Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Single-seat fighter

Power Plant:

(Mk 32)

One 7,500 lbst CAC-built Rolls Royce Avon 26 turbojet

Specifications:

Armament:

Two 30 mm Aden cannon; two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; 24 air-to-ground rockets; eight air-to-air target rockets; two 227 kw (500 lb) or two 454 kw (1,000 lb) bombs; two 759 litre (167 Imp gal) fuel tanks

History:

Considered to be the best of the numerous derivatives of the North American F-86F Sabre, the CAC CA-27 Sabre had about 60 percent of its fuselage structure changed due to the installation of a Rolls Royce Avon turbojet in place of the General Electric J-47, the Rolls Royce engine requiring a greater mass of airflow.

The first aircraft built in Australia, the CA-26 Mk 30 A94-101 (c/n 1528), was the prototype of the series. This was built up from imported North American components, and approximately 90 per cent of the aircraft was American-built when completed. The main external difference between this and the F-86F was the larger nose intake area needed for the Avon engine. The Avon RA.7 produced 7,500 lbst and was 181 kg (400 lb) lighter than the General Electric engine. To maintain the centre of gravity, the Avon was mounted further aft and by the time the re-design was complete only 40 per cent of the original fuselage survived.

The prototype aircraft was completed in early July 1953, making its first flight at Avalon, VIC, on 3 August 1953. Subsequently it was delivered to the RAAF Aircraft Research & Development Unit (ARDU) at Laverton, VIC. After retirement it was delivered to RAAF Wagga Wagga, NSW, where it became Instructional Sabre No 1 with the School of Technical Training. It became part of the collection of aircraft at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, VIC.

The initial order was for 70 aircraft, known as the CA-27. The first production machine A94-901, a Mk 30, was delivered to the RAAF on 19 August 1954. The first 22 aircraft, all Mk 30s serials A94-901 to A94-922, were powered by the imported Rolls Royce Avon RA.7 engine and the wings were fitted with leading-edge slats to lower the stalling speed, as was the prototype. However, it was found they caused considerable drag at high speed. As overhauls became due in service, the slatted leading-edges were replaced with the 6-3 fixed type, and thus the modified aircraft became known as the Mk 31.

The second group of 22 aircraft was fitted with the CAC-built Rolls Royce Avon Mk 20 and these were Mk 31s, serials A94-923 to A94-942. At this time one, A94-938, was delivered to No 1 Aircraft Depot (AD) at Laverton and was used as a trials aircraft. In November 1954 a Sabre Trials Flight was formed at No 2 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Williamtown, NSW in order to introduce the type into squadron service.

The final 28 aircraft of the initial order, known as the Mk 32, were fitted with the Rolls Royce Avon Mk 26 engine, and were modified to carry four external drop tanks as compared to the two on the previous aircraft. Before these were all delivered, a further 20 Mk 32s were ordered, making the serials of the Mk 32s A94-943 to A94-990. In 1959 an order was placed for a further 21 Mk 32s, serials A94-351 to A94-371, with the last being delivered to the RAAF on 19 December 1961. Thus 69 Mk 32s were built with the Rolls Royce Avon 26 engine and with attachments for four underwing fuel tanks, two 454 kg (1,000 lb) bombs or 24 air-to-surface rockets.

In November 1954 No 2 (F) Operational Training Unit (OTU) was formed to introduce the Sabre into service. Later, in September 1958, it became No 2 (F) Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). No 75 Squadron was the first to be equipped with the Sabre at Williamtown on 4 April 1955, followed by No 3 Squadron on 1 March 1956, No 77 Squadron in 1959, and No 76 Squadron in 1960.

In October 1958 No 3 Squadron flew to Butterworth, Malaya, and No 77 Squadron followed in February 1959. These two squadrons became No 78 Fighter Wing.  Nos 75 and 76 Squadrons, along with No 2 OCU, became No 81 Fighter Wing in 1960 based at Williamtown. In 1959, to maintain the effectiveness of the type, the armament was supplemented by air-to-air missiles. Tests had been conducted with the British Firestreak missile but the US-built AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing missile was chosen as the operational missile.

