CAC Winjeel
Winjeel | |
---|---|
CA25-39 Winjeel A85-439 at the RAAF Museum | |
Role | Trainer aircraft |
National origin | Australia |
Manufacturer | Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation |
First flight | 23 February 1955 |
Introduction | 1955 |
Retired | 1995 |
Status | One retained by the Royal Australian Air Force as a heritage display aircraft. Some examples now privately owned or in museums. |
Primary user | Royal Australian Air Force |
Number built | 2 (CA-22) 62 (CA-25) |
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.
Design and development
The Winjeel (from a
Operational history
The first aircraft flew in February 1955, and deliveries began that September.
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.[2][4] By 1994 there were 4 in service with No. 76 Squadron based at RAAF Base Williamtown,[5] but later that year they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-9 and subsequently retired.[3]
Surviving examples
Source:[6]
Airworthy
- A85-429 - Classic Aero Adventure Flights, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport. Civil registered VH-OPJ.
- A85-435 - Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Shellharbour Airport. Civil registered VH-EAD.
- A85-439 - RAAF Museum, operated by No. 100 Squadron RAAF. Also civil registered VH-FTS.
- A85-443 - Benalla Aviation Museum, Benalla Airport. Civil registered VH-CZE.
- A85-453 - Warbird Adventures Aviation Museum, Mareeba Airfield. Civil registered VH-XXE.
- 24 airworthy examples are privately owned, 23 in Australia and one in New Zealand.
Static (on display unless otherwise noted)
- A85-364 - RAAF Museum, relocated to the RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre in 2020.
- A85-401 - RAAF Museum.
- A85-403 - RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre.
- A85-405 - gate guard at RAAF Base East Sale.
- A85-406 - RAAF Base Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, under restoration.
- A85-410 - Queensland Air Museum.
- A85-418 - Australian National Aviation Museum.
- A85-428 - Fighter World.
- A85-431 - RAAF Wagga Heritage Centre, former training aid, in storage.
- A85-432 - Oakey Army Aviation Centre.
- A85-441 - Australian War Memorial, in storage.
- A85-449 - RAAF Base Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre, under restoration.
- A85-456 - RAAF Museum, in storage.
- A85-618 - RAAF Museum, in storage.
- Five others are privately owned, three being restored to flying condition and two in storage.
Variants
- CA-22 Winjeel : Prototypes. Only two aircraft were built.[2]
- CA-25 Winjeel : Two-seat basic trainer aircraft for the RAAF. 62 aircraft were built.[2]
Operators
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Specifications
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56[7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: provision for third seat
- Length: 28 ft 0+1⁄2 in (8.547 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 7+1⁄2 in (11.773 m)
- Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
- Wing area: 249 sq ft (23.1 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 6.0:1
- Airfoil: NACA 23015 at root, NACA 23010 at tip
- Empty weight: 3,289 lb (1,492 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,265 lb (1,935 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 69 imp gal (83 US gal; 310 L) normal
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 Wasp Junior nine-cylinder radial engine, 445 hp (332 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 186 mph (299 km/h, 162 kn)
- Cruise speed: 165 mph (266 km/h, 143 kn) at 8,500 ft (2,600 m)
- Endurance: 3.5 hr at 158 mph (254 km/h; 137 kn) and 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 10 min to 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
- 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)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References
- Citations
- ^ "Historic flypast for Ballarat on Anzac Day". ABC Central Victoria. Archived from the original on 27 May 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wilson 1994, p. 77.
- ^ a b c d e "A85 Winjeel". RAAF Museum. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
- ^ a b c Dennis et al 2008, p. 604.
- ^ Air International, December 1994, p. 322.
- ^ Crick, Darren (10 August 2014). "RAAF A85 CAC CA-22/CA-25 Winjeel". ADF-Serials: Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Bridgman 1955, pp. 111–112.
- Bibliography
- Bridgman, Leonard (1955). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56. New York: The McGraw Hill Book Company. OCLC 852153403.
- Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0195517842.
- Wilson, Stewart (1994). Military Aircraft of Australia. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 1875671080.