CAC CA-27 Sabre Mk 32 jet fighter, A94-954.

CAC CA-27 Sabre Mk 32 jet fighter, A94-954. A low wing cantilever monoplane with 35 degree wing sweepback. The wings are thin laminar flow design. The fuselage is of oval section with flush rivetted stressed skin. Speed brakes are located on both sides near the rear of the fuselage. The tail is of cantilever monoplane style. The landing gear is a retractable tricycle style with a steerable nose wheel. The aircraft has a Rolls Royce Avon 26 axial flow turbojet with a straight ram air entry in the nose of the fuselage. Main fuel tanks are in the fuselage. The aircraft was fitted with an ejection seat, and was armed with two 30 mm Aden cannons. mounted one on each side near the nose.

The CAC Avon was based on the North American F-86 Sabre. It incorporated a considerable amount of redesign, to allow it to be powered by the Rolls Royce Avon jet of greater power but lighter weight than the General Electric J47 engines used in the North American design. With the Avon consuming 25 percent more air than the GE engine, a larger air inlet was required, and the lighter weight of the Avon meant that the engine had to positioned further aft to preserverve the original centre of gravity. Structural redesign meant that only 40 percent of the origianl fuselage could be used.

Built by the Commonwealth aircraft Corporation in Victoria, A94-954 was accepted by the RAAF in January 1957. It saw extensive service with No.78 Wing, RAAF, and was based at Butterworth in Malaysia during the period 1958-69. The wing arrived in time to participate in the closing stages of the Malayan Emergency, and later carried out patrol and interception duties during the Indonesian confrontation. The Sabres also provided air cover for the area during the opening stages of the Vietnam War. During its time at Butterworth, A94-954 was flown by Nos 3 and 77 Squadrons, RAAF; it was also used by No. 79 Squadron, RAAF, at Ubon in Thailand during the mid-1960s.