17/12/2024
Last week we had the opportunity again to work with the Team from RAAF History and Heritage with the relocation of CA-22
A85-364 (Prototype 1) from RAAF Wagga in NSW to RAAF Amberley, Qld. Where the old girl will be given a full birthday refurbishment.
First CA-22
MSN CA22-001
Delivered 08/51.
First Flight 02/02/51.
Following initial flight trials the tailfin was enlarged and moved forward 38 inches and the engine moved forward 7 inches this becoming standard for the CA-25
The Winjeel (from a Victorian indigenous word for "young eagle" an alternate spelling of Bunjil) was developed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria to satisfy RAAF technical requirement No.AC.77 issued in 1948.
Designed to replace both the Tiger Moth and the CAC Wirraway, the first two prototype CA-22 aircraft were flown in February 1951 However, it proved a very stable aircraft making it almost impossible to spin, and with this being a required part of pilot training the tail had to be redesigned as a result. Sixty-two production CA-25 aircraft were subsequently built and given the fleet serials A85-401 to A85-462
General characteristics:
Crew: 2
Capacity: provision for third seat
Length: 28 ft 0+1β2 in (8.547 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 7+1β2 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 Γ 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)
-364
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