The GAF Turana was a target drone produced by the Australian Government Aircraft Factories (GAF). The name is believed to be from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning rainbow.
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 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
editThe Turana had a composite metal/fibre glass structure and was powered by a Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet.[a][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
editNotes
edit- ^ 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
edit- ^ "GAF Turana Guided Missile". Museum Victoria. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
- ^ "RAN GAF Turana". ADF-SERIALS.
- ^ a b "Successful Turana First Flight". Flight International. 19 August 1971. p. 305.
- ^ "Tracer". Flight International. 20 October 1979. p. 1267.
Further reading
edit- 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
edit- Turana target drone Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS)
- "Turana Nightmare Realised". On The Roger. 1975. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.