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.
Anonymous, 06.08.2022 00:15
This aircraft falls under the category of planes we wish were never created. Designed as a trainer, it's flight characteristics were not very good. As a result a high percentage were lost or scrapped for parts do to crashes. The Wirraway was already in service when the prototypes for this aircraft came online. It would be my guess that they saw value in the Wirraway as a light-strike aircraft and intended to replace it as a trainer with the Wackett. They only built slightly over 200 of them, I guess the word got out that it was unpopular with both instructors and pilots.
Dennis, e-mail, 10.02.2015 03:40
Operational Advise on my base WW2. In the event of an airborne engine failure, don't try and save the aircraft just bail out.
IAN, e-mail, 25.06.2012 08:45
I SAW ONE OF THESE CRASH IN 1954 AT TAREE NSW ....IT DID A LOW LEVEL LOOP OR A STEEP TURN OVER A SPEED BOAT ON THE RIVER ,,FOLLOWED BY A STALL AT ABOUT 200 FT.....WHICH WAS VERY RAPID AND UNFORGIVING...2 FATALITIES.
gooda, 18.06.2011 12:12
This aircraft was underpowered in the air and nose heavy on the ground.
george, 10.03.2010 14:11
This aircraft was apparently designed as a preliminary trainer to the Wirraway. It even had a dummy undercarriage lever, although it had fixed gear. It was supposed to be a primary trainer for those who would progress to the more advanced Wirraway. But it was a very inadequate aircraft. As mentioned in my previous comment it lacked power, reliability, and care had to be taken when using the brakes taxiing to avoid nosing over. I never felt comfortable flying it. My log book shows the least number of hours of any aircraft I flew.
george, e-mail, 10.03.2010 13:39
This aircraft was underpowered in the air and nose heavy on the ground.
