Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Australia
Type: Trainer Aircraft, General Purpose Aircraft
Manufacturer: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
CAC Wirraway Aircraft Overview
The CAC Wirraway was a military training and general-purpose aircraft manufactured in Australia during World War II. It was produced by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and served as a primary trainer for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Derived from the North American NA-16 design, which later evolved into the famous Texan/Harvard aircraft, the Wirraway featured modifications to suit the specific requirements of the RAAF. It had a low-wing monoplane design with a fixed landing gear and was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engine.
Initially intended as a trainer aircraft, the Wirraway also saw significant service in combat roles. During World War II, it was employed for light attack, ground support, and reconnaissance missions. It was armed with machine guns and could carry small bombs, making it suitable for offensive operations against enemy targets.
The Wirraway played a crucial role in the defense of Australia during the early stages of the war, providing valuable training for RAAF pilots and contributing to various military operations.
CAC Wirraway Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 8.48 meters (27 feet 10 inches)
- Wingspan: 13.11 meters (43 feet 0 inches)
- Height: 2.661 meters (8 feet 8¾ inches), excluding the radio mast
- Wing Area: 23.760 square meters (255.75 square feet)
- Empty Weight: 1,811 kilograms (3,992 pounds)
- Gross Weight: 2,991 kilograms (6,595 pounds)
- Engine: Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 S1H1-G, a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine producing 600 hp (450 kW)
CAC Wirraway Performance
- Maximum Speed: 220 mph (350 km/h, 190 knots) at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet)
- Cruise Speed: 182 mph (293 km/h, 158 knots) at 1,500 meters (5,000 feet)
- Range: 720 miles (1,160 kilometers, 630 nautical miles) at 164 mph (264 km/h, 143 knots)
- Service Ceiling: 23,000 feet (7,000 meters)
- Rate of Climb: 1,950 feet per minute (9.9 meters per second)
CAC Wirraway Armament
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Guns:
- 2 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers Mk V machine guns, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc
- 1 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers GO machine gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit
- Later versions replaced the Vickers Mk V guns with provisions for 2 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning AN-M2 machine guns mounted under the outer wing panels
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Bombs:
- 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) and 2 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs (CA 16 variant only)
- Alternatively, 3 × 100 lb (45 kg) bombs
- 12 × bombs ranging from 8.5 lb (3.9 kg) to 115.5 lb (52.4 kg) and up to 8 marker flares
