User:Ctbolt/ToDo/pika

The GAF Jindivik is a target drone produced by the Australian Government Aircraft Factories. The name is from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning hunted one.

The high speed pilotless target drone came from a requirement by the British Ministry of Supply for use in guided missile testing. As most of the missile testing was to done at the Woomera testing range in Australia, development for the aircraft was to be done in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories. It was decided to produce a piloted version first

A manned version, the GAF Pika was built as a proof of concept to test the aerodynamics, engine and radio control systems.

Development begain in 1948, with the first flight of the Pika in 1950 and the first flight of the Jindivik Mk.1 in August 1952

The Mk.1 was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Adder ASA turbojet. Only 14 Mk.1s were ever made.

The Mk.2 was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Viper engine.

This aircraft has been used by the Royal Australian Air Force, the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force.

External Link
Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles]
 * The 'Aerial Target' and 'Aerial Torpedo' in Australia
 * GAF Jindivik Target Drone Gallery at adf-serials.com
 * ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers
 * GAF Jindivik A92-47
 * GAF Jindivik Mk.3B, (N11-806) at Australias' Museum of Flight
 * [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/jindivik.html Extract from Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles