Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation photo album [PRG 247/143] • Photograph
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory.
The CAC factory and airfield located in Lorimer Street, Fishermans Bend, in Port Melbournce, Victoria. Aircraft are visible in the field in front of the factory buildings.
Aerial photograph of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory.
Aerial view of the CAC and Department of Aircraft Production factories and airfield along the Yarra River, Fishermans Bend, Victoria.
Aerial photograph of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory.
Aerial view of the CAC and Department of Aircraft Production factories and airfield, Fishermans Bend, Victoria. The Yarra River can be seen behind the factories, across the top of the photograph.
Aircraft under construction.
Production line of Wackett Trainers on the right in varying stages of construction at the CAC factories in Fishermans Bend. Wirraways aircraft are on the left side and in the centre.
Factory floor, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation.
View looking down on the factory floor in one of the CAC buildings, showing desks, machinery, and aircraft under construction in the background. The aircraft wing standing vertically in the background is for CA-18 Mustang fighter aircraft.
CA-6 A3-100 Wackett trainer.
CA-6 A3-100, a CAC Wackett trainer, the first aircraft type designed in-house by the CAC, a two-seat basic trainer aircraft designed to meet RAAF specifications. CA-6 is the model number designated to the Wackett trainers, and A3-1 to A3-200 are the assigned RAAF serials. A total of 200 were built. A3-100 was manufactured by the CAC at Fisherman's Bend, and delivered to the RAAF in January 1942. An unmarked CAC Wirraway aircraft, is behind the A3-100.
A20 CAC Wirraway and A46 CAC Boomerang.
Three men standing by a CAC Wirraway (left) and a CAC Boomerang (right) at the CAC factories, Fishermans Bend, Victoria. The CAC Wirraway was a training and general purpose military aircraft and the word 'Wirraway' comes from an Aboriginal word meaning 'challenge'. The CAC Boomerang was the first combat aircraft designed and built in Australia.
CA-1 A20 CAC Wirraway formation.
Three CA-1 A20 CAC Wirraway aircraft (A20-21, A20-22, and possibly A20-23) flying in formation, part of No. 21 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, based at Laverton, Victoria. There is a pilot and gunner in each of the aircraft. CA-1 is the model number assigned to the first 40 Wirraway aircraft produced, and A20-x is the RAAF serial number.
CAC aircraft under construction.
Men working on aircraft in varying stages of construction of the Wirraway production line at a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory in Fishermans Bend, Victoria.
CAC aircraft under construction.
Aircraft in varying stages of construction of the Wirraway production line at a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory in Fishermans Bend, Victoria.
CAC Wirraway under construction.
Four men working on a CAC Wirraway at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory in Fishermans Bend, Victoria, with other employees watching.
CAC Wirraway under construction.
Employee working on a partially completed CAC Wirraway at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. The serial number on the tail is: R1-575, and the logo of the CAC is visible above the serial number.
CAC Wirraways under construction.
A row of CAC Wirraway aircraft under construction at the Commonwealth Aircraft Factory. Serial numbers visible on the tails include: E1-667, E2-668, E3-669, E4-670, E5-671.
A20 CAC Wirraway propeller.
Close-up view of the propeller of a CAC Wirraway. The propeller of a second Wirraway aircraft is visible in the background.
A20 CAC Wirraway formation.
Three A20 CAC Wirraway aircraft flying in formation. The closest aircraft may be A20-19. There are two men in each cockpit.
CA-8 A20 CAC Wirraway formation.
Four A20 CAC Wirraway aircraft flying in formation, A20-392, A20-261, A20-395, and A20-289. A20-261 was received from the CAC in April 1941 and was in service with No.1 and No.7 Service Flying Training Schools (SFTS). A20-289 was received from the CAC in June 1941 and was in service with No.5 Squadron before the aircraft stalled and crashed in June 1943, killing the two crew, and was converted to components in July 1943. A20-392 was received from the CAC in October 1941 and was in service with No.1 SFTS before the aircraft crashed during take-off in November 1941, killing the two crew. A20-395 was received by No.1 SFTS in October 1941 and was also in service with No.6 and No.7 SFTS, No.24 Squadron, and No.9 Communications Unit.
