May 1978: a hangar deck of HMAS MELBOURNE [II] - Photo Michael Melliar-Phelps.

1867. A photograph taken in an era of bigger and more powerful aircraft, and fewer carried on the light fleet carrier HMAS MELBOURNE [II], whose hull size was tested to the limits in the later period. Nonetheless, this hangar scene looks orderly, somehow more so than our recent hangar scenes on HMAS SYDNEY [III] with piston aircraft. The two RAN Skyhawk squadrons each had eight aircraft.

 

Some relevant weights and dimension:

 

1.A Hawker Sea Fury's weight, empty, was 9,240 lb [4, 191kg]. Loaded 12,350 lb [5602 kg]. Wing span 38ft 4.75in [11.69m]; length 34ft8in [10.57m] height 15ft 10.5in [4.84m].

 

2. A Fairey Firefly's weight, empty, was 9,859lb [4,472kg] loaded13,500 lb [6,123kg]. Wingspan 41ft 21 [12.54m]; wings folded 16ft [4.88m]; length 37ft 11in [11.56m]; height 14ft 4in [4.47m].

 

3. A DeHavilland Sea Venom's weight, empty, was 11,000lb [4990kg] loaded take-off weight 15,900lb [7,212 kg]. Wingspan 42ft. 10in {13.05m]; length 36ft 7.25in. [11.15m], height wings down 8ft 6in [ 2.59m] wings folded 9ft 7in [2.92m].

 

4. McDonnell Douglas A 4 Skyhawk's weight, empty 10,100 lb [4,581 kg] carrier take-off weight loaded 24,500 lb [11,113 kg]. Wingspan 27ft 6in [8.38m], length 40ft 3.25in. [12.27m] excluding refuelling probe, height 15ft 2in. [4.62m].

 

We're surprised to see the Sea Venom was heavier than the Skyhawk A4G in light load condition. Source: Stewart Wilson's 'Sea Fury, Firefly and Sea Venom in Australian Service' and 'Phantom, Hornet and Skyhawk in Australian Service' [Aeropsace Publications, Canberra 1993].

 

Photo: Michael Melliar-Phelps, it appeared in Ross Gillett's book 'HMAS MELBOURNE: 25 Years' [Nautical Press, Sydney 1980] p69.

 

A COMPENDIUM of links to some 350 images of HMAS MELBOURNE [II] on this Photostream begins at Pic 5444 and extends over seven entries. It starts here:

 

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6707592179/in/photostream

 

 

Done