COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
CAC CA-28 Ceres

The post war surge in top dressing and crop spraying by air initially utilised modified aircraft such as the Tiger Moth and Austers and later Cessna 180s however they did not have sufficient capabilities to carry large loads and the CAC recognised the need for a purpose built aircraft.
The use of two surplus Wirraway aircraft in the crop-dusting role by Super Spread Aviation of Moorabbin was the precursor to the design and development of an agricultural aircraft by the CAC based on the Wirraway aircraft, and named Ceres after the Goddess of the Harvest.
Although similar in appearance and using many components and parts of the Wirraway, the resulting Ceres aircraft was in fact a new type that featured many significant changes including a redesigned fuselage with a single cockpit, a new centre section incorporating a stainless steel hopper of 1,000kg capacity, and fixed undercarriage. The wings were modified to incorporate extended ailerons, leading edge slats and slotted flaps that made the Ceres more tractable and easier to operate for long periods at low level than the standard Wirraway.
The first of 21 Ceres produced by the CAC, including six that were exported to New Zealand, flew in 1958. Economics saw the Ceres eventually retired to be replaced by purpose built American agricultural aircraft such as the Piper Pawnee that offered useful loads and lower operating costs.
The Museum's aircraft branded VH-WOT is a composite rebuild of the original VH-WOT, VH-WHY and VH-WAX all operated by Airland Improvements of Cootamundra New South Wales. The three machines were recovered from Cootamundra in various states of disrepair and brought to Moorabbin in August 1975 where an eight year rebuild program of what became VH-WOT took place.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1x 600hp Pratt and Whitney R1340 9 cylinder radial engine
Length : 30' 09" (9.36M) Wingspan : 46' 11" (14.3m) Height : 9' 00'' (2.74m)
Weights : empty - 4,400lbs (1,996kg) maximum - 7,350lbs (3,334kg)
Speeds : cruise - 105kt (110mph) (178km/hr) operating - 69kt (74mph) (138km/hr)
Range : 520miles (830km)
The use of two surplus Wirraway aircraft in the crop-dusting role by Super Spread Aviation of Moorabbin was the precursor to the design and development of an agricultural aircraft by the CAC based on the Wirraway aircraft, and named Ceres after the Goddess of the Harvest.
Although similar in appearance and using many components and parts of the Wirraway, the resulting Ceres aircraft was in fact a new type that featured many significant changes including a redesigned fuselage with a single cockpit, a new centre section incorporating a stainless steel hopper of 1,000kg capacity, and fixed undercarriage. The wings were modified to incorporate extended ailerons, leading edge slats and slotted flaps that made the Ceres more tractable and easier to operate for long periods at low level than the standard Wirraway.
The first of 21 Ceres produced by the CAC, including six that were exported to New Zealand, flew in 1958. Economics saw the Ceres eventually retired to be replaced by purpose built American agricultural aircraft such as the Piper Pawnee that offered useful loads and lower operating costs.
The Museum's aircraft branded VH-WOT is a composite rebuild of the original VH-WOT, VH-WHY and VH-WAX all operated by Airland Improvements of Cootamundra New South Wales. The three machines were recovered from Cootamundra in various states of disrepair and brought to Moorabbin in August 1975 where an eight year rebuild program of what became VH-WOT took place.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1x 600hp Pratt and Whitney R1340 9 cylinder radial engine
Length : 30' 09" (9.36M) Wingspan : 46' 11" (14.3m) Height : 9' 00'' (2.74m)
Weights : empty - 4,400lbs (1,996kg) maximum - 7,350lbs (3,334kg)
Speeds : cruise - 105kt (110mph) (178km/hr) operating - 69kt (74mph) (138km/hr)
Range : 520miles (830km)