355:
383:
204:
371:
258:
Aircraft
Production Commission. Three months later oversight responsibility was removed from the Minister for Supply and Development to the Minister for Munitions. In June 1941 (by which time production work had begun) the Aircraft Production Commission was removed from the Department of Supply and Development, placed within the newly created Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) and was soon after renamed the Aircraft Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Aircraft Production with the actual aircraft manufacturer being constituted as the Beaufort Division, usually referred to as the Beaufort Division of the DAP.
37:
337:
The same supply problems that delayed the
Beaufort ended any chance of the RAAF acquiring Beaufighters for the time being, and it wasn't until the end of 1942 that plans began to be laid for Beaufighter production. The Australian Government gave the go-ahead for manufacture of 350 Beaufighters on 30 January 1943 and preparations got underway in earnest. As the supply of engines from Britain was still uncertain at that time, a Bristol-built aircraft was re-engined with
254:, built from imported fuselages and locally manufactured wings, to the RAAF in May 1939. Total production in Australia to mid-1939 of all types of aircraft was certainly less than 100, and may have been less than seventy. Many of these were 'one-offs' and the vast majority were of 'wood-and-fabric' construction like the Tiger Moth. By contrast the Beaufort was a large twin-engined all-metal aircraft of advanced design for the time.
273:-built aircraft had earlier been delivered to Australia and modified, flying with R-1830s for three months prior to this). Another reason for the delay was that various other parts of the aircraft (such as the undercarriage legs) were originally to come from Britain, but because of an embargo by the British Government on War Material after the
345:
engines. The first DAP Beaufighter flew for the first time on 26 May 1944 and production and deliveries slightly overlapped those of
Beauforts, with the first two dozen Beaufighters being built and delivered concurrently with the last fifty-or-so Beauforts. Orders were increased to 450 but with the
336:
Beaufighter production proceeded more smoothly than its forebear, as might be expected when the same sub-contracting companies took part in both programmes. The RAAF had considered the type as early as
February 1939 and placed an initial order in June that year, before the prototype had even flown.
296:
serial number blocks. The flight of the first
Australian-built aircraft was the culmination of efforts by over 600 different companies and organisations - the Beaufort Division being more-or-less responsible for only final assembly, with only wing centre-sections of some aircraft being manufactured
257:
An initial order for 180 Beauforts was placed in July 1939, for delivery in equal numbers to the RAAF and RAF. By the time the first aircraft was delivered, the organisation responsible for its manufacture had undergone several changes. In March 1940 the
Aircraft Construction Branch was renamed the
394:
After the end of the Second World War came a scaling back of the
Australian aviation industry, with the number of employees in Australia as a whole being reduced by 90%. In the case of the DAP there was also a reorganisation, the result of which was another name change, the longest-lasting and the
402:
bomber. The
Lincoln B.30 had an extended nose to accommodate two additional crew members and search radar and was used in the bombing and maritime reconnaissance roles. The initial five aircraft were largely assembled from Avro-built components and the first flew on 17 March 1946. A further 68
329:. A total of 700 Beauforts had been built (a figure exceeded only by those for the Wirraway and Tiger Moth among Australian-built aircraft) when production ended in August 1944; by which time the main manufacturing effort had already turned to licence production of the
599:(privately published). These books list every aircraft registered in Australia prior to World War II. Some aircraft were also built and flown in Australia prior to September 1939 that were never registered, or flew exclusively with military identities.
269:
originally installed, the aircraft required several design changes, this partially accounting for the delay between the initial order and the first flight of the first aircraft in August 1941 (a
215:
when the
Australian government recognised that supplies of aircraft from traditional sources could no longer be assured. To ensure supply of aircraft, in 1939 the government set up the new
608:
Some publications state that the production total was 364. This is because aircraft damaged during predelivery test flights were not repaired, and therefore were not delivered to the RAAF.
993:
219:
with an
Aircraft Construction Branch within that department; both organisations officially came into being on 1 July 1939. The organisation was set up specifically to produce the
410:
twin-jet tactical bombers under licence. These aircraft were of the uprated B.20 type with extra range capability. Many served in the RAAFs contribution of forces in the
174:, during which it was known as the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP). In 1987, GAF was reorganised and renamed as Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA), then
963:
284:
The original intention was that the first 90 aircraft would be delivered to the RAF; in the event only six were delivered to that air arm, although 59 were assigned
429:
jet engine and could be recovered after flight by landing on skids. It served into the 1960s with Australian and United Kingdom military and government entities.
