CAC Wackett
| CAC Wackett (CA-2, CA-6) | |
|---|---|
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| Type: | Trainer aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
September 19, 1939 |
| Commissioning: |
1941 |
| Production time: |
1941/42 |
| Number of pieces: |
202 |
The CAC Wackett was a trainer aircraft from the Australian manufacturer Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and the first aircraft that was developed in-house. It was named after its designer Lawrenz Wackett .
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History and construction
The Wackett was designed on the basis of the RAAF specification 3/38 for a beginner training aircraft. The machine was a low-wing aircraft with a non-retractable tail wheel landing gear and a tubular steel fuselage covered with fabric. The wings and tail unit were made of wood and also covered with fabric. Teacher and student sat one behind the other. Despite the simplicity of the construction, construction of the first of two CA-2 prototypes did not begin until October 1938 and was not completed until September 1939. The prototype first flew on September 19, 1939 and was equipped with a de Havilland Gipsy Major . However, this engine turned out to be too weak for this aircraft, so that the second prototype, before its maiden flight in November 1939, was equipped with a de Havilland Gipsy Six . Although the flight performance could be improved by the other engine, the performance at take-off did not improve because the engine was heavier, so that in the middle of 1940 both prototypes were equipped with the Warner Scarab radial engine.
The RAAF took several months to place their orders as it seemed for a while that other types of trainer aircraft were being used. Finally, in August 1940, an order was placed and the Wackett went into production. The first CA-6 Wackett from series production flew on February 6, 1941 and entered service in March of the same year. Due to problems with the propeller procurement, many completed aircraft could not be put into service immediately. After the outbreak of the war in the Pacific , the production output was increased to make way for the production of the CAC Boomerang . The last Wackett was extradited to the RAAF on April 22, 1942.
In the 1950s, several Kingsford Smith Aviation Service aircraft were converted to agricultural aircraft, which were called KS-2 or KS-3 Cropmaster . A KS-2 had a chemical container in the front cockpit, this model was unsuccessful, so the machine was converted to the KS-3 with the chemical container in the rear cockpit. Four more Wacketts were converted to KS-3. The model was further developed and developed from it by Yeoman Aviation, a subsidiary, Yeoman Cropmaster .
variants
- CA-2 Wackett Trainer: prototype, 2 built
- CA-6 Wackett Trainer: Production version, 200 built
Production numbers
| Fiscal year | number |
|---|---|
| July 1, 1940– June 30, 1941 | 13 |
| July 1, 1941– June 30, 1942 | 187 |
| total | 200 |
Military use
-
Australia
-
Netherlands : The Dutch East India Army received 30 former RAAF machines. -
Indonesia : Some former machines of the Dutch East India Army, after Indonesia's independence
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data (CA-6) |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 7.92 m |
| span | 11.28 m |
| height | 2.06 m |
| Wing area | 17.1 m² |
| Empty mass | 866 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 1175 kg |
| Cruising speed | 178 km / h |
| Top speed | 185 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 4877 m |
| Range | 683 km |
| Engines | 1 × Warner Scarab radial engine with 130 kW |
See also
literature
- Tiger Moth, CT-4, Wackett & Winjeel in Australian Service Stewart Wilson. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd. ISBN 1-875671-16-1
- Holmes, Tony (2005). Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-719292-4 .
- Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation MJH Taylor ed. Studio Editions Ltd. ISBN 1-85170-324-1
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Holmes, 2005. p. 135.
- ↑ Official Year Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 37, 1946 and 1947, p. 1168
- ↑ Data from Flugzeuginfo.net