Left wing.
Close-up view of the wing flap detail of the CA-16 model dive-bomber version of the Wirraway showing the left hand dive-bomb flaps fully open. The purpose of these was to create lots of drag in a steep dive so that the pilot could aim the aircraft at a target on the ground without building up excessive speed in the near vertical dive.
Left wing.
Close-up view of the left hand side wing centre section flap of a CA-16 Wirraway dive bomber. The hydraulic flap actuation ram is visible in the centre, mounted in the internal section of the trailing edge.
Internal section of a CAC aircraft.
Close-up view of the flap detail of the CA-16 Wirraway dive bomber.
Section of a CAC aircraft.
Close-up view of the outer wing panel of a CA-16 Wirraway aircraft after load test, showing a sign that reads: 'Flap after loading to 3490 LBS'.
CA-6 A3-158 CAC Wackett trainer.
CA-6 A3-158, a CAC Wackett trainer, the first aircraft type designed in-house by the CAC, a two-seat basic trainer aircraft designed to meet RAAF specifications. A3-158 was manufactured by the CAC at Fishermans Bend, and delivered to the RAAF in March 1942. The aircraft was painted camouflage with yellow lower surfaces. In February 1944 A3-158 suffered major damage as a result of a foced landing due to engine failure, was recommended as a writeoff, and converted to components in March 1944.
CA-6 A3 Wackett trainers under construction.
CA-6 A3 Wacket trainers under construction at the CAC factory, and Wirraways on the right.
CA-6 A3-200 under construction.
A man working on the CA-6 A3-200, the final Wackett trainer aircraft in the CA-6 line produced by the CAC. A flag stuck to the top of the aircraft reads: 'The last one 200'. The A3-200 was manufactured at the CAC factories in Fishermans Bend, Victoria and delivered to the RAAF in April 1942. After a forced landing due to engine failure the A3-200 suffered major damage and was eventually converted to components in June 1945.
CAC Wackett under construction.
Three men attaching the fuselage to the wings of a CAC Wackett at the CAC factory, Fishermans Bend.
CAC Wackett under construction.
Close-up view of a CAC Wackett under construction at the CAC factory, Fishermans Bend, showing the internal components of the fuselage.
CA-6 A3-200 CAC Wackett trainer.
Three-quarter front view of the CA-6 A3-200, with its propeller in motion, the final CAC Wackett trainer in the CA-6 line produced by the CAC. A3-200 was manufactured at the CAC factories in Fishermans Bend, Victoria and delivered to the RAAF in April 1942. After a forced landing due to engine failure the A3-200 suffered major damage and was eventually converted to components in June 1945.
CA-6 A3-200 CAC Wackett trainer.
Left side view of the CA-6 A3-200, the final CAC Wackett trainer in the CA-6 line produced by the CAC. A3-200 was manufactured at the CAC factories in Fishermans Bend, Victoria and delivered to the RAAF in April 1942. After a forced landing due to engine failure the A3-200 suffered major damage and was eventually converted to components in June 1945.
CAC aircraft.
Three-quarter front view of an un-numbered CAC aircraft at the CAC factory, Fishermans Bend, Victoria. The aircraft seats two and has two propeller blades.
CAC aircraft.
Left side view of aa CA-6 Wackett Trainer fitted with a Gypsy Major engine instead of the usual Warner Scarab radial engine at the CAC factory, Fishermans Bend, Victoria. The aircraft was still underpowered so this trial did not proceed to production.
CA-4 A23-1001 Woomera.
Employees working on the CA-4 A23-1001 CAC Woomera, prototype of a three-seat strike-reconaissance and dive-bomber, under construction at the CAC factories in Fishermans Bend. The prototype CA-4 A23-1001 was manufactured in 1941 and the first flight was carried out in September with a favourable performance, prompting the War Cabinet to order 105 production models (CA-11). The A23-1001 was delivered to the RAAF in April 1942 and military trials were conducted. On 16 January 1943 the aircraft was destroyed after suffering an explosion and crashing during a test flight, killing two of the three crew.