Aircraft Research and Development Unit RAAF
 | This section includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2014) |
| Aircraft Research and Development Unit | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1943 – Present |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch |  Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Test and Evaluation |
| Part of | Aerospace Operational Support Group Development and Test Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | RAAF Base Edinburgh and Detachment at RAAF Base Amberley |
| Motto(s) | Prove to Accomplish |
| Aircraft | Pilatus PC-9 and F/A-18 Hornet |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Wing Commander D. Rich |
| Notable commanders | J.A. Rowland (1959) M.A. Skidmore (2000–02) D.J. Fawcett (2003–04) |
| Insignia | |
| Callsigns | TESTER and DELTA (for formations) |
The Royal Australian Air Force's Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) plans, conducts and analyses the results of ground and flight tests of existing and new Air Force aircraft. ARDU consists of four flights located at RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Amberley, Richmond and Williamtown, staffed by qualified test pilots, flight test engineers and flight test system specialists. Up until 2016 the Squadron also conducted flight test for the Australian Army with Army personnel also working within the unit. The flight test crew are long course trained at test pilot schools including the United States Air Force Test Pilot School, the United States Naval Test Pilot School, the Empire Test Pilots' School, the École du personnel navigant d'essais et de réception and the National Test Pilot School.
The client base for ARDU encompasses the Air Mobility Group, Air Combat Group, Surveillance and Response Group, Air Force Training Group, and Defence Science and Technology Organisation.
ARDU is now located at RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide, South Australia, and RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland.
History
Originally the formation of the Special Duties and Performance Flight was established in December 1941 at Laverton, Victoria. The unit was reformed as No 1 Air Performance Unit in December 1943, the Unit was responsible for carrying out flight trials of new aircraft as well as aircraft modifications. During World War 2, flying trials included Spitfire, Beaufighter and Boomerang performance tests, as well as evaluations on various aircraft modifications including gun, radar and bombsight installations. In addition, the Unit carried out performance tests on captured Japanese 'Oscar' and 'Tony' fighters. Following the War the Unit was involved in tests on the CA-15 prototype, a Meteor Mk3, Lincoln bomber and De-Havilland Sea Hornet.
The unit was renamed Aircraft Research and Development Unit in September 1947, with detachments operating in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales. In October 1948 ARDU moved back to Laverton with Detachment A at Mallalla, South Australia and Detachment B at Richmond, New South Wales and Detachment C at Edinburgh, South Australia.
By February 1977, all ARDU detachments had relocated to Edinburgh, South Australia, from where it continues its vital role of testing and evaluating both aircraft and weaponry in the RAAF inventory. In 2003, ARDU was re-formed into the Aerospace Operational Support Group (AOSG), incorporating several additional operational support roles including those relating to flight testing. On 14 Jan 2013, ARDU established a detachment at Amberley, Queensland.
Commanding Officers
Commanding Officers of Aircraft Research and Development Unit
| Commanding Officer | Date of Appointment |
|---|---|
| Squadron Leader J.H. Harper | 1 December 1943 |
| Squadron Leader D.R. Cuming | 1 May 1944 |
| Flight Lieutenant A.I. Barret | 26 January 1945 |
| Wing Commander J.H. Harper AFC | 21 March 1946 |
| Wing Commander G.D Marchall AFC | 1 December 1947 |
| Wing Commander F.J.P. Wood | 30 April 1951 |
| Wing Commander D.R. Cuming OBE, AFC Bar | 14 January 1952 |
| Wing Commander J.R. Lavers AFC, AFM (T) | 9 May 1953 |
| Wing Commander D.R. Cuming OBE, AFC Bar | 21 December 1953 |
| Wing Commander G.H.N. Shiells | 9 April 1956 |
| Wing Commander J.A. Rowland DFC, AFC (T) | 19 January 1959 |
| Group Captain I.F.D. Rose AFC | 20 April 1959 |
| Group Captain P.A. Parker DFC | 1 August 1960 |
| A/Group Captain L.H. Williamson | 20 December 1963 |
| Wing Commander W.S. McAloney GC, OBE (T) | 11 November 1966 |
| Group Captain J.P. Graney AFC | 27 February 1967 |
| Group Captain J.D. Espie DFC | 10 February 1969 |
| A/Wing Commander R.G. Green AFC (T) | 1 March 1971 |
| Group Captain J.W. Newham | 4 October 1971 |
| Wing Commander A.G. Cairns (T) | 29 November 1971 |
| Group Captain R.N. Law | 18 January 1972 |
| Wing Commander J.L. Thomson | 30 July 1975 |
| Group Captain D.G. Cameron DFC | 12 January 1976 |
| Group Captain R.G. Green AFC | 10 December 1979 |
| Group Captain M.E. McDonald | 21 March 1983 |
| Group Captain R.V. Richardson AFC | 23 December 1985 |
| Group Captain K.J. Bricknell AM | 4 January 1988 |
| Group Captain N.J. Ford | 22 December 1989 |
| Group Captain M.A. Skidmore | 15 December 2000 |
| Group Captain S.J. Fielder AM | 13 December 2002 |
| Lieutenant Colonel D.J. Fawcett | 26 July 2003 |
| Wing Commander T.J. Saunder | 19 January 2004 |
| Wing Commander S.W. Young | 4 November 2004 |
| Wing Commander M.R. Walmsely | 7 January 2007 |
| Squadron Leader R.J. Denney | 26 February 2007 |
| Wing Commander A.P. Jonas | 7 May 2007 |
| Wing Commander R.L. Bender | 10 January 2011 |
| Wing Commander A.E. Figtree | 1 November 2012 |
| Wing Commander D.D.J. Rich | 11 January 2016 |
Fixed Wing Aircraft Operated
|
Rotary Wing Aircraft Operated
|
|
See also
References
- Air Force News Into the future
- RAAF Aeronautical Research and Development Unit