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| CA-15 "Kangaroo" | |
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| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation |
| First flight | 4 March 1946 |
| Retired | 1950 |
| Status | Scrapped |
| Primary user | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Number built | 1 |
The CAC CA-15, also known unofficially as the CAC Kangaroo, was an Australian propeller-driven fighter plane designed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) during World War II.
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History
During 1943, following the success of CAC in rapidly designing and mass-producing the small, makeshift Boomerang fighter, development began on a full-fledged interceptor and escort fighter.
Although it bore a superficial resemblance to the North American Mustang (P-51), the CA-15 was an unrelated aircraft, with quite different dimensions and performance, which was intended to replace the P-51.1 Its development was slowed by a recommendation from CAC head Lawrence Wackett, that CAC build Mustangs under licence, rather than bear the cost of developing a unique aircraft.
The Kangaroo was originally intended to use a radial engine, the 2,300 hp (1,715 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 with a turbocharger. However, that engine became unavailable — causing further delays in development — and it was decided to fit an in-line Rolls-Royce Griffon Mk 61 (2035 hp/1517 kW). Engines for a prototype were leased from Rolls-Royce.1 It was intended that any production engines would have a three-speed supercharger.
The sole prototype did not fly until March 4, 1946.1 The CA-15's overall performance was clearly superior to existing single-engine, propellor-driven fighters. It was also faster than most first-generation jet fighters. The prototype was handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for tests, and the type received the RAAF designation A-62. According to aviation historian Darren Crick, it achieved a calibrated level flight speed of 448 mph (721 km/h) at 26,400 ft (8,046 m).1 On May 25, 1948, Flt Lt J. A. L. Archer reportedly achieved a speed of 502.2 mph (803 km/h) over Melbourne, in a shallow dive of 4,000 ft (1,200 m).
However, by this time, superior jet aircraft had emerged and the design never went into production. The prototype was scrapped in 1950, and the engines were returned to Rolls Royce.1
Operators
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 36 ft 6 in (11.05 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft (10.97 m)
- Height: 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m)
- Empty weight: 7,540 lb (3427 kg)
- Loaded weight: 12,340 lb (5,609 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Griffon supercharged V-12, 2,035 hp (1,517 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 448 mph (721 km/h)
- Range: 2,450 mi (3,920 km)
- Service ceiling 39,000 ft (12,870 m)
- Rate of climb: 4,900 ft/min (1,531 m/min)
Armament
- 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns (250 rounds each)
See also
Comparable aircraft
- F8F Bearcat
- Hawker Sea Fury
- Kawanishi N1K-J
- Kawasaki Ki-100
- Lavochkin La-7
- Martin-Baker MB5
- Nakajima Ki-84
- Supermarine Spiteful
Related lists
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. The Royal Australian Air Force & Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers Inc., 1970. ISBN 0-8168-0308-0.
- Wilson, Stewart. Wirraway, Boomerang & CA-15 in Australian Service. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., 1991. ISBN 0-958797-88-9.
External links
- Darren Crick, 2003, "RAAF A62 CAC CA-15" (adf-serials.com) Access date: September 16, 2007.
- RAAF Museum, "A62 CAC CA 15"
- Felix Noble, "CAC CA-15"
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 13 December 2008, at 15:10.
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