jindiviks in the usa

[proped up]

Hello there,

I was catching up with some old mates with whom i worked with on Jindiviks and other such ventures in the 80's and we were wondering if there are any remaining Jindiviks on display in the states. As their end use was basically a smoking hole in the ground, do many survive?

[JDK]

I wasn't aware any went to the USA; so thanks for the question! List here:

Initial production ran from 1951 to 1986 with a total of 502 examples being delivered to Australia (182), Sweden (10), US (42), and Britain (268). The production line re-opened in 1997 when Britain ordered another 15 examples.

http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/ ... divik.html

For those wondering what we are talking about:

http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/raafmuse ... s2/A92.htm

These various marks of Jindivik accounted for 358 machines, most of which were operated by the RAAF at Woomera. Of the balance, ten Mk 2s went to Sweden, 16 Mk 2s, 34 Mk 2Bs, 30 Mk 102Bs and 64 Mk 103As to Britain; 42 Mk 303As to the US Navy, and 10 Mk 203As to the Royal Australian Navy (the three digit marks were specific variants for Britain, US Navy, and RAN).

[proped up]

if my failing gray matter is correct, i think that the U.S. Jindiviks were ordered with special mods, nothing radical but possibly different camera pods? my brain hurts to much if i try and think back to far.

[sgt hawk]

Man! what a "Kangaroo Chaser" that thing is

[proped up]

Not just kangaroos old son, i watch one go astray of the launch dolly and it nearly took out a mob of R.A.A.F. Officers watching the launch, it missed em by that much!

[Keith Gaff]

As far as I know there are no surviving Jindiviks in the U.S. I believe they were operated out of Pt Mugu Naval Air Station and remained in Australian markings because the Americans thought that the leaping Kangaroo roundels were "cute".

The Jindivik is the only Australian designed jet aircraft to see mass production and it is one of the very few indigenous Australian aircraft to carry foreign markings. Twenty brownie points to anyone who can name two others.

Jindivik is an Aboriginal word meaning "the hunted one". Below are two images of the "Jindi". One was taken at RAF Llanbedr and the other depicts a Mk1 preserved at the Swedish Air Force Museum.

[SE-Fred]

Actually it is on display at the museum at the Vidsel AB and not at the Swedish Air Force Museum - Vidsel is approx 1 000 km N of Linköping and the Flygvapenmuseum.



The website of the RFN Museum at Vidsel AB: http://www.vidsel.nu/rfnmuseum/

[proped up]

I'm up for brownie points, I say GAF Nomad and Gippsland Aeronautics Air van,
what say you.

[Keith Gaff]

I could have sworn that the Swedish Jindivik was at the Swedish Air Force Museum. I distinctly remember their guidebook listing one. However I could be wrong: I often am.

On the subject of indigenous Australian aircraft carrying foreign markings I would have said the GAF Nomad for sure and the CAC Wackett Trainer; 18 of which were sold to the Netherlands East Indies after World War 2.

[SE-Fred]

I could have sworn that the Swedish Jindivik was at the Swedish Air Force Museum. I distinctly remember their guidebook listing one. However I could be wrong: I often am.

Well, you are right in one sence - it belongs to the Swedish AF museum, that is correct. But it is placed in the Vidsel museum and the picture was taken there

The Swedish Jindiviks were all used at the Vidsel test range (RFN).

[Swiss Mustangs]

just ran across this photo (source www.aircraftslides.com)



Martin

[Keith Gaff]

A fair number of Jindiviks are preserved in Australia. The one seen below is preserved at the home of the Jindivik; in what is known as the Missile Park in the centre of the township of Woomera in South Australia.