The navigational computer was a circular slide rule used for calculating height and air speed corrections when flying an aircraft. The front cover lifts to reveal a further calculator used to solve vector triangles and plot course alterations. The device was intended to be strapped to a pilot's leg. The instrument was made by White and Gillespie (Melbourne) Pty Ltd c 1940 for the RAAF and used during WW2.Black metal box with silver metal flap top cover affixed with rotating circular rule . Two adjustable belts are affixed to the base of black box. A small spiral bound note book is contained beneath the flap top. RAAF Computer Navigational system MK. III. D. Serial No WG 2833navigation, raaf, computer, aircraft, ww2, 1940

LORAN is a radio navigation system.Marked Confidential. Khaki coloured soft cover book with black print. Illustrated with drawings, charts, mathematics, 45 pages.Some random numbers written on front top right.books reference/military/manuals, radio

This is a set of nine photographs of technicians from the Royal Australian Survey Corps operating aerial surveys equipment c1980s. In photo .1P, CPL Steve Gloster was operating a RC10 air survey camera mounted in an Australian Army Pilatus Porter aircraft. The Wild RC10 super wide-angle air survey cameras were first introduced in 1971, were equipped with virtual distortion free lenses for supplementary, spot and special photography. In photo .2P, Roger Rees was operating Air Profile Recorder (APR) equipment. it was possibly taken during OP NERVOSE 84, sometime between June – August 1984 when based in Ngukurr, Northern Territory. The APR was operated at this time in unison with an RC10 camera. In 1963 the Royal Australian Survey Corps introduced the radar airborne profile recorder (Canadian Applied Research Ltd, Mark V, Airborne Profiler Recorder) was introduced for 1:100,000 mapping to replace terrain heighting by aneroid barometry. Later in 1974-1975, the Australian developed WREMAPS II airborne laser terrain profile recorder was introduced. In photo .3P, Neil Jones appears at the door of Airsearch Beechcraft Queen Air aircraft, Registration / Serial VH-MWX. This aircraft was typically used by RA Svy on air survey operations flying mission with Aerodist, APR and RC10 camera equipment. The Australian Army’s Pilatus Porter (short take-off and landing turbo propeller) was also equipped with a Wild RC10 aerial mapping camera for identification photography. The Pilatus Porter was also used on RA Svy’s map field checking operations. Photo .9P was taken at a survey station at an unknown location. In this photo an Australian Army Kiowa Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) is supporting a field survey party undertaking Magnavox AN/PRR-14 portable Doppler satellite observations. The satellite receiver’s antenna is plumbed over the survey ground mark surrounded by white plastic panels. The panels were used to identify the survey station on aerial photography. Introduced in 1974–1975, the Magnavox AN/PRR-14 portable Doppler satellite (US Navy Navigation Satellite System – TRANSIT) receivers and computing system provided independent three-dimensional point positions anywhere in the world, anytime, in any weather accurate to about 1.5metres with precise satellite ephemerides. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa LOH was a family of military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. It was identified by RA Svy in the mid-1970s that considerable time was lost in replacing unserviceable remote equipment by road. Therefore Aerodist operations (pre-dating satellite receiver operations) were fully supported by Army’s Kiowa LOH aircraft. This is a set of nine photographs of technicians from the Royal Australian Survey Corps operating aerial surveys equipment c1980s. .1P to .3P, .5P to .9P - Colour and black and white photos on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. .4P - Colour photo on 35mm slide film and scanned at 96 dpi. .1) & .2) - Photo, black & white, c1980s, CPL Steve Gloster operating an RC10 air camera. .3) - Photo, colour, 1984, Roger Rees operating Air Profile Recorder (APR) equipment. .4) - Photo, colour, c1980s, Neil Jones at the door of an Airsearch Beechcraft Queen Air aircraft, typically used by RA Svy on air survey operations. .5) - Photo, colour, c1980s. A Beechcraft King Air aircraft, also used by RA Svy on air survey operations. .6) - Photo, colour, c1980s. An Australian Army Pilatus Porter, used by RA Svy on air survey and map field checking operations. SGT Peter Mustart is possibly in the foreground. .7) to .8) - Photo, colour, c1980s. An Australian Army Pilatus Porter and unidentified personnel, used by RA Svy on air survey and map field checking operations. .9) - Photo, colour, c1980s. An Australian Army Kiowa helicopter supporting a field survey party undertaking Magnavox AN/PRR-14 portable Doppler satellite observations. There are biro marks on photos .4P to .9Proyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, asr, fortuna, aerial surveys

This building is still intact at the Nhill Aerodrome. Some of the infrastructure is also in place or can be evidenced by its foundations.The Aeradio building was built on the present aerodrome in 1937. This was one of only sixteen buildings of this type built across Australia and it housed radio communications and guidance equipment. The building and its equipment were part of a comprehensive system of radio towers, signalling and meteorology equipment aimed at providing safer navigation for aircraft travelling throughout Australia. The facility closed in the 1960sThis photo is significant due to it having been taken soon after the building was constructed. It is the earliest known photograph taken on an open to the public day before the receiver aerials were erected.The Aeradio building was built on the present (2012) aerodrome in 1937 or 1938. This was one of only fifteen buildings of this type built across Australia and it housed radio communications and guidance equipment. The building and its equipment were part of a comprehensive system of radio towers lights and signalling equipment aimed at providing safer navigation for aircraft travelling throughout Australia. The facility closed in the 1960sphoto, aeradio, early, civil aviation, dca, dept of civil aviation

DHC-4 Caribou light transport The Royal Australian Air Force DHC-4 Caribou was a versatile tactical light transport aircraft . Its main operational role was tactical air transport in support of the Australian Army. The Caribou was last operated by No 38 Squadron from RAAF Base Townsville in December 2009. The Caribou is a twin-engined high-wing monoplane with full-span double-slotted Fowler flaps and fully-reversible propellers, which allow it to achieve its trademark steep approach with very short take-offs and landings on unprepared runways. The high wing and distinctive high placement of the tail provide easy access to a large cargo compartment, while the low-pressure tyres permit operation on unprepared runways. It was the last piston-engined aircraft in the Air Force and was our only aircraft to employ the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES), where up to 2000kg of sled-mounted cargo is extracted from the aircraft by a parachute from a metre above the ground. The Caribou is equipped with GPS satellite navigation and night-vision equipment, giving it the capability to operate in any weather, day or night, to either land or drop soldiers and equipment by parachute with pinpoint accuracy. The Caribou is not pressurised and is not fitted with auto-pilot or weather radar. The first Caribou arrived in Australia in April 1964 and they were deployed to Vietnam from July 1964 to February 1972 and carried over 600,000 passengers and a huge quantity of cargo while they were there. Since 1997 the Caribou participated in famine-relief operations in Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya during Operations SIERRA, PLES DRAI and AUSINDO JAYA, as well as the tsunami-relief operation in PNG in 1999 and operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands since 1999. Their service life was over 40 years. raaf caribou aircraft