COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
CA-6 Wackett A3-22
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The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Wackett Trainer was the first Australian designed aircraft to enter mass production, and was also the first aircraft wholly designed and developed by the CAC, and was to meet a pre WW2 RAAF specification for an elementary training aircraft that called for a single engine, dual tandem seat, low wing monoplane, fully aerobatic, with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage.
The Wackett was constructed with a fabric covered steel tube fuselage with plywood covered wooden wings, tailplane and rudder. The cockpit layout was very similar to the CA-1Wirraway, and although having a fixed undercarriage it had a dummy undercarriage actuation lever to allow trainee pilots to become familiar with the control in aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. It was eventually powered by an American 175hp Warner Scarab engine after the deHavilland Gipsy Major proved of insuffiicient power and the supply of deHavilland Gipsy Six engines could not be guaranteed in the numbers required.
The creation of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) saw the deHavilland DH82A Tiger Moth selected as the primary elementary training aircraft for the Australian section of the EATS scheme. This resulted in only 200 Wackett production aircraft being ordered with the first being delivered to the RAAF on February 6, 1941, and the last on April 22, 1942.
Wacketts served with the RAAF from 1941 to 1945 and used primarily as follow on trainers to the Tiger Moth and some as RAAF radio training machines. Post war, over 40 of the aircraft were sold to private individuals and were duly entered into the Civil Aircraft Register. From 1947 to 1950 a further 30 of the aircraft served with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force to become the first Australian designed and built aircraft to serve a foreign air force. Post 1950, the survivors were taken over by Indonesia.
The Museum’s Wackett, the 22nd production aircraft, and oldest of four complete Wackets in Australia, was sold to Mr J.T. Brown after the war, and following many changes of ownership under the registration of VH-ALV was acquired by the Museum by donation following a forced landing into the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works treatment farm southeast of Moorabbin Airport in 1968. It is presently being completely rebuilt to restore it to a display standard at Moorabbin.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1x 175HP 7 cylinder Warner R500 Super Scarab radial engine
Length : 26' 00'' (7092m) Wingspan : 37' 00'' (11.28m) Height : 9' 10'' (3.0m)
Weights : empty - 1,1910lbs (866kg) maximum - 2,590lbs (1,175kg)
Speeds : maximim - 100kt (115mph) 185km'hr)
Range : 425miles (684km)
The Wackett was constructed with a fabric covered steel tube fuselage with plywood covered wooden wings, tailplane and rudder. The cockpit layout was very similar to the CA-1Wirraway, and although having a fixed undercarriage it had a dummy undercarriage actuation lever to allow trainee pilots to become familiar with the control in aircraft with a retractable undercarriage. It was eventually powered by an American 175hp Warner Scarab engine after the deHavilland Gipsy Major proved of insuffiicient power and the supply of deHavilland Gipsy Six engines could not be guaranteed in the numbers required.
The creation of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) saw the deHavilland DH82A Tiger Moth selected as the primary elementary training aircraft for the Australian section of the EATS scheme. This resulted in only 200 Wackett production aircraft being ordered with the first being delivered to the RAAF on February 6, 1941, and the last on April 22, 1942.
Wacketts served with the RAAF from 1941 to 1945 and used primarily as follow on trainers to the Tiger Moth and some as RAAF radio training machines. Post war, over 40 of the aircraft were sold to private individuals and were duly entered into the Civil Aircraft Register. From 1947 to 1950 a further 30 of the aircraft served with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force to become the first Australian designed and built aircraft to serve a foreign air force. Post 1950, the survivors were taken over by Indonesia.
The Museum’s Wackett, the 22nd production aircraft, and oldest of four complete Wackets in Australia, was sold to Mr J.T. Brown after the war, and following many changes of ownership under the registration of VH-ALV was acquired by the Museum by donation following a forced landing into the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works treatment farm southeast of Moorabbin Airport in 1968. It is presently being completely rebuilt to restore it to a display standard at Moorabbin.
TECHNICAL DATA
Power plant : 1x 175HP 7 cylinder Warner R500 Super Scarab radial engine
Length : 26' 00'' (7092m) Wingspan : 37' 00'' (11.28m) Height : 9' 10'' (3.0m)
Weights : empty - 1,1910lbs (866kg) maximum - 2,590lbs (1,175kg)
Speeds : maximim - 100kt (115mph) 185km'hr)
Range : 425miles (684km)