The two squadrons in Malaya were the first to get the missile in February 1960, and all Mk 32s were equipped, earlier marks later being modified. The first aircraft modified was A94-946, being converted by CAC, and it was tested at the Woomera Weapons Research Establishment, SA, a Sidewinder being fired and successfully shooting down a Jindivik target aircraft. The next aircraft modified was A94-939 at Laverton.

With the advent of the GAMD Mirage III, the Sabre began to be replaced in front-line service, No 76 Squadron re-equipping in 1966, No 75 Squadon in 1964, No 3 and 75 Squadrons in 1967, and No 77 Squadron in 1969. Subsequently 16 Sabres were presented by the Australian Government to Malaya, and another 16 to Indonesia.

In 1962 eight Sabres were deployed to Uborn in Thailand as part of the Australian Government’s South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) commitments, where they were used for border patrols and strike missions. The Sabre also saw some use in 1958 during the Malayan Emergency when Nos 3 and 77 Squadrons operated on anti-terrorist missionss whilst based at Butterworth.

Following the introduction of the GAMD Mirage IIIO as a replacement for the CAC Sabre, a number of the latter were kept in service as a trainer to transition pilots from the Macchi MB-326H through to the Mirage IIIO but by 1970 these were removed from the Operational Training Unit transition program.

A number of Sabres have survived in museums and private collections. One, A94-983, was restored to airworthy standard in 1981 as VH-PPV for the RAAF’s 60th Anniversary celebrations and for a period was regularly seen at aviation events around the country, being operated by the RAAF Historic Flight, which had a budget for 25 hours per annum. At this time it was based at RAAF Richmond, NSW. However, it was retired to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook for a few years until 2006 when it was conveyed to the Temora Aviation Museum, NSW, again restored to airworthiness, at this time becoming VH-IPN.

Work has proceeded on restoring at least two other Australian-built Sabres to airworthiness, and a number have been placed on display in museums. In later years a number of ex-Malaysian and Indonesian Sabres have been sold to private American interests and have been offered for sale at Chino in California.

In June 2011 a further example was placed on the Australian register to Jeffrey Trappett of Morwell, VIC, this being a Mk 32 which became VH-SBR (ex A94-974), this aircraft attending aviation events on Australia’s east coast.

Sabres lost in accidents whilst in service have included: A94-911 at Williamtown on 3 May 1955; A94-917 at Williamtown on 12 September 1957; A94-944 at Williamtown on 11 February 1960; A94-929 at Raymond Terrace, NSW on 17 February 1959; A94-929 at Newcastle, NSW on 12 November 1963; A94-931 at Goulburn, NSW on 11 March 1963; A94-935 at Williamtown on 24 October 1961; A94-937 at Williamtown on 12 April 1960; A94-940 at Williamtown on 15 October 1957; and A94-947 at Butterworth on 19 September 1963.

Further losses have included A94-950 at Townsville, QLD on 12 November 1958; A94-955 at Butterworth on 10 September 1962; A94-961 at Butterworth on 10 September 1962; A94-967 at Butterworth in October 1960; A94-966 at Williamtown on 15 March 1971; A94-976 at Butterworth on 22 July 1960; A94-977 in Malaya on 10 June 1961; A94-984 in Malaysia in September 1964; A94-985 at Butterworth on 19 March 1968; A94-986 at Uborn on 3 January 1968; A94-351 at Williamtown on 9 December 1968; A94-355 at Quirindi, NSW on 19 September 1964; A94-358 at Williamtown on 16 August 1966; and A94-360 at Darwin, NT on 1 November 1961.

Ten ex-RAAF Sabres are known to survive in the United States. These aircraft were originally gifted to Indonesia by the Australian Government. After retirement, they were obtained by the Fantasy of Flight Museum at Polk City, Florida and placed in storage. One has been assembled and placed on display at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

One Sabre Mk 30, A94-922, has been under restoration at Ardmore, NZ for an American collector, registration N5686 being allotted. This aircraft flew with the ‘Marksman‘ display team in 1968. In the 1990s it was swapped by Geoff Moesker for a collection of Douglas Boston parts and was to be restored to airworthiness. It was then with the Camden Museum of Aviation at Narellan, NSW and registration VH-SRE was reserved. It was eventually obtained by Jerry Yagen, an American aircraft collector, and taken to New Zealand for restoration.