Check this bird out!

[Wildcat]

Hi all, Have a look at this awesome machine, the CAC built CA-15 and tell me how you think it would compare against other aircraft such as the Bearcat or SeaFury. Apