Allan,
It was actually the ‘original’ Woomera (the CA-4) which suffered that tragic end. From memory, it occurred somewhere around the Whittlesea area. The single CA-11 that was completed ended up being ‘converted to components’ I believe. Or in real terms – scrapped.
Interesting to hear that you were at CAC around the time of the Waimira project. That was another very enterprising venture, and had the makings to have been a great aircraft in the training role. The prototype’s definitely still around, and I was fortunate to have had a look at it a few years ago. Now if only we could get it and finish it off. Would make a great (and relatively fast) toy!
Steady on about Ballarat’s weather mate! Although I have to agree that it certainly can get cold up here. Just adds to the character of the place :). Well I had to come up with some excuse on this cold night.

Cheers,
Matt

In deed, the Woomera, another wasted opportunity? I believe the prototype crashed when a prop feathering circuit flashed causing the detonation of fuel vapour in the bottom of the fuselage, blowing the pilot clear out of the aircraft.
I am still very fond of my time at CAC and would have killed for more substantial projects to work with. As it was, there was a few Mirage wings being refurbished but the main work was on Atar overhaul with an occasional Viper, Avon and some P&W bits for the F111. When the Wamira project was scrapped it spelled the end for many of us as well as GAF. Ballarat sounds good as long as it’s in summer. That place would have to be the coldest city in Oz!
—
Allan

CA-15

Now this is my kind of thread. While the Wirraway is obviously the major interest to me from the CAC range of toys, the CA-15 isn’t all that far behind. Described in several sources as being the ‘ultimate’ single piston engined fighter, this term describes both the fact that it was essentially the last piston engined fighter of new design to commence test flying, but also the fact that its design was state of the art.

One high ranking Rolls Royce employee (from memory) commented about the aircraft having the finest installation that he had seen of the Griffon. One pilot who flew the aircraft mentioned that it was the finest Griffon powered aircraft that he had flown. For probably the only time ever (prior or since), Australia was at the cutting edge of aircraft design – albeit for a style of aircraft which was, by that time, rapidly becoming obsolete.

With a straight and level maximum achieved of speed of 448mph, using only a Griffon 61 when it was originally intended to use a Griffon of higher power output from the 120 series. However these apparently didn’t go into production. If they had, then who knows what speed might have been possible.

Wombat, if you’re reading ‘Wirraway to Hornet’, then you really are a CAC nut as you just recently mentioned. You’ll find that book an interesting read which gives a great discussion on essentially the whole range of CAC products. Probably the ultimate tomb that will ever be written on CAC will be the volume from the set of four books that Keith Meggs has written on Australian made aircraft. Not available as yet, these will be magnificent publications.

I can also highly recommend ‘Aircraft Pioneer’ which is L.J. Wackett’s autobiography. While it doesn’t go into really great detail on the aircraft, it’s fantastic if only due to learning of the many difficulties that were faced in setting up an aircraft industry in Australia. Wack was very passionate about this, and it is a great shame that we’ve essentially lost the industry that we once had.

Cheers,
Matt

This is one of my greatest loves and a real “what if?” Probably three years too late, so that by the time it flew, time had passed it by (and a few of the early jets, too!)

For those familiar with the development history of the CA-15, the way it ended up looking so similar to the P-51 from certain angles is remarkable, yet its gestation period saw it change from a proposed R-2800 radial installation to the Griffon, with the eventual appearance looking so much like its more famous colleague. Believe me, with the R-2800 proposal, it looked absolutely nothing like the Mustang.

The amazing thing is that CAC actually built both aircraft, and it’s hard to understand why the P-51 was taken up for license production when the CA-15 was still being developed. I know that the two aircraft were actually designed for different uses, but in light of the RAAF’s needs at the time, it is still difficult to comprehend a small company taking on two such large projects simultaneously. Perhaps when I finish reading my current book “Wirraway to Hornet”, a detailed history of CAC, I will have a better understanding of the matter.

I just wish the CA-15 had made production instead of the CA-18 (Australian built Mustang).

Regards (with a tear in me eye)

Wombat