GAF Jindivik arrives
Earlier this year the trustees of Newark Air Museum advised they were taking ownership of GAF Jindivik, A92-708. They are now pleased to confirm that the Jindivik was collected from Aerospace Bristol on Monday 28th June, 2021 and delivered to their Gateway Aviation Site in eastern Nottinghamshire.
The Jindivik had been in store at Aerospace Bristol’s site at Patchway, Bristol and the collection of the exhibit was timed to take place after the easing of some Covid-19 guidelines across England.
As an Accredited Museum, the trustees of Newark Air Museum were able to facilitate the transfer of this exhibit in quite a simple manner. The trustees appreciate the assistance provided by Stefanie Vincent AMA, Collections Manager at Aerospace Bristol throughout the acquisition process.
“We are extremely grateful to Aerospace Bristol for helping us to complete this latest acquisition”, reiterated museum trustee Colin Savill, he continued. “From its use a target drone the Jindivik lies within two of our collecting remits; it will also complement the museum’s UAV display. The UAV display was established as a collaborative exercise with the Institute of Engineering and Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG) at the University of Nottingham and the RAF Museum, Hendon.”
“Firstly, it fits within our training collection where we have a considerable aircraft collection and other training aids. Secondly it complements our developing munitions display including Blue Steel, Yellow Sun, various missiles and bomb disposal equipment.”
He concluded, “Now it has arrived we plan to assemble the Jindivik and display it close to our entrance area. Our long term aim is to be able to display it under cover. We are really pleased to have added this to our collection.”
Photo credit: Howard Heeley
Background details
1. The GAF Jindivik is a
reusable radio-controlled target drone for use in missile testing that
was produced by the Australian Government Aircraft Factories (GAF),
as part of a joint development with the UK Government.
2. The name Jindivik owes its origins to an Aboriginal Australian word meaning "the hunted one".
3.
The original production specification dates back to the late 1940s that
required an aircraft capable of a 15-minute sortie at 12,000 metres
(40,000 feet). The first flight of the Jindivik Mk.1 took place in August
1952.
4. GAF Jindivik, A92-708
crash landed on its 125th flight on the 20th August
1990, whilst being used for trials in the run up to the first Gulf War, Iraq 1991, ‘Operation Granby’. After being stored at
RAF Llanbedr, Gwynedd for a number of years, the airframe was acquired by the Bristol Aero Collection in 1997 and was moved to their then site at
Kemble, Gloucs.