Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
CA-15
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA‑15 was conceived in 1943 as a high‑performance fighter to replace the aging Spitfire fleet serving the Royal Australian Air Force. Designed by the renowned engineer Sir Lawrence Wackett and built at the CAC plant in Melbourne, the aircraft combined a sleek, low‑drag airframe with a powerful Rolls‑Royce Griffon 85 engine delivering 2,035 hp. First flown by test pilot Jan R. Smith on 12 March 1946, the CA‑15 demonstrated an impressive top speed of 448 mph and a service ceiling above 42,000 feet, rivaling contemporary Allied designs such as the Spitfire Mk IX and the P‑51 Mustang. Its armament comprised four 20 mm Hispano cannons and provision for up to 500 lb of external stores, while its all‑metal construction featured a laminar‑flow wing and hydraulically operated flaps that gave excellent maneuverability and rate of climb. Although the post‑war shift to jet propulsion and budget constraints led to its cancellation after only 27 airframes were completed, the CA‑15 remains a symbol of Australian aeronautical ambition, influencing later CAC designs and highlighting the nation’s capability to produce world‑class piston‑engine fighters.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 1
- First Flight
- 1946