COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION PTY. LTD.

AUSTRALIA

Established Port Melbourne, 1936, as basis of an independent Australian industry. Took overTugan Aircraft (q.v.) that year and chief designer Wg. Cdr. L. J. Wackett. First product was North American NA-33, built under license as CA-1 to CA-16 Wirraway for RAAF, starting in July 1939. Followed by Wackett-designed prototype CA-2 Wackett two-seat trainer, production version designated CA-6. Company also produced the only Australian-designed fighter to serve in Second World War, the CA-12,13,14, 19 Boomerang.

Postwar products included the prototype CA-22 and production CA-25 Winjeel trainerforthe RAAF,
Commonwealth CA-12, CA-13, CA-14, CA-19 ''Boomerang''
"Boomerang"
the CA-28 Ceres agricultural aircraft, and over 200 North American Mustangs built as CA-17 and 18. First jet aircraft were North American F-86F Sabres, license-built and modified to use the Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet, thought by many to be the best Sabre variant. Recently CAC has participated with Government Aircraft Factories (q.v.) in license-production of Dassault Mirage Ill-O (CA-29) and Ill-D, as well as Aermacchi M.B. 326H jet trainers. Became a public company in 1975 and contracted to build 56 Bell 206B JetRanger II helicopters for Australian Army, all delivered by early January 1978. Other contracts included workfor Boeing, Sikorsky, Pratt & Whitney and Hawker Siddeley (q.v.). Finally specialized in the manufacture and repair of gas turbine engines. Became part of Hawker de Havilland 1985.


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CA-1 Wirraway
"Boomerang"