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Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

From Alfawiki
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryAerospace, Defence
PredecessorTugan Aircraft
Founded1936
FounderEssington Lewis (advocated founding)
FateBecame wholly owned subsidiary of Hawker de Havilland in 1985; renamed Hawker de Havilland Victoria Limited in 1986; acquired by Boeing Australia in 2000
SuccessorHawker de Havilland Victoria Limited
Headquarters
Port Melbourne
,
Australia
Area served
Australia
Key people
Lawrence Wackett (General Manager)
ProductsMilitary aircraft and aero-engines, bus bodies (under Comair), aircraft components
OwnerHawker de Havilland (from 1985)
ParentHawker de Havilland (from 1985)

The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was founded in Australia in 1936 with the purpose of establishing a domestic capability for manufacturing military aircraft and their engines.

History

In 1935, Essington Lewis, Chief General Manager of BHP, foresaw the possibility of war and grew concerned about Australia's limited industrial base and dependence on British suppliers. He advocated to the Australian Government for the creation of a modern aircraft manufacturing sector. With government backing, discussions among several Australian firms culminated in CAC's establishment in October 1936. The original shareholders comprised BHP, General Motors-Holden, Broken Hill Associated Smelter, Imperial Chemical Industries, Orient Steam Navigation Company, and Electrolytic Zinc Company. By September 1937, production facilities were operational in Port Melbourne.

Soon after its inception, CAC acquired Tugan Aircraft, based in Mascot, bringing Lawrence Wackett into the company as General Manager. Wackett played a key role in designing CAC’s inaugural aircraft, the Wirraway, which was adapted from the North American NA-16 to meet Australian specifications. CAC also manufactured the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engines and propellers for the Wirraway, distinguishing itself as one of the few manufacturers producing both aircraft and their powerplants internally.

Although CAC primarily built Australian versions of overseas designs, it also created original aircraft such as the Wackett trainer and developed more advanced prototypes including the Woomera bomber and CA-15 fighter during World War II. Following the war, jet aircraft projects remained mostly conceptual until 1951 when CAC received approval to produce a modified F-86 Sabre featuring an upgraded engine and weaponry. This production ran concurrently with the indigenous Winjeel trainer until Sabre manufacturing ceased in 1961.

Beginning in 1964, after extensive political efforts, CAC undertook subcontracted production of parts for the Dassault Mirage III under Government Aircraft Factories (GAF). From 1967 to 1972, CAC manufactured an Australian-adapted version of the Aermacchi MB-326 trainer under license. In 1971, CAC expanded into rotary-wing aircraft by producing a variant of the Bell Kiowa helicopter for both the Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy; deliveries continued through 1977. That same year marked the initiation of a Life Of Type Extension (LOTEX) program aimed at resolving fatigue problems in the Macchi trainer series, which concluded in 1984.

In 1985, CAC became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawker de Havilland and was renamed Hawker de Havilland Victoria Limited in 1986. This entity was later acquired by Boeing Australia in 2000.

CAC’s portfolio included a broad range of aircraft serving both the Royal Australian Air Force and civilian customers, such as:

The Kiowa represented CAC’s last production model. The company also contributed to the design of the A10 Wamira through participation in the Australian Aircraft Consortium; however, this project was terminated in 1985 after prototype completion. At the time of its acquisition by Hawker de Havilland, CAC was involved in supplying components for GAF’s F/A-18 Hornet manufacturing program.

Aircraft design and manufacturing

The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was responsible for producing in excess of 1,700 aircraft, encompassing prototypes and models assembled domestically from imported components. Of these, close to 550 were entirely designed by CAC. The designations assigned corresponded to production or design initiatives tied to government contracts, rather than representing unique aircraft types. Initial models featured sequential construction numbers (c/nos.), whereas later series—beginning with the Winjeel production—adopted c/nos. prefixed by model identifiers. Notably, construction numbers 1210 through 1224 were left unused. Important company designations include:

  • CA-1 Initial Wirraway production run; 40 units constructed (c/nos. 1–40)
  • CA-2 Wackett prototype units; two produced (c/nos. 101, 102)
  • CA-3 Second Wirraway contract; 60 units manufactured (c/nos. 41–100)
  • CA-4 Woomera prototype; single unit produced (c/no. 435)
  • CA-5 Third Wirraway contract; 32 units built (c/nos. 103–134)
  • CA-6 Wackett production batch; 200 units completed (c/nos. 235–434)
  • CA-7 Fourth Wirraway contract; 100 units constructed (c/nos. 135–234)
  • CA-8 Fifth Wirraway contract; 200 units produced (c/nos. 436–635)
  • CA-9 Sixth Wirraway contract; 188 units manufactured (c/nos. 636–823)
  • CA-10 Proposed Wirraway variant; never constructed
  • CA-11 Woomera production contract for 105 aircraft; cancelled after one unit was flown
  • CA-12 First Boomerang production series; 105 units completed (c/nos. 824–928)
  • CA-13 Second Boomerang production series; 95 units built (c/nos. 929–1023)
  • CA-14 Experimental turbocharged Boomerang; single unit produced
  • CA-15 Single-seat fighter aircraft; one unit manufactured
  • CA-16 Seventh and final Wirraway contract; 135 units produced (c/nos. 1075–1209)
  • CA-17 Initial Mustang contract; assembly of 80 aircraft from imported parts
  • CA-18 Second Mustang contract; 120 units built, with an additional order of 50 cancelled
  • CA-19 Third and last Boomerang contract; 49 units completed
  • CA-20 Modified Wirraways for Royal Australian Navy service; 17 aircraft altered
  • CA-21 Third Mustang contract for 100 aircraft; cancelled before production commenced
  • CA-22 Winjeel prototype units; two constructed
  • CA-23 Design for a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet fighter; no aircraft built but significant design work finalized
  • CA-24 Contract for a variant of the Hawker P.1081; no production undertaken
  • CA-25 Winjeel production contract; total of 62 units built
  • CA-26 Sabre prototype unit; one manufactured
  • CA-27 Sabre production contract; 111 units completed
  • CA-28 Ceres agricultural aircraft produced as a private venture; total of 21 constructed
  • CA-29 Sub-contract involving wings, fins, rudders, tailcones, and engines for GAF-built Mirage IIIE aircraft; delivered 101 airframe shipsets and 140 engines
  • CA-30 Macchi production agreement; assembled and built a combined total of 97 aircraft from imported components and local manufacturing processes
  • CA-31 Jet trainer design project; no aircraft constructed (production handled by Macchi instead)
  • CA-32 Kiowa production contract; assembled and manufactured a total of 56 aircraft utilizing Bell construction numbers
  • CA-33 Modifications to RAAF Lockheed P-3C Orions incorporating the Barra Sonobuoy system developed by Defence Science & Technology Group; upgraded a fleet of 20 aircraft
  • CA-34 CAC’s involvement in the A10 Wamira project
  • CA-35 Adaptation of the Fokker F27 Friendship to integrate DSTO-developed LADS system
  • CA-36 Sub-contract providing wing pylons, engine panels, nozzles, accessory gearboxes, and engines for GAF-built F/A-18 Hornets; delivered 73 airframe shipsets along with over 175 engines and associated components

This comprehensive array underscores CAC’s strategic emphasis on fulfilling government contracts and advancing local assembly efforts to bolster Australia's defense aviation infrastructure.

Aero-engine Manufacturing

CAC was responsible for producing a range of aero-engines, such as:

Bus Body Construction

To broaden its income sources and retain expertise in sheet metal work, CAC manufactured bus bodies under the Comair name, predominantly on Bedford chassis. During the 1950s, with General Motors Holden as a principal shareholder, Comair produced more than 3,600 bus bodies from 1946 to 1973, focusing mainly on Bedford OB, SB, and VAM 70 chassis serving Victorian operators. Following GM Holden's withdrawal of its shareholding, CAC acquired a license to build VöV-Standard-Bus bodies on MAN chassis, completing 135 units of the MAN SL200 model for ACTION. A brief return to Bedford chassis production occurred in 1977 but with limited quantities.

External links

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