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Australian National Aviation Museum

GAF Jindivik A92-492

GAF Jindivik AircraftClick on image for larger version
Image © Keith Gaff 2014
From Wikipedia


The GAF Jindivik is a target drone produced by the Australian Government Aircraft Factory (GAF). The name is from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning "the hunted one". Two manned prototypes, were built as GAF Pikas (Project C) as a proof of concept to test the aerodynamics, engine and radio control systems, serialled A92-1/2, 'B-1/2'. The unmanned variant was initially designated the Project B and received serials in the A93 series. Pika is an Aboriginal Australian word meaning "flier".


The Jindivik was developed as a result of a bilateral agreement between Australia and the UK regarding guided missile testing. While the UK provided the missiles, Australia provided test facilities, such as the Woomera Test Range. As a result of the talks, Australia gained the contract for developing an unmanned target aircraft to Ministry of Supply specification E.7/48. The specification called for an aircraft capable of a 15-minute sortie at 40,000 ft (12 200 m). Development began in 1948, with the first flight of the Pika in 1950 and the first flight of the Jindivik Mk.1 in August 1952.

The manned prototype, known as the Pika, had side air intakes to make room for the cockpit and because the small wheel landing gear operated from a pneumatic reservoir. The unmanned version, the Jindivik, followed the same basic form except that it had a single skid instead of an undercarriage and a dorsal air intake located where the Pika's cockpit was. The Jindivik Mk.1 was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Adder (ASA.1) turbojet, which had been developed as a disposable engine for the project. Only 14 Mk.1s were ever made. The Mk.2 was powered by a 1,640 lb Armstrong Siddeley Viper engine. The Viper was also intended for a short lifespan – about 10 hours, but a "long life" version was also produced for conventional aircraft.


The control systems were manufactured by various firms including Elliott Brothers, GEC and McMichael, with assistance from the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Control was maintained through an autopilot that received radio commands from the ground, rather than direct flight by a ground controller. Eighteen commands could be issued to the autopilot with six further commands for the operation of other onboard equipment. The drone was launched via a self-steering trolley. At 110 knots (200 km/h; 130 mph), the drone was designed to apply its flaps, push the elevators up and release the trolley. Landing was made at 150–125 knots (278–232 km/h; 173–144 mph). Two controllers (azimuth and elevation) were used to align the drone on the runway. On landing it touched down on its skid and banking would cause the wingtip "shoes" to touch the runway, which controlled its path down the runway as it slowed.

Between 1952 and 1986, a total of 502 aircraft were produced. Examples for use in the United Kingdom were shipped by surface transport, and assembled and tested by Fairey Aviation at Hayes, Middlesex, and Manchester Airport. In 1997, the production line was re-opened to build another 15 for Britain.



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TECHNICAL DATA

Engine:             


Length:             

Span:               

Height:            

Weight:            

Speed:

Range:          


Armstrong Siddeley Viper 11


26 feet 9 inches

20 feet 9 inches

6 feet 10 inches

2,900 lbs (empty)

564 mph

771 miles





(8.15 m)

(6.32 m)

(2.08 m)

(1,315 kg)

908 kmh

1,240 km
Picture
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  • Home
  • The Museum
  • Birthdays or Special Events
  • Events
  • Our Collection
    • Engines >
      • ADC Cirrus II
      • Armstrong Siddeley >
        • Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah
        • Armstrong Siddeley Genet
        • Armstrong Siddeley Python
        • Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba
      • Bristol Hercules
      • J.A.P. V4 Engine (1910)
      • Junkers Jumo
      • Kelly and Lewis V8 (1915)
      • Pratt & Whitney >
        • Pratt & Whitney R1340 Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R2000 Twin Wasp
      • Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet
      • Rolls Royce >
        • Rolls Royce Avon
        • Rolls Royce Dart
        • Rolls Royce Derwent
        • Rolls Royce Kestrel
        • Rolls Royce Merlin
        • Rolls Royce Nene
      • SNECMA Atar
      • Warner Scarab
    • RAAF >
      • Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation >
        • CAC Avon Sabre A94-989
        • CAC Boomerang A46-25
        • CAC CA31 Trainer
        • CAC Ceres VH-WOT
        • CAC Wackett A3-22
        • CAC Winjeel A85-418
        • CAC Wirraway A20-10
      • DAP/GAF Aircraft >
        • DAP Mk21 Beaufighter
        • DAP Beaufort
        • GAF Jindivik
        • GAF Lincoln
    • Naval / Military >
      • B.E. 2A (Wings Only)
      • Bristol Sycamore
      • Consolidated PBY Catalina
      • Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
      • De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth
      • De Havilland Sea Venom
      • Fairey Firefly
      • Fairey Gannet
      • Gloster Meteor
      • Miles Messenger
    • Commercial Aircraft >
      • Bristol Freighter
      • Douglas DC-2
      • Douglas DC-3
      • Vickers Viscount
    • Other Aircraft >
      • Auster Aiglet
      • BA Swallow II
      • Cessna 310
      • de Havilland Heron
      • de Havilland Gipsy Moth
      • Desoutter II
      • Duigan Replica >
        • The Duigan Family
        • The Duigan History
        • The Duigan History 2
        • The Duigan History 3
        • The Duigan History 4
      • Percival Proctor
      • Victa AirTourer 100
  • About
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