CAC Winjeel

Winjeel (CA-22, CA-25)
CA25-39 Winjeel, A85-439, RAAF Museum, Point Cook
Role	Trainer aircraft
National origin	Australia
Manufacturer	Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
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

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

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

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

 Australia

• Royal Australian Air Force

Specifications

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 4.5 in (8.92 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
• Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.52 m)
• Wing area: 249 sq ft (23.22 m²)
• Empty weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
• Loaded weight: 4,340 lb (1,969 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-2 Wasp Junior nine cylinder radial engine, 450 hp (336 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 181 mph (291 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 157-164 mph (253-264 km/h)
• Range: 550 miles (886 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,800 ft (4,572 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m.s^-1)
• Wing loading: 17.43 lb/sq ft (85.1 kg.m^-2)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Percival Provost
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the RAAF
  

References

1. ^ "Historic flypast for Ballarat on Anzac Day". ABC Central Victoria. 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.

External links

• http://www.warbirdalley.com/winjeel.htm
• http://www.dropbears.com/f/felix_noble/winjeel.htm
• http://www.raafmuseum.com.au/raaf2/html/body_winjeel.htm