354:
953:
285:
281:
were manufactured in Australia at the time, and so with none forthcoming from Britain a local substitute had to be found and incorporated into the design.
973:
398:
By the time of the reorganisation, preparations for production of the next type to emerge from the GAF were well underway. This was a version of the
17:
250:, had up to that time mainly assembled aircraft manufactured by its parent company imported into Australia as parts, commencing the delivery of 20
216:
983:
246:. Both of these were single-engined aircraft and the Wackett was not an advanced design by any criterion. The other major aircraft manufacturer,
437:
In 1987, the Government Aircraft Factories was reorganised and renamed as Aerospace Technologies of Australia (ASTA). In June 1995 ASTA was
988:
978:
998:
227:(RAAF), a British Air Mission sent to Australia recommended that the Beaufort be manufactured for delivery to both the RAAF and the
680:
968:
867:
346:
end of the War the programme was terminated after 365 had been built, with another 21 partially built airframes not delivered.
958:
688:
441:, with the sale proceeds returning $ 40 million to the Commonwealth. Aerospace Technologies of Australia is now part of
234:
It is noteworthy that at this stage (mid-1939) an Australian aircraft industry barely existed. The private-enterprise
840:
826:
812:
798:
784:
717:
235:
619:
518:
382:
318:
860:
326:
310:
224:
203:
472:
407:
370:
277:
these had to be locally manufactured instead. One seemingly innocuous item caused major problems; no
270:
262:
426:
417:
In 1958 the GAF responded to the emerging need for a high performance jet-powered radio controlled
36:
751:
251:
155:
135:
555:
845:
247:
223:
under licence in Australia. After an evaluation process to assess the operational needs of the
179:
54:
853:
395:
one by which the organisation would be best-known - the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF).
151:
8:
709:
506:
460:
330:
302:
167:
732:
341:
as insurance; in the event all Australian-built Beaufighters were fitted with imported
927:
836:
822:
808:
794:
780:
713:
684:
668:
654:
522:
490:
314:
454:
442:
375:
342:
274:
220:
187:
93:
917:
495:
425:
in collaboration with aerospace firms in the United Kingdom. It was powered by a
387:
363:
228:
159:
42:
736:
306:
266:
130:
104:
947:
438:
338:
175:
595:
The Historic Civil Aircraft Register of Australia (Pre War) G-AUAA to VH-UZZ
922:
896:
484:
478:
466:
422:
418:
399:
278:
242:, and was in the process of building the prototype of its second type, the
239:
212:
171:
119:
411:
359:
243:
627:
932:
901:
528:
500:
298:
749:
891:
512:
414:
and some were later converted to T.21 operational training standard.
163:
123:
378:
in October 1953 before the start of the England-New Zealand air race
676:
64:
583:
The Historic Civil Aircraft Register of Australia VH-AAA to VH-AZZ
586:
556:"An incomplete list of aircraft which were designed in Australia"
875:
322:
183:
819:
Tiger Moth, CT-4, Wackett & Winjeel in Australian Service
305:, and final assembly on two lines; at Fishermans Bend and at
362:
showing the taxiway between the back of the factory and the
186:
a few years later. ASTA subsequently formed the nucleus of
994:
Former Commonwealth Government-owned companies of Australia
750:
Department of Finance and Deregulation (19 November 2009).
238:
had by that time completed three of its first product, the
805:
Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service
571:
Most of the types on the list were designed after WW II.
521:
jet fighter - 73 were assembled from parts provided by
261:
As the Australian-built Beaufort was to be fitted with
211:
The entity was established just before the outbreak of
41:
Main entrance to the Government Aircraft Factories at
207:
Bristol Beaufort production at DAP Australia c. 1943.
791:
Lincoln, Canberra & F-111 in Australian Service
964:Military history of Australia during World War II
667:
945:
92:Incorporated as ASTA and ultimately acquired by
777:Meteor, Sabre and Mirage in Australian Service
861:
386:GAF Jindivik target drone after assembly by
309:. Major assemblies were manufactured by the
954:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of Australia
403:machines were completely built by the GAF.
