BOMBERS MADE IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27128, 26 August 1953, Page 6

BOMBERS MADE IN AUSTRALIA

WIN IN RACE WOULD BOOST INDUSTRY

ORDERS SOUGHT FROM OVERSEAS

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 25. The Royal Australian Air Force’s Australian-built Canberra jet bombers will be competing for a valuable prize in the London to Christchurch air

race. The prize is the boost which success would give to the Australian aircraft production industry. Royal Australian Air Force chiefs are reported to believe that it would encourage such countries as India and Pakistan to look to Australia for war aeroplanes. Such overseas orders would reduce the high proportion of the capital cost now being carried by each Australian-made aeroplahe. Determined to be independent of British and American manufacturers,

who can supply orders only when the needs of their own countries are satisfied, Australia has spent millions of pounds in establishing the aircraft production industry. Already it is producing Canberra bombers, its first Sabre jet fighter has made successful test flights, and soon it wilj be making Rolls-Royce Avon engines to power these and any other

aeroplanes it may manufacture. These developments mean that the R.A.A.F. is about to be re-equipped

with two of the world’s most modern aircraft, both made in Australia. Even

now. Government aircraft factories are planning a new jet fighter with a speed about twice that of sound to replace the Sabre. “Finest Fighter in World”

The Australian-built Sabre has been described by the Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) as “probably the finest fighter aircraft in the World.”

It has many fundamental differences from the American aircraft of the

same name, from which it was developed. Apart from the fact that it is powered by the Avon engine (with

a much greater thrust than the American engine), it will be armed differently, and much of the airframe has been redesigned. The Australian aeroplane will carry two 30mm. Hispano cannon in the fuselage behind the jet intake, 16 rockets tucked under the wings, and two 5001 b bombs in bays under the fuselage. The Australian-built Canberra has also been substantially modified to meet Royal Australian Air Force requirements.

The Australian Government, for a start, has placed orders for 72 Sabres and 48 Canberras. and the Royal Aus-

tralian Air Force will have its first squadrons of locally-made Sabres and Canberras within a year. The present Government policy is to limit the production of Sabres, but the rate could be markedly increased if necessary, and no doubt would be, if orders were received from overseas.