Events

AIAA Dedication of Woomera as a Historic Aerospace Site

In a memorable ceremony held at the Missile Park on 22 May 2007, Woomera was dedicated as a Historic Aerospace Site by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the foremost professional aerospace organisation in the world. The selection by the AIAA honours the remarkable contribution of the Woomera Range to aerospace development since the end of World War II and the dawn of the Space Age. Woomera is one of only four sites outside the United States to be recognised by the AIAA in this way (along with Tranquility Base on the Moon).

Major General Robert Dickman (USAF retired), Executive Director of the AIAA, presided at the dedication ceremony together with the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP. Support was provided by Garry Clarke, Manager Base Services (acting as Master of Ceremonies), and by Tony Springer, Chairman of the AIAA Historic Aerospace Sites Committee and Emily Springer, Manager of the AIAA Historic Sites Program. AIAA members from the Adelaide Section and from the Student Branch at the University of Adelaide also participated along with a broad cross-section of the Woomera community.

A formation of four RAAF Hawk fighters conducted a spectacular flyover of the Missile Park as the AIAA plaque was unveiled by Bob Dickman and Peter Lindsay. The aircraft returned and performed successive individual flypasts, adding further impact to the event.

The dedication of Woomera as an AIAA Historic Aerospace Site was a fitting tribute in Woomera’s 60th anniversary year, and followed shortly after the 60th Anniversary Reunion held over Easter 2007. To mark the occasion, the AIAA produced a special commemorative booklet touching on the early history and achievements of Woomera through to more recent programs including numerous examples of Australia-US cooperation in aerospace endeavours.

Images courtesy of 92 TIF Imagery Management Section, 87 Squadron, RAAF and Frank Wolfe, BAE Systems.