974:Manufacturing companies based in Melbourne
868:
854:
553:
35:
681:Australian Government Publishing Service
617:
381:
369:
353:
202:
170:. It had its origins in the lead-up to
592:
580:
374:GAF-built Canberra B.20 of the RAAF at
14:
984:Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne
946:
703:
554:Buckmaster, Derek (15 November 2012).
158:. The primary factory was located at
849:
648:
349:
733:Aircraft builder now private company
217:Department of Supply and Development
877:Government Aircraft Factories (GAF)
24:
618:Sinclair, Geoffrey (9 June 2018).
25:
1010:
989:Manufacturing plants in Australia
979:Manufacturing plants in Melbourne
835:. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd
821:. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd
807:. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd
793:. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd
779:. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd
236:Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
18:Department of Aircraft Production
999:1939 establishments in Australia
673:The Golden Years, RAAF 1921–1971
182:, that was in turn purchased by
769:
657:. (Publishers) Ltd. p. 21.
620:"RAAF A8 DAP Beaufighter Mk.21"
519:McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
297:'in-house' at Fishermans Bend,
198:
969:Defence companies of Australia
833:Military Aircraft of Australia
743:
726:
697:
661:
642:
611:
602:
574:
547:
13:
1:
535:
358:Aerial view of GAF along the
144:Government Aircraft Factories
30:Government Aircraft Factories
959:Australian military aviation
525:(first two were built in US)
406:From 1953, the GAF built 48
7:
448:
319:Islington Railway Workshops
10:
1015:
706:Fairey Aircraft since 1915
327:Woodville, South Australia
311:Chullora Railway Workshops
263:Pratt & Whitney R-1830
225:Royal Australian Air Force
193:
910:
884:
651:The Aircraft of the World
473:English Electric Canberra
432:
408:English Electric Canberra
178:. ASTA was purchased by
129:
115:
99:
88:
70:
60:
50:
34:
540:
321:in Adelaide, and at the
740:15 October 1987 page 13
649:Green, William (1956).
597:. Toombul: AustairData.
515:STOL aircraft / trainer
487:remote-controlled drone
339:Wright GR-2600 Cyclones
265:engines instead of the
156:Government of Australia
136:Government of Australia
704:Taylor, H. A. (1974).
593:Cookson, Bert (1996).
581:Cookson, Bert (1986).
391:
379:
367:
301:being manufactured at
248:de Havilland Australia
208:
180:Rockwell International
76:; 85 years ago
55:Aircraft manufacturing
385:
373:
357:
323:General Motors Holden
206:
152:aircraft manufacturer
150:) was the name of an
710:Putnam & Company
911:Drones and missiles
507:Dassault Mirage III
461:Bristol Beaufighter
331:Bristol Beaufighter
303:Fairfield, Victoria
31:
655:MacDonald & Co
463:multi-role fighter
392:
380:
368:
350:Postwar operations
209:
29:
941:
940:
831:Wilson, Stewart.
817:Wilson, Stewart.
803:Wilson, Stewart.
789:Wilson, Stewart.
775:Wilson, Stewart.
690:978-0-64298-184-4
669:Department of Air
523:McDonnell Douglas
421:by designing the
390:in the UK in 1961
317:in Melbourne and
315:Newport Workshops
286:RAF registrations
141:
140:
16:(Redirected from
1006:
870:
863:
856:
847:
846:
763:
762:
760:
758:
747:
741:
730:
724:
723:
701:
695:
694:
665:
659:
658:
646:
640:
639:
637:
635:
626:. Archived from
615:
609:
606:
600:
598:
590:
578:
572:
570:
568:
566:
560:DB Design Bureau
551:
455:Bristol Beaufort
443:Boeing Australia
343:Bristol Hercules
221:Bristol Beaufort
188:Boeing Australia
94:Boeing Australia
84:
82:
77:
74:1 July 1939
39:
32:
28:
21:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1004:
1003:
944:
943:
942:
937:
906:
880:
874:
772:
767:
766:
756:
754:
748:
744:
731:
727:
720:
702:
698:
691:
683:. p. 119.
