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Mogged
Defence & veteransAgency

Government Aircraft Factories

GAF

1946 – 1987

Government aircraft factories at Fishermans Bend and Avalon, Victoria, that built military aircraft under licence, including the Canberra bomber and Mirage fighter, designed and produced the Jindivik target aircraft and the Nomad light transport, and assembled the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornets.

How it came into existence

Formed in 1946 from the wartime aircraft factories of the Department of Aircraft Production, whose Beaufort Division had built Beaufort and Beaufighter aircraft, when that department was abolished; it was administered at first by the Department of Munitions. The start year and the date the GAF name was adopted are approximate.

Changes during its life

  1. 6 April 1948Moved to the Department of Supply and Development when the Department of Munitions was absorbed into it.
  2. 16 March 1950Moved to the new Department of Supply.
  3. 11 May 1951Moved to the new Department of Defence Production.
  4. 23 April 1958Returned to the Department of Supply when the Department of Defence Production was absorbed into it.
  5. 12 June 1974Moved to the Department of Manufacturing Industry when the Department of Supply was abolished.
  6. 22 December 1975Moved to the Department of Industry and Commerce.
  7. 8 November 1976Moved to the new Department of Productivity, which took over the government defence factories.
  8. 3 November 1980Returned to the Department of Industry and Commerce when the Department of Productivity was abolished.
  9. 7 May 1982Moved to the new Department of Defence Support.
  10. 13 December 1984Moved to the Department of Defence as part of the Office of Defence Production when the Department of Defence Support was abolished.

How it ended

Corporatised in 1987 as the Commonwealth company Aerospace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd, which took over its factories, staff and work.

    • Aircraft manufacture and maintenance at Fishermans Bend and Avalon

    Corporatisation: the factories, staff and contracts of the Government Aircraft Factories passed to the new company.

Main functions

  • Military aircraft manufacture and assembly
  • Design and production of the Jindivik target aircraft
  • Design and production of the Nomad light aircraft
  • Aircraft maintenance and overhaul
  • Guided-weapons and target-drone production

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Defence.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.