Fighter Pilot, No.77 Sqn., Royal Australian Air Force, Summer 1964

Aussie pilot with his mount, CAC Avon Sabre Mk.30, stationed at RAAF Butterworth during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.
The standard backpack style parachute harness was worn by all Sabre pilots worldwide in the 1960s and was slotted to fit into the NAA T4E-1 ejection seat for a comfortable fit. A chest and 2 lap buckles on straps were what held the parachute to the pilot. A life raft kit was normally added , which also doubled as a pilot’s seat cushion.
The life preserver was made in Australia under license from the 1950s to 1980s and is a copy of the RAF Frankenstein LPU.

The 77 Sqn. was moved to Malaya where it flew ground attack missions against communist guerrillas during the Malayan Emergency and remained there to provide air defence against Indonesian MiG-21Fs during Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation 1963-66

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