FIGHTERS FOR R.N.Z.A.F.

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 10

FIGHTERS FOR R.N.Z.A.F.

Australian Sabres May Be Chosen

REPLACEMENT OF VAMPIRES [By the Aviation Correspondent of ‘“The Press"]

Australian-built Sabre jet fighters may be chosen as replacements for the de Havilland Vampires at present in service with 75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, at Ohakea. The Minister of Defence (Mr T, L. Macdonald) has announced that the Vampires will be replaced by an aircraft not yet named. The Air Member for Supply (Air Commodore G. Carter) recently visited Australia to discuss equipment for the R.N.Z.A.F. These facts, and others, suggest the possibility of Sabres being bought from Australia. If the choice is made, pilots of 75 Squadron will be equipped with one of the most modern and powerful fighters in the world. Externally the new baby of Australian aircraft constructors resembles the North American FB6F Sabre, but there the close similarity endl. A Rolls Royce Avon engine has been fitted, giving the aircraft more thrust than the American product, 30 mm. armament (probably Britain’s powerful new Aden gun) has Been fitted in place of the American Sabre’s .50 machine guns, and extensive modifications have been made to the original airframe lay-out. The result of these changes has been an aircraft with far better performance than its American father, at present one of the best jet fighters in squadron service in the world.

No date for the replacement of 75 Squadron’s Vampires has been jlxed, although in a statement on the reequipment of the R.N.Z.A.F. and the Royal New Zealand Navy, Mr Macdonald has said that “in some cases [delivery of equipment] may be three to four years away.” The first production model of the Australian Sabre was tested at Avalon, 10 miles from Geelong, Victoria, in mid-July, and was handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force this week. The R.A.A.F. has ordered 90. It will take the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation some time to fill this order.

Soon after the first tests of the aircraft were made “urgent reqdtests for detailed performance figures” were reported to have been received from the Royal Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Indian Air Force (which recently ordered a quantity of French Dassault Ouragan jet fighter bombers).

Present Cost High Overseas inquiries will be welcomed by the corporation. At present, because of the small number of Sabres on order, production cost of each aircraft wilLbe high—much higher than if the fighters were imported. Orders from other countries, by spreading high initial design, test, and tool costs over a larger number of production aircraft, would help to bring the cost curve down. If purchases of Vampires for the R.N.Z.A.F. are any Indication .5 Squadfbn is likely to need about 20 new jets. This estimate does not include the requirements of 14 Squadron, now based in Cyprus and flying VamSires on loan from the R.A.F. Mr [acdonald said on August 3 that “by arrangement between the British and New Zealand Governments” Venom aircraft (an improved version of the Vampire) would be hired to 14 Squadron. British American, and Australian aeronautical experts co-operated in the design and construction of the Australian Sabre. Improvements so far include a greater rate of climb, longer range, and heavier armament than the American model. Rate of fire from the new 30 mm. cannon nested in the Sabre’s nose is so high that a burst lasting eight seconds would use every round carried in the aircraft’s magazines. Shells are of the explosive type, and are capable of blowing a hole four feet across in the wing of an aeroplane. The decision to build the Sabre in Australia was made in 1951. R.A.A.F. pilots who had flown the NorthiAmencan model in Korea, reported-that an engine giving 25001 b more thrust and more destructive armament would vastly improve the machine. Accordingly, the Rolls-Royce Avon engine was fitted in place of the General Electric J 47.

Strategically the decision to build a top-class fighter in Australia has great merit. If New Zealand buys into the scheme the R.N.Z.A.F. will be brought into lines with the air forces of Britain, Canada, the United States, and Australia, and will be able to integrate with these forces easily and quickly. Pilots trained in New Zealand on these Sabres could take their place beside British, American, Can£?ia,V * and Australian pilots without the delay caused by conversion to a new type. x The Vampires at present used by 75 Squadron are today one of the world’s finest jet trainers, but their ooerational qualities are limited. When R® w^ et a . ircraft are'finally delivered the Vampires will continue service as training machines with squadrons of the Territorial Air Force.