666:
662:
647:
643:
633:
631:
616:
612:
607:
603:
579:
575:
564:
562:
552:
548:
543:
538:
491:Malkara missile
451:
435:
388:Fairey Aviation
376:London Heathrow
364:Fishermans Bend
352:
229:Royal Air Force
201:
196:
160:Fishermans Bend
122:
111:
107:
80:
78:
75:
46:
43:Fishermans Bend
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1012:
1002:
1001:
996:
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986:
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956:
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843:
829:
815:
801:
787:
771:
768:
765:
764:
742:
737:Canberra Times
725:
718:
712:. p. 50.
708:. London, UK:
696:
689:
660:
641:
630:on 18 May 2018
610:
601:
589:: AustairData.
573:
545:
544:
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504:
498:
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476:
470:
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458:
450:
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434:
431:
412:war in Vietnam
366:runway c. 1954
351:
348:
275:Fall of France
267:Bristol Taurus
200:
197:
195:
192:
162:, a suburb of
139:
138:
133:
127:
126:
117:
113:
112:
109:
105:Port Melbourne
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101:
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62:
58:
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848:
842:
841:1-875671-08-0
838:
834:
830:
828:
827:1-875671-16-1
824:
820:
816:
814:
813:0-9587978-4-6
810:
806:
802:
800:
799:0-9587978-3-8
796:
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786:
785:0-9587978-2-X
782:
778:
774:
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746:
739:
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734:
729:
721:
719:0-370-00065-X
715:
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530:
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496:Ikara missile
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332:
328:
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308:
304:
300:
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291:
287:
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280:
279:ball bearings
276:
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268:
264:
259:
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253:
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245:
241:
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226:
222:
218:
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205:
191:
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177:
173:
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157:
154:owned by the
153:
149:
145:
137:
134:
132:
128:
125:
121:
118:
114:
106:
102:
98:
95:
91:
87:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
56:
53:
49:
44:
38:
33:
27:
19:
876:
832:
818:
804:
790:
776:
770:Bibliography
755:. Retrieved
752:"Past Sales"
745:
735:
728:
705:
699:
672:
663:
650:
644:
632:. Retrieved
628:the original
623:
613:
604:
594:
582:
576:
563:. Retrieved
559:
549:
485:GAF Jindivik
481:manned drone
467:Avro Lincoln
436:
423:GAF Jindivik
419:target drone
416:
405:
400:Avro Lincoln
397:
393:
335:
293:
289:
283:
260:
256:
233:
213:World War II
210:
199:World War II
172:World War II
147:
143:
142:
120:GAF Jindivik
100:Headquarters
51:Company type
26:
624:ADF Serials
509:jet fighter
360:Yarra River
325:factory in
313:in Sydney,
299:gun turrets
252:Tiger Moths
948:Categories
536:References
529:AAC Wamira
501:GAF Turana
475:jet bomber
439:privatised
176:privatised
81:1939-07-01
634:5 January
565:5 January
513:GAF Nomad
164:Melbourne
124:GAF Nomad
110:Australia
923:Jindivik
885:Aircraft
879:aircraft
677:Canberra
671:(1971).
479:GAF Pika
449:Products
240:Wirraway
168:Victoria
116:Products
65:Aviation
61:Industry
928:Malkara
587:Toombul
531:trainer
288:in the
271:Bristol
244:Wackett
231:(RAF).
194:History
79: (
71:Founded
45:in 1985
933:Turana
902:Wamira
839:
825:
811:
797:
783:
757:2 June
716:
687:
469:bomber
457:bomber
433:Demise
307:Mascot
184:Boeing
131:Parent
918:Ikara
892:Nomad
541:Notes
503:drone
427:Viper
294:T96xx
290:T95xx
897:Pika
837:ISBN
823:ISBN
809:ISBN
795:ISBN
781:ISBN
759:2013
714:ISBN
685:ISBN
636:2019
591:and
567:2019
292:and
89:Fate
166:in
148:GAF
950::
679::
675:.
653:.
622:.
585:.
558:.
445:.
333:.
190:.
108:,
869:e
862:t
855:v
761:.
722:.
693:.
638:.
569:.
146:(
83:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
