Thread: FIGHTERWORLD!!

Mrs Aus and I have being saying for a while that we have to have a visit to Fighterworld near the Williamtown RAAF Base. Last time we visited there was about 30 years ago when the kids were little.

Well, today we went and we quite enjoyed ourselves.



Mirage 111 used by the RAAF in the 1970's and 80's.



Sabre jet used by the RAAF in the 1960's. Mrs Aus coming down the steps after a sqizz into the cockpit.



F111C swingwing bomber used by the RAAF until a few years ago.



Bloodhound surface to air missile used by the RAAF at Williamtown during the 1960's.



Mig 21. Sad to see it out in the weather, but storage is at a premium.



Also sad to see out in the weather is this Jindivik, used by the RAAF in the 1950's and 1960's. It is an Australian designed weapon system.



I just loved this replica Messerschmit 109. I would very much like to see one in flying condition.



It would not be a proper Museum without a Spitfire on show would it?? There are two here....not in flying condition,sadly.



The famous Rolls Royce Merlin engine that in various guises powered the Supermarine Spitfire, the Hawker Hurricane the Avro Lancaster Bomber and I believe a version even powered the Leopard tanks that the Australian Army used in Vietnam.



A World War 1 Sopwith Camel replica under construction.

The Museum is completely self funded and operated by very polite volunteers. So if you get a chance to visit it, please do. Mrs Aus and I spent a few hours looking at the various exhibits and models on show.

Originally Posted by Ausfree

Thankyou for that, it didn't sound quite right when I typed it.

The tank motor, however was a Meteor as you quite rightly say, but it was built by Rolls Royce, even though apparently it was sometimes known as a Rover motor, but I guess we are splitting hairs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Meteor

As the Wikipedia entry states, albeit not very clearly, while the engine was designed and initially produced by Rolls Royce, the entire business was transferred to Rover, effective in 1944, in exchange for Rover's gas turbine work (Rover were having problems with the original designer of the gas turbine, Frank Whittle), but support was transferred back to Rolls Royce after production had ceased. So, in fact, most of the engines were made by Rover.

John