Harman Patil (Editor)

CAC Winjeel

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Wingspan
  
12 m

Length
  
8.85 m

Retired
  
1994

Top speed
  
291 km/h

Introduced
  
1955

CAC Winjeel CAC Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA25 Winjeel

Manufacturer
  
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

The CAC CA-25 Winjeel is an Australian-designed and manufactured three-seat training aircraft. Entering service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1955 as a basic to advanced trainer, it served in this role until 1975. Later, it was used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role for target marking until 1994, after which it was retired from RAAF service.

Contents

CAC Winjeel CAC Winjeel Fighterworld

Design and development

CAC Winjeel Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Cold War Flyers Part I Aces

The Winjeel (Aboriginal for "young eagle") was developed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria to satisy RAAF technical requirement No.AC.77 issued in 1948. Designed to replace both the Tiger Moth and the CAC Wirraway, the first two prototype CA-22 aircraft were flown in February 1951. However, it proved a very stable aircraft making it almost impossible to spin, and with this being a required part of pilot training the tail had to be redesigned as a result. Sixty two production CA-25 aircraft were subsequently built and given the fleet serials A85-401 to A85-462.

Service

CAC Winjeel CAC CA25 Winjeel VHNTJ Walkaround Photos

The first aircraft flew in February 1955, and deliveries began that September. The first Winjeel entered service with No. 1 Basic Flying Training School (1 BFTS) at Uranquinty, near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The last aircraft was delivered in August 1957. For most of its service life, the Winjeel was used as a basic trainer at RAAF Base Point Cook in Victoria, after 1 BFTS was transferred there in 1958. The Winjeel remained in service with the RAAF as a basic trainer until 1968, when the Macchi MB-326 replaced it in this role as part of the RAAF's adoption of an "all through" jet training concept. The failure of this concept ultimately ensured that the Winjeel was retained in the training role until 1975, when it was replaced by the New Zealand-built PAC CT/4A Airtrainer.

CAC Winjeel CAC Winjeel australian national aviation museum

After this, a few Winjeels were used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role. Initially operated by No. 4 Flight, they were equipped with smoke bombs for target marking. By 1994 there were 14 in service with No. 76 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown, but later that year they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-9 and subsequently retired. Examples of the aircraft remain in flying condition in private ownership as well as museum displays around Australia.

Variants

CAC Winjeel httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

  • CA-22 Winjeel : Prototypes. Only two aircraft were built.
  • CA-25 Winjeel : Two-seat basic trainer aircraft for the RAAF. 62 aircraft were built.
  • Operators

     Australia
  • Royal Australian Air Force
  • Specifications

    Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56

    General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: two seats side by side under rearward-sliding canopy with provision for a third seat in rear of cabin
  • Length: 29 ft 012 in (8.55 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 712 in (11.77 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
  • Wing area: 249 sq ft (23.1 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 23015 at root, NACA 23010 at tip
  • Aspect ratio: 6.0:1
  • Empty weight: 3,289 lb (1,495 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 4,265 lb (1,939 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 Wasp Junior nine cylinder radial engine, 445 hp (332 kW)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 186 mph (162 knots, 291 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 165 mph (143 knots, 265 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 53 mph (46 knots, 85 km/hr) (flaps down)
  • Endurance: 3.5 hours at 158 mph (137 kn; 254 km/h)
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,490 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
  • Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 1,110 ft (340 m) (standard temperature)
  • Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 1,000 ft (305 m)
  • References

    CAC Winjeel Wikipedia