The RAAF Sabre is one step closer to going flying after completing high speed taxi trials on Monday afternoon. The Museum’s engineering team spent the day working through final inspections and preparing the aircraft for the runs. The main focus was to check aircraft handling at speed and to bed in the newly overhauled brakes.
Former RAAF Sabre pilot Group Captain Mike Nixon was at the controls and later commented, "the ground handling was a treat and all onboard systems functioned as well as new, at least as seen from the cockpit. Everything works as it should and all the numbers are in the zone.”
Mike was the last pilot to fly this aircraft 16 years ago, and when asked if he was tempted to go flying he said, “it took a great effort on my part to pull the throttle back and pop the speedbrakes at the end of the high-speed run, as the Sabre seemed eager to leap into the air. I'm sure the new pilots are going to fall in love with this magnificent old lady of the skies."
Museum aircraft engineer Ben Muller has been involved with the Sabre project over the last three years and said, “watching it scream down the runway for the first time was a combination of excitement and nervousness. I can’t wait to see it go flying.”
Stay tuned as we keep you updated as the Sabre progresses towards its first flight.
Three video clips of the RAAF Sabre’s taxi trials have been uploaded onto our website, check them out by visiting the link below:
http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/news/P ... oClips.cfmhttp://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/ A94-983 is a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation [Edit] Sabre - developed from the N American design with a redesigned fuselage to take a Rolls Royce Avon engine. The aircraft belongs to the RAAF Museum, but is being restored and operated by the Temora Aviation Museum. This aircraft has also been modified to take a Martin Baker seat, rather than the original type.
While there are other CAC Sabres in preservation, including a couple under restoration to airworthy, this is the only example likely to fly in the near future.
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