetley but this brings me back to my original point ,why cant the raaf take a bit of pride in there heritage and keep these planes flying. Once or twice a year will not break the bank we already own these machines the Americans keep their history flying, so should we!

 

 

[Guest Magoo]

Can anybody tell me why our airforce cant preserve actual flying aircraft for future airshow displays. Does it really have to be the last performance of an F111, i am sure there would be plenty of volunteers within the airforce happy to keep this legend in the air .It doesn't have to be a full on afterburning fuel dumping demo just a few laps up and down the field, and spare parts shouldn't be a problem just use the remainder of the aircraft instead of scrapping them. Does any one here remember the mirage, what a fantastic sight watching it in action yet we sold all of them overseas with a few scattered around the country on static display, what a waste! I know we run some old Vampires-sabres and i think an old canberra bomber which i haven't seen around for a while so why did we stop there. i know these are maintained privetley but this brings me back to my original point ,why cant the raaf take a bit of pride in there heritage and keep these planes flying. Once or twice a year will not break the bank we already own these machines the Americans keep their history flying, so should we!

Care to hazard a guess as to how much it would cost to maintain a single airworthy F-111, crews and maintainers??? It'd be millions per year! Flying once or twice per year would actually be more expensive than several dozen flights per year.

 

The RAAF doesn't run Vampires, Sabres or Canberras - these are run by the Temora Aviation Museum which is owned by a very benevolent multi-millionaire. I suspect an F-111 would cost more than the rest of the entire museum combined!

 

 

[Guest Capt Rex Kramer]

just thought that rather than scrap them pick the best one, keep the rest for spare parts,i'm sure there would be plenty off RAAF personal willing to keep them running in their spare time or even while on duty as some sort of basic training, as for money to run them surely one or two tanks of fuel wont break the bank each year. The USAF takes pride in its aviation history OUR RAAF does not. Imagine an Aussie air show flypast consisting of a mirage superhornet JSF 35 and an F111!

 

 

[siznaudin]

I have long been intrigued by the end-of-hangar mural in the Temora hangar.

 

It depicts all of the museum aircraft plus one: a Mirage.

 

I've fantasised that a long-term intention of the Lowy's is/was to have an airworthy Mirage as part of their collection.

 

I might just be dreaming, ...... but it's a nice thought, nonetheless.

 

 

[Parkeran]

Is there still hope that the F-111 will fly after it's retirement?

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Word around is that it would be too expensive for any group to keep in the air

 

 

[Parkeran]

Groups should combine to cover expenses. It would be a shame to see the 'pig' go.