The No.1 Aircraft Performance Unit (1APU) was renamed the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) on 22 August 1947. ARDU relocated from Laverton in Victoria to the RAAF Base at Edinburgh, South Australia in 1976. The unit has developed into a large multi-disciplined Unit of four squadrons with an establishment of over 400 personnel.

Today (1993) the mission of ARDU is to conduct Development, Test and Evaluation tasks on aircraft, aircraft weapons and associated systems, and provide electronic warfare operational support for the RAAF and other designated organisations.  The client base for ARDU encompasses the Maritime Patrol Group, Tactical Fighter Group, Strike Reconnaissance Group, Training Command and Army Aviation.  ARDU may have up to 70 tasks active at one time.  Some of the tasks may take years to complete while others may take only a few weeks.  Tasking falls into four categories: enhancement of operational capabilities; modifications to aircraft, aircraft weapons or associated systems; support for materiel acquisitions activities and problem resolution for aircraft and associated systems.

Functionally ARDU consists of four Squadrons and two Flights: Flight Test, Engineering Maintenance and Electronic Warfare Squadrons and Administration and Supply Flights.  The Range Measurement Branch and the Electronic Warfare Operational Support Group recently amalgamated with the Unit increasing its size.

The aircraft types maintained by the unit include Dakotas, Hornets, PC-9s, Iroquois, Macchis and Blackhawks.

In 2003, the unit became part of the Air Systems Development and Test Wing of the RAAF’s Aerospace Operational Support Group (AOSG) based at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

ARDU Commanding officers:
 
        1947: WGCDR G.D. Marshall AFC
 30 Apr 1951: WGCDR F.J.P. Wood
 14 Jan 1952: WGCDR D.R. Cuming OBE,AFC & BAR
  9 May 1953: WGCDR J.R. Lavers AFC,AFM(T)
 21 Dec 1953: WGCDR D.R. Cuming OBE,AFC,&BAR
  9 Apr 1956: WGCDR G.H.N. Shiells
 19 Jan 1959: WGCDR J.A. Rowland DFC,AFC(T)
 20 Apr 1959: GPCAPT I.F.D'A Rose AFC
  1 Aug 1960: GPCAPT P.A. Parker DFC
 20 Dec 1963: A/GPCAPT L.H. Williamson
 11 Nov 1966: WGCDR W.S. Mcaloney GC,OBE(T)
 27 Feb 1967: GPCAPT J.P. Graney AFC
 10 Feb 1969: GPCAPT J.D. Espie,DFC
  1 Mar 1971: A/WGCDR R.G. Green AFC(T)
  4 Oct 1971: GPCAPT J.W. Newham
 29 Nov 1971: WGCDR A.G. Cairns (T)
 18 Jan 1972: GPCAPT R.N. Law
 30 Jul 1975: WGCDR J.L. Thomson
 12 Jan 1976: GPCAPT D.G. Cameron AFC
 10 Dec 1979: GPCAPT R.G. Green AFC
 21 Mar 1983: GPCAPT M.E. McDonald
 23 Dec 1985: GPCAPT R.V. Richardson AFC
       ?1993: GPCAPT N.J. Ford


SOURCES

1. Presentation of the Governor-General's Banner to ARDU. April 1987
   (booklet)
2. RAAF News. June 1960
3. ARDU leaflet showing unit name changes and lists of Commanding
   Officers.
4. Aircraft Research and Development Unit. Brief History. Mar 1987 
5. Air Force South Australia Vol 4, No 9, November 1993
6. Aerospace Operational Support Group website, www.airforce.gov.au/groups/aosg.aspx, accessed 21 June 2010.

Historical agency address
Headquarters
22 Sep 1947 - 05 Oct 1948: Point Cook, VIC
05 Oct 1948 -    Feb 1977: Laverton, VIC
   Feb 1977 -            : Edinburgh, SA

Detachments
17 Nov 1947 - 14 Aug 1950: Mallala, SA
10 Dec 1948 - 05 Dec 1949: Darwin, NT
11 Feb 1948 -            : Richmond, NSW
03 Mar 1954 -            : Mallala, SA

Agency controlled unregistered

12 Nov 1947-1955: Air Trials Flight (ARDU)
11 Nov 1947-1961: Rainmaking Flight Detachment B(ARDU)
03 Mar 1954-    : Detachment C(ARDU)
05 Oct 1954-1955: Detachment A - ARDU Trials Flight
       1955-1958: Air Trials Unit (ATU)
15 Nov 1976-    : Detachment B -ARDU