Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway

1939

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Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway

In 1939 the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, set up three years earlier by the Australian government to create a national aircraft industry, produced the CA-1 Wirraway advanced armament trainer, a licence-built version of the North American NA-33. The first of two CA-1 prototypes flew in March 1939, and these were followed by 755 production aircraft, the first of which entered service in June 1939. Good performance and excellent manoeuvrability saw the type pressed into operational service in New Guinea in 1942.

Specification 
 CREW2
 ENGINE1 x 600hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1-G Wasp 9-cylinder radial engine
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight2991 kg6594 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan13.11 m43 ft 0 in
  Length8.48 m28 ft 10 in
  Height2.66 m9 ft 9 in
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed354 km/h220 mph
  Ceiling7010 m23000 ft
  Range1159 km720 miles
 ARMAMENT3 x 7.7mm machine guns, 450kg of bombs

Comments
loupan, 18.06.2011 12:24

Ave Lidcombe for the production of Pratt and Whitney radial aircraft engines. Should you require information re this aircraft engine he may be able to assist.

reply

PATRICIA WITHERS, e-mail, 04.05.2011 04:17

My father Harold Fleming Doust also my Brother Noel F Doust worked at Commonwealth aircraft corp from 1941 to 1953 till his death. is there any historical information on the workers and that time of his work.
Many thanks, Pat Withers.

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Christopher O'Donnell, e-mail, 08.12.2010 05:52

Love how Mr.Pitts calmly says that we can ask his 90 year old Dad about the Pratt & Whitney..90 years old...I salute you, his Dad !

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airboss, e-mail, 07.10.2010 19:10

Is this the same aircraft as the CA-16 ? There was one (A20-688)at the museum in Perth.

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Robert Pitts, e-mail, 06.10.2008 02:06

My 90 year old father set up the plant for commonwealth aircraft Sydney division in Birnie Ave Lidcombe for the production of Pratt and Whitney radial aircraft engines. Should you require information re this aircraft engine he may be able to assist.

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Darryl Gibbs, e-mail, 01.04.2008 04:03

There is often confusion as to who set up CAC due to the use of "Commonweath" in the name, but Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was a company which was set up by BHP and several other large Australian companies.
The one that was set up by the government was the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP).

reply

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