CAC Mustang

Last updated

CA-17/CA-18/CA-21 Mustang
Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang 21 (P-51D) AN0802074.jpg
CA-18 Mustang Mk 21 in 2005
General information
Type Fighter
National originAustralia
Manufacturer Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Primary user Royal Australian Air Force
Number built200 [1]
History
Introduction date4 June 1945
First flight29 April 1945
Retired1959 (Citizen Air Force)
Developed from North American P-51 Mustang

The CAC Mustang is an Australian variant of the North American P-51 Mustang. It was built under license by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in the final stages of World War II, and though it was too late to see combat, it did participate in the Occupation of Japan after VJ-Day.

Contents

Design and development

Local assembly of the P-51D (CA-17; Mk 20)

In December 1942, the Australian War Cabinet began looking to acquire a fighter aircraft with greater range than the Supermarine Spitfire. As a result, arrangements were made in November 1943 for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to build 690 aircraft through kits supplied by North American Aviation (NAA). [2] Only the first 100 unassembled aircraft were delivered, and four reportedly had the "razorback" style canopy of the P-51B/C variant. 80 of the kits were assembled under the designation CA-17 Mustang Mk 20 with Packard V-1710-3 Merlin engines, the remainder being used for spare parts. [2] [3] [4] The end of the war led to most of the orders being cancelled.

Local manufacturing of the CA-18 Mustang (Mk 21–23)

In late 1946, CAC received a contract to build 170 (later reduced to 120) Mustangs locally from scratch. These aircraft carried the new designation CA-18.

Additional orders for the CA-18, as well as 250 two-seat variants, designated CA-21, were canceled in favor of further, US-built P-51D and P-51K variants. [5]

Operational history

The first production CA-17 Mustang Mk 20, serial number A68-01 (not to be confused with the US-built prototype A68-1001), made its first flight on 29 April 1945 from Fishermans Bend. [5] [6] The aircraft was handed over to the RAAF on 4 June 1945 and was tested by the No. 1 Aircraft Performance Unit. Trials ended in October 1946, and the aircraft was placed in storage until 1953. [5] Only 17 CA-17s were delivered to the RAAF by VJ-Day. [2]

The first operational units to receive the CAC Mustang were No. 84 and No. 86 Squadron. [2] Additional squadrons equipped with Mustangs (both American and locally-built) were No. 3, No. 4, No. 76, No. 77, and No. 82 Squadron as well as No. 21, No. 22, No. 23, No. 24, and No. 25 Squadron of the Citizen Air Force. The RAAF replaced its last Mustangs with de Havilland Vampires in 1959, while the last Mustang-equipped Citizen Air Force squadron, No. 24, retained its Mustangs until the CAF was disbanded in 1960. [2]

Variants

CA-17 Mustang Mk 20
Aircraft built from kits supplied by NAA with V-1710-3 engines. 80 built. [4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 21
Locally-built aircraft with V-1710-7 engines. 40 built. [4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 22
Reconnaissance variant with F24 cameras. 14 newly built aircraft and 14 converted from Mk 21s. [4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 23
Variant with British Merlin 66 or 70 engines. 66 built. [4]
CA-21 Mustang Mk 24
Two-seat variant of the CA-18. 250 ordered but not built. [5]
Dart Mustang
Civilian modification of a CA-18 Mustang with a Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engine. 1 modified from a Mustang Mk 22 but never flown in this configuration. [1]

Surviving aircraft

Australia
United Kingdom
United States

Replica

A full-scale replica of a CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is located at the Queensland Air Museum at the Caloundra Airport. Construction of the replica began in May 2005 and was placed on static display on 27 December 2008. It carries the fictitious serial number A68-201, continuing the original sequence which ended with A68-200. [24]

Accidents and incidents

Specifications (CA-18 Mustang Mk 21)

P-51D/CA-18 Mustang North American P-51D EG-0068-01.svg
P-51D/CA-18 Mustang

Data from [5]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American P-51 Mustang</span> American WWII-era fighter aircraft

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kindelberger of North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The commission approached NAA to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, NAA proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was completed on 9 September 1940, 102 days after contract signing, achieving its first flight on 26 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAC Boomerang</span> Australian fighter aircraft produced by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

The CAC Boomerang is a fighter aircraft designed and manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1942 and 1945. Approved for production shortly following the Empire of Japan's entry into the Second World War, the Boomerang was rapidly designed as to meet the urgent demands for fighter aircraft to equip the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It was the first combat aircraft designed and constructed in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warbird</span> Vintage military aircraft operated by non military forces

A warbird is any vintage military aircraft now operated by civilian organizations and individuals, or in some instances, by historic arms of military forces, such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Royal Australian Air Force's No. 100 Squadron, or the South African Air Force Museum Historic Flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warbirds over Wanaka</span> Air show in New Zealand

Warbirds over Wanaka is a biennial air show in Wānaka, held on the Easter weekend of even-numbered years since 1988. It is held at Wānaka Airport, 10 km south-east of Wānaka, in the southern South Island of New Zealand. Initially conceived by New Zealand live deer recovery pioneer, Sir Tim Wallis, as a show for him to display his collection of World War II aircraft, the event has grown into a major institution. Roads are closed and traffic is detoured around the area during the weekend. Hotels, motels and backpackers around Wānaka are usually booked well in advance. Accommodation is impossible to find if one does not have a booking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAC Wirraway</span> 1937 Australian trainer aircraft

The CAC Wirraway is a training and general purpose military aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) between 1939 and 1946. It was an Australian development of the North American NA-16 training aircraft. The Wirraway has been credited as being the foundation of Australian aircraft manufacturing.

de Havilland Moth Minor

The de Havilland DH.94 Moth Minor was a 1930s British two-seat tourer/trainer aircraft built by de Havilland at Hatfield Aerodrome, England. With the start of the second world war production of the Moth Minor was moved to de Havilland Australia at Bankstown Aerodrome, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American P-51 Mustang variants</span>

Over twenty variants of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter were produced from 1940, when it first flew, to after World War II, some of which were employed also in the Korean War and in several other conflicts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caboolture Airfield</span> Airport in Queensland, Australia

Caboolture Airfield is an aerodrome catering to general aviation and ultralight aircraft located in Caboolture, Queensland, Australia, approximately 55 km (34 mi) north of the state capital Brisbane, adjacent to the Bruce Highway. The airfield is maintained and operated by the Caboolture Aero Club Incorporated and shares a large training area with nearby Caloundra Airport and Redcliffe Airport. The airfield is a popular site for the restoration of historic aircraft and a number of associated businesses are located onsite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Air Museum</span> Aerospace museum in Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The Queensland Air Museum is a not-for-profit all-volunteer aviation museum located near the Caloundra Airport in Queensland, Australia. Its mission is to collect and preserve all aspects of aviation heritage with an emphasis on Australia and Queensland. The museum has the largest and most diverse collection of historic aircraft in Australia and it also has a large collection of aircraft engines, equipment, artefacts, photographs, uniforms and books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champaign Aviation Museum</span> Aviation museum in Ohio, United States

The Champaign Aviation Museum is an aviation museum in Urbana, Ohio. It is situated on the north end of Grimes Field municipal airport, roughly a mile from central Urbana. The museum is known primarily for its ongoing restoration of a B-17 Flying Fortress to flying condition. It is also a component of the National Aviation Heritage Area, a federally designated heritage area primarily centered around sites pertaining to the Wright brothers.

This is a partial list of accidents and incidents involving the North American P-51 Mustang and its variants. Combat losses are not included except for a very few cases denoted by singular circumstances. Accidents involving Mustang replicas are not included unless they are faithful to the original design and/or built using original parts.

<i>Precious Metal</i> (aircraft) Custom racing aircraft

Precious Metal is a custom-built racing aircraft based on the North American P-51 Mustang.

<i>Miss Ashley II</i> Custom racing aircraft

Miss Ashley II was a custom-built racing aircraft based on the North American P-51 Mustang.

Lewis Air Legends is an organization located in San Antonio, Texas focused on historic aviation.

References

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Bibliography