Historical RAAF aircraft transported from Amberley to Townsville

Two vintage Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft have made an 1800 kilometer road journey from RAAF Amberley in Ipswich to their new home in Townville.
The Mirage fighter A3-55 and a Winjeel trainer A85-403 aircraft were restored by members of the Static Display Aircraft Support Section from the Air Force History and Heritage Branch at RAAF Amberley to go on permanent display at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre later this year in the lead up to the Royal Australian Air Force’s centenary.
GPCAPT Peter Norford, Director Air Force Heritage said preserving the RAAF’s past was an important part of celebrating Air Force’s centenary in 2021.
“Celebrating Air Force’s 100 years of service to the nation is a time to reflect on our past, the evolution of our aircraft and technology, and to also look forward to the future as we transition to a fifth-generation Air Force. .
The Mirage and Winjeel are iconic RAAF aircraft that were flown by the Air Force over several decades not only in Townsville but in other parts of Australia and overseas. These aircraft will be permanent reminders of the Air Force’s history for current and future generations.
“I would like to thank the members of the Static Display Aircraft Support Section for their time and dedication in restoring these aircraft over more than 6 months in addition to various agencies such as Queensland Police, LINFOX, Councils who assisted with the complex tasks of moving these aircraft by road convoy to their new home,” GPCAPT Peter Norford.
The Mirage fighter jet entered service with the RAAF in 1965 and its last flight was in 1989. It was the first high performance supersonic fast jet in RAAF service. The Australian designed and built Winjeel, an Aboriginal word for ‘young eagle’, replaced the Tiger Moth and Wirraway and was flown by the RAAF from 1955 to 1994.
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