Engineering:GAF Turana
From HandWiki
| Turana | |
|---|---|
| Role | Target Drone |
| National origin | Australia |
| Manufacturer | Government Aircraft Factories |
| First flight | August 1971 |
| Primary user | Royal Australian Navy |
| Produced | late 1960s - 1979 |
| Number built | 23 |
| Developed from | Ikara (missile) |
The GAF Turana was a target drone produced by the Australia n Government Aircraft Factories (GAF). The name is believed to be from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning rainbow.
The Turana target drone was designed and built in Australia as a development of the Ikara anti-submarine weapon system. It was a target drone with remote control that was launched from the Ikara launcher for use in naval anti-aircraft target practice.[1][2]
Design and development
The Turana had a composite metal/fibre glass structure and was powered by a Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet.[lower-alpha 1][3]
The Turana was first flown from Woomera in August 1971.[3] The program was cancelled in 1979 as water ingress during recovery of the drone was causing failure of the electronics.[4]
See also
Notes
- ↑ The engine was designed so that it can be reused for at least 10 flights even after being submerged in water for an hour before being recovered
References
- ↑ "GAF Turana Guided Missile". https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/3663.
- ↑ "RAN GAF Turana". http://www.adf-serials.com.au/turana.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Successful Turana First Flight". Flight International: 305. 19 August 1971. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201573.html.
- ↑ "Tracer". Flight International: 1267. 20 October 1979. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%203813.html.
Further reading
- Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Jean Bou (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195517842.
- Taylor, John W.R., ed (1980). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1980–81. London: Jane's Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-7106-0705-9.
External links
- Turana target drone Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)
- "Turana Nightmare Realised". 1975. http://ontheroger.proboards.com/thread/5258/turana-nightmare-realised.
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