| Cac Ca-15 |
Article Index for Cac |
Information AboutCac Ca-15 |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CAC CA-15 | |
| australian fighter aircraft 1940-1949 | |
|
The CAC CA-15, also known unofficially as the '''CAC Kangaroo''', was an Australia n Propellor -driven Fighter Plane designed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) during World War II . During 1943 , following the success of CAC in rapidly designing and mass-producing the small, makeshift Boomerang Fighter , development began on a full-fledged Interceptor and Escort Fighter . Although it bore a superficial resemblance to the North American Mustang (P-51) , the Kangaroo was an unrelated aircraft with quite different dimensions and performance. In fact, its development was slowed by a recommendation from CAC head Lawrence Wackett that CAC build Mustangs under licence, rather than bear the cost of developing a unique aircraft. The Kangaroo was originally intended to use a Radial Engine , the 2,300 hp (1,715kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 with a Turbocharger . However, that engine became unavailable — casuing further delays in development — and it was decided to fit an in-line Rolls-Royce Griffon Mk 61 (2035hp/1517kW). It was intended that production engines would have a three-speed Supercharger . The sole prototype did not fly until March 6 , 1946 . The Kangaroo's overall performance was clearly superior to existing propellor-engined fighters. It was also faster than most First Generation Jet Fighters . The prototype was handed over to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for tests and the design received the RAAF designation A-62. On May 25, 1948, Flt Lt J. Archer achieved a speed of 502.2 mph during a flight over Melbourne . However, by this time, superior jet aircraft had emerged and the design never went into production. The prototype was scrapped in 1950. EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|