http://www.aarg.com.au/CA31.htm
CAC CA31
Operational Trainer – Full size mockup (on display) in the back of the Australian National Aviation Museum, at Moorabbin Airport near Melbourne, Australia. The mock-up is disassembled and against one wall (easily missed).

In March 1964, with the Mirage fighter being delivered to the RAAF, the Melbourne based Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation presented its idea for a locally designed and manufactured, advanced supersonic aircraft designed to meet both flying and weapons training needs.

The basis of the project was that there was no type with this dual capability available anywhere in the world. In the 1960s, it was also seen that there was a huge gap between flying jet trainers and modern high speed fighters. This difference involved more than just speed, the flying characteristics of supersonic delta wing fighters were quite different to the subsonic trainers then available.

The original design featured a double delta wing powered by a single GE – J85 engine (~3,000 lbst/~4,300 lbst AB), the design was advanced to the stage of constructing this full size mockup, and then revised to incorporate the Rolls Royce RB172 Adour engine.

The aircraft was to feature Martin Baker ejection seats and be capable of carrying a load of 1815 kg on four wing and two fuselage hardpoints.

The RAAF jet trainer requirement was eventually fulfilled in 1967 by Macchi Trainers licence built by CAC, and a number of 2 seat Mirages built by GAF in Melbourne, resulting in the CA-31 project being canceled, effectively ending CAC’s indigenous designs.

Engine: Rolls Royce RB172 Adour jet (4,600 lbst dry, 6,900 lbst reheat)
Length: 37 feet 8.5 inches (11.5 m)
Span: 21 feet 0 inches (6.4 m)
Height: 10 feet 9.5 inches (3.30 m)
Weight: 6,080 pounds (empty) (2,758 kg); ~8,500 max (3,864 kg) (trainer version)
Speed: 1.5 Mach
Range: 1,050 miles (1,750 km)

This site has flight manuals for the CA-31 for $15.00 (company is based in Australia, so expect Aussie dollars)
http://www.flight-manuals.com/ca31trainer.html

Here’s a thread on it, with links & pics of the disassembled full-scale mock-up & including some drawings (From the instructions from the Uncle Les 1/72 CAC CA-31 resin kit):
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1479.30.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1967/1967%20-%201366.html
http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1967/1967%20-%200463.html

Said model kit may be found here: RAAF CA-31 1/72 model

[edit: fixed link to Secret Projects thread}

I did zoom in. While the gray area on the leading edge is clear, I couldn’t see any line indicating a split.

If there will only be two carriers, why does the RN need six Type 45s? (And they wanted twelve initially.) I thought their job was to provide air defence for a carrier group.

2 CVF, 1 LPH (Ocean), 2 LPD (Albion, Bulwark), 4 “LPD-lite” (Bay class).

9 major ships, all needing AAW coverage, and not always operating together.

I heard about the lca in the ether.

you still believe in the existence of ether ? fascinating.

There must be an “ether”… my computer has an “ethernet connection”! 😀

Yes, the hook is clear in that picture… as are the full-span leading-edge slats.

Which makes it very clear there is no folding wing on this aircraft, in contrast to the real Su-33.

It could be flown off ex-Varyag as a training aircraft, but it could not be taken down into the hangar without folding wings.

You can clearly see the break in the Su-33’s two-piece slats here:

The one in the Indian Ocean is there in case TLAMs need to be tossed into the Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan theater.

It will be patrolling off the western Pakistan coast and the Iranian coast.

RAN Ikara installation; aft starboard side; HMAS Swan.

The Mk.10 Limbo launcher was later removed to provide a helo landing spot, but the extended superstructure for increased accommodation precluded a hangar.

Here is the RN’s installation on the same basic design of hull, note the Ikara forward, the hangar & landing pad aft, then the Mk.10, then the VDS in the stern.

HMS Naiad F39 in 1982:

When they built the S-3 Viking.

On 4 August 1969, Lockheed’s design was selected as the winner of the contest, and eight prototypes, designated YS-3A were ordered. The first prototype flew on 21 January 1972 and the S-3 entered service in 1974. During the production run from 1974 to 1978, a total of 186 S-3As were built.

Last one built 1978, last carrier-based S-3 squadron stood down 29 January 2009.