The origins of the Royal Australian Air Force extend back to the early days of aviation, and we have made important contributions to defence and peacekeeping initiatives across the globe ever since.
1920-1929
Formation of the Australian Air Force
First Air Force Non Technical Training course
First around Australia aerial survey flight
Aircraft production begins in Australia
Opening of the RAAF Experimental Section
Experimental aircraft design and testing section of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Opening of the RAAF Experimental Section
The Experimental Section was an experimental aircraft design and testing section of the Royal Australian Air Force formed at Randwick, Sydney and produced a number of aircraft designs before closing in 1930. The Commanding Officer of the Station was Lawrence Wackett who was an early trainee pilot at Point Cook and became the leading figure in Australian aircraft design and construction.
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1940-1949
Air Force Nursing service established
Formation of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Bombing of Darwin
Australia's first Indigenous fighter pilot
Introduction of helicopters to Air Force
First test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia
Squadron Leader Derek (‘Jell’) Cuming flies an ex-RAF Meteor F.3 at RAAF Base Laverton.
First test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia
An ex-RAF Gloster Meteor F.3 took off from Laverton, Victoria, on the first test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia. It was flown by Squadron Leader Derek (‘Jell’) Cuming, who earlier that year became the first RAAF officer to complete the Empire Test Pilots course. The Meteor had been received at No 1 Aircraft Depot the previous month and was provided on loan by the British War Ministry to enable the RAAF to gain experience in operating a radical new type. Two days later the aircraft was taken on RAAF strength with the tail number A77-1 and allotted to No 1 Aircraft Performance Unit for trials. Australia did eventually acquire the Meteor for squadron service, but only in 1951. By that time the de Havilland Vampire had already become, in 1949, the first jet acquired in numbers for the RAAF.
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