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Winjeel
CAC 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 1994
Status 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 (aboriginal for young eagle[1]) entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 1955 as an ab-initio to advanced training aircraft.

Design and development[]

The Winjeel was developed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria to satisy RAAF technical requirement No.AC.77. Sixty two aircraft were built and given the fleet serials A85-401 to A85-462.

Service[]

The first Winjeel entered service with No.1 Basic Flight Training School (BFTS) at Uranquinty, near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. For most of the service life of the Winjeel it was used as a basic-training aircraft at RAAF Base Point Cook in Victoria. The Winjeel remained in service with the RAAF as a basic-training aircraft until replaced by the New Zealand-built PAC CT/4A in 1977.

A small number of Winjeels were used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role from 1977 until 1994. By then there were fourteen examples in service with No. 76 Squadron,[2] and that year they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-9.[3] Examples of the aircraft remain in flying condition in private ownership as well as museum displays around Australia.

Variants[]

CAC CA25-32 Winjeel, A85-432, Oakey, Qld, 6th May07

CA25-32 Winjeel, A85-432, Army Aviation Museum, Oakey, 2007

CA25-58 Winjeel A85-458 - 1980

CA25-58 Winjeel A85-458 in Forward Air Control role, 1980

CAC Winjeel CA25-03 A85-403 - RAAF Base Wagga (01)

CAC Winjeel CA25-03 A85-403 - RAAF Base Wagga, June 2008

  • CA-22 Winjeel : Prototypes. Only two aircraft were built.
  • CA-25 Winjeel : Two-seat basic trainer aircraft for the RAAF. 62 aircraft were built.

Operators[]

Flag of Australia Australia

Specifications[]

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: Two seats side by side under rearwards sliding canopy with provision for a third seat in rear of cabin
  • Length: 29 ft 012 in (8.55 m)
  • Wingspan: 38 ft 712 in (11.77 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m)
  • Wing area: 249 sq ft (23.1 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 23015 at root, NACA 23010 at tip
  • Aspect ratio: 6.0:1
  • Empty weight: 3,289 lb (1,495 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 4,265 lb (1,939 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 Wasp Junior nine cylinder radial engine, 445 hp (332 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 186 mph (162 knots, 291 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 165 mph (143 knots, 265 km/h)
  • Stall speed: 53 mph (46 knots, 85 km/hr) (flaps down)
  • Endurance: 3.5 hours at 158 mph (137 kn; 254 km/h)
  • Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,490 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
  • 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[]

References[]

Citations
  1. "Historic flypast for Ballarat on Anzac Day". ABC Central Victoria. Archived from the original on 2003-08-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20030804002853/http://www.abc.net.au/centralvic/stories/s835628.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-12. [dead link]
  2. Air International, December 1994, page 322.
  3. "A85 Winjeel". RAAF Museum. http://www.defence.gov.au/RAAF/raafmuseum/research/aircraft/series2/A85.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-11.  Air International, December 1994, page 322.
  4. Bridgman 1955, p. 111–112.
Bibliography
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1955). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1955–56. New York: The McGraw Hill Book Company. 

External links[]

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