Author Topic: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration (Read 11098 times)

GTX_Admin · « **on:** April 21, 2012, 09:53:50 AM »

Hi folks,

A thread for your dedicated Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration.

To start with, I give you a good candidate for a scratch build.

The XP-65 was to be powered by a RA24R Avon series engine. Span was 7.3m, length was 14.3m.

And the related XP-68 - this was also to be built of stainless steel. It was to be powered by a RR Avon RA19R. It also had provision for a search radar. Armament was 2 30mm cannon + 1 missile on each wingtip + another semi-recessed under the fuselage. It was to be Mach 2 capable and was largely seen as a competitor to the F-104

Regards,

Greg

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2012, 09:54:53 AM »

Other interceptor proposals from CAC included:

The XP-46 - this was to be powered by an afterburning Avon RA-7R and was hoped to achieve 750 kts at 45000 ft. it was to be armed with two 30mmm cannon:

This was followed by a Rocket (probably using similar motors to the Bell X-1) powered interceptor, the XP-47. It was to be armed with six 3inch Oerlikon or Mighty Mouse type rockets:

Finally, there was the XP-62. This was to be a four-engined light(?) interceptor poweed by for RR RB93 Soar jets with a thrust to weight ratio of 6.77:1. Given the life of this engine at Mach 1+, it was expected that an engine change would be required after every 4 to 5 missions! It was also planned to be armed with rockets:

Regards,

Greg

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2012, 09:59:33 AM »

And who could forget the CAC CA.23 design for a twin Avon engined heavy interceptor:

Some Pics of the CA.23 (including mock-up pics):

I actually have a few 1/72 kits of this.

Regards,

Greg

apophenia · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2012, 10:00:56 AM »

Thanks Greg, those are very cool -- especially the four-jet XP-62!

Going further back there was Fred David's Aussie Zero proposal. I've no idea what the real concept looked like so I had just bashed features from the Reisen and Boomerang to come up with the 'CA-40'.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2012, 10:02:32 AM »

I have always loved that one of yours!!! :)

elmayerle · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2012, 10:18:53 AM »

I keep thinking that the CA-23 would look stunning with a combined radar and inlet like the Lightning's; I can see that as a natural progression. Going back a bit earlier, the various potential developments of the CA-15 offer room for options. I wonder how the wings would look on a development analogous the the P.1040's evolution from the P.1035 "Jet Fury".

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2014, 02:36:04 AM »

No mention yet of the CA-15…well, that will have to change:

First up some profiles by Damian:

including this one which is a favourite of mine:

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2014, 02:38:41 AM »

Now these by Ronnie Olsthoorn:

And finally this one which shows that the CA-15 was certainly more than just a P-51 derivative:

jcf · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2014, 05:29:02 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on June 02, 2014, 02:38:41 AM

And finally this one which shows that the CA-15 was certainly more than just a P-51 derivative:

Yeah, it was a bloated, plus-size derivative.

Silver Fox · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2014, 05:36:44 AM »

That's what happens when you let Republic build Mustangs. :)

elmayerle · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2014, 10:12:15 AM »

Regarding the CA-15. The prototype flew with a four-bladed prop and I can see the production version flying with a five-bladed prop on a more powerful production mark Griffon; and a racing version with contra-props. The CA-15 clearly took a couple good ideas from the Mustang but clearly was a separate development.

kitnut617 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2014, 09:09:47 PM »

It's about the same size as a Martin Baker MB5 -- which surprisingly is nearer to a Tempest or P-47 for size. I will have to get the resin CA-15 I have in the stash built -

Volkodav · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2014, 05:05:50 AM »

Remembering that the original CA15 was designed around big radials and the Griffon redesign was driven by supply issues. The original sketches looked like nothing else out there. I have a Stewart Wilson book on the Wirriway, Boomerang and CA 15 but its back home and I'm interstate for several weeks.

jcf · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2014, 08:15:12 AM »

"Looked like nothing else out there"?

Dunno 'bout that, to my eye the R-2800 CA-15 kinda looks like a Curtiss YP-60E with a Mustang wing
and empennage.

Rickshaw · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2014, 08:24:03 AM »

If you stretch it, by about 10-15% it would look similar. Personally, I liked more the proposal that looks like a Wyvern with a radial.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2014, 04:33:39 PM »

Quote from: Volkodav on June 03, 2014, 05:05:50 AM

Remembering that the original CA15 was designed around big radials and the Griffon redesign was driven by supply issues. The original sketches looked like nothing else out there. I have a Stewart Wilson book on the Wirriway, Boomerang and CA 15 but its back home and I'm interstate for several weeks.

Here you go:

elmayerle · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2014, 08:05:21 PM »

I keep thinking the radial-engine version would look good with a Centaurus and a five-bladed prop, as well as a racer version with a R4360.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2014, 02:25:29 AM »

A bit like this:

From here.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2017, 06:30:45 AM »

Interesting site on Ca-15: https://www.facebook.com/CA15Kangaroo/
And the Ca-4/11: https://www.facebook.com/CAC-CA-4-and-CA-11-Page-1331001766922928/

Photo from the latter:

ysi_maniac · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2020, 11:28:52 AM »

Merlin Boomerang

EDIT: Balanced fuselage variant added.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2020, 02:29:03 AM »

Nifty look


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Author Topic: Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Ideas and Inspiration (Read 11098 times)