COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION CA-27 Avon Sabre
Click on image for larger version The Australian Government announced that the American F86 aircraft would equip the RAAF following the retirement of the Gloster Meteor from service, and be built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation(CAC), and designated as CA-27. The decision to use the CAC license built Rolls Royce Avon engine, and replacement of the six 50 calibre machine guns with two 30mm Aden canon, required a major fuselage redesign that included a 25% increase in the size of the engine air intake.
The prototype, CA-26 first flew in August 1953, and the first of 112 CA-27 production machines with the RAAF serial A94 now named Sabre, was delivered in 1954, and the last in 1960.
The Sabres served with four RAAF Squadrons mainly deployed on anti- insurgency
and regional defence duties in Malaysia and Thailand from the mid 1950s into the late 1960s, when retirement of the the type from service commenced as the GAF Mirage began entering service. The last of them, operated by No 2 Operational Training Unit(OTU), were retired in 1971.
The Museum's Sabre A94-910 was delivered to the RAAF at Laverton Victoria on March 3, 1955 and assigned to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) for gun installation trials. Transferred to No 81 Wing in March 1963, and on to No 2 OTU in December 1966. Transferred to Pt Cook in 1974 where it was held in storage at the RAAF Museum until transferred to RAAF Wagga to act as a gate guardian in October 2014. It was subsequently gifted to the Museum by RAAF Heritage in 2119.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power Plant : 1x7,500 lbs thrust Rolls Royce Avon RA 26 turbojet engine.
Length : 37'6'' (11.43m) Wingspan : 37'01'' (11.30m) Height : 14'04'' (4.30m)
Weights : empty - 12,000lbs (5,443kg) maximum - 21,210lbs (9,621kg)
Speeds : maximum - 610kt (700mph) (1,100km/hr)
Range : 1,153 miles (1,856km)
The prototype, CA-26 first flew in August 1953, and the first of 112 CA-27 production machines with the RAAF serial A94 now named Sabre, was delivered in 1954, and the last in 1960.
The Sabres served with four RAAF Squadrons mainly deployed on anti- insurgency
and regional defence duties in Malaysia and Thailand from the mid 1950s into the late 1960s, when retirement of the the type from service commenced as the GAF Mirage began entering service. The last of them, operated by No 2 Operational Training Unit(OTU), were retired in 1971.
The Museum's Sabre A94-910 was delivered to the RAAF at Laverton Victoria on March 3, 1955 and assigned to the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) for gun installation trials. Transferred to No 81 Wing in March 1963, and on to No 2 OTU in December 1966. Transferred to Pt Cook in 1974 where it was held in storage at the RAAF Museum until transferred to RAAF Wagga to act as a gate guardian in October 2014. It was subsequently gifted to the Museum by RAAF Heritage in 2119.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power Plant : 1x7,500 lbs thrust Rolls Royce Avon RA 26 turbojet engine.
Length : 37'6'' (11.43m) Wingspan : 37'01'' (11.30m) Height : 14'04'' (4.30m)
Weights : empty - 12,000lbs (5,443kg) maximum - 21,210lbs (9,621kg)
Speeds : maximum - 610kt (700mph) (1,100km/hr)
Range : 1,153 miles (1,856km)