SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA at Blowering Dam
Photographer
David Watson
(deceased)
Date1978
Object numberANMS0532[111]
NameNegative
Copyright© Luke Watson
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionSPIRIT OF AUSTRLIA on Blowering Dam during trials, Ken Warby is seated atop while the vessel is held stable by a team of men - likely RAAF apprentices who assisted in the maintenance of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA prior to the record attempt.HistoryThe Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had been involved in Ken Warby's first record breaking run in 1977. They had officially been approached by Warby in 1975 but the beaucracy he encountered from the Federal government was not encouraging but considering he had not set a record yet or proved SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's viability, it was probably also not surprising.
In 1977 Warby went to the RAAF directly by turning up at the Fairbairn RAAF base near Canberra and requesting permission to use the jet engine run-up pad.
The base agreed and flight sergeant's Peter Lyzun and Peter Dorman oversaw the testing of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA.
This initial testing was not wholly successful as the afterburner, needed to add more thrust, did not light and in the process the engine of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA was damaged by a screwdriver left in there by Warby.
A replacement engine was retrieved from Warby's backyard and the RAAF technicians assisted Warby to install it. It was this engine that Warby set the new world water speed record with.
In 1978 the RAAF officially assisted Warby with his preparations to break the 300 mph barrier. The RAAF facility at Forest Hill near Wagga Wagga saw the opportunity of apprentices to work on a J34 Westinghouse engine as part of their training.
Warby situated SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA at the base and work by the RAAF apprentices on its engines became an official RAAF component. But the boat itself also required work and this was carried out on a volunteer basis by apprentices after hours.
On the day of the second record attempt, 8 October 1978, the RAAF apprentices were present at Blowering Dam, overseeing their work and wearing the distinctive blue tracksuits Warby had bought them.
SignificanceAlthough Ken Warby had already set a new Australian and world water speed record, in 1978 he attempted to break his own barrier and go faster than 300 mph. In this effort he was assisted by a larger support team including apprentices from the RAAF who had overseen work on the J34 Westinghouse engine in the lead up to 8 October, 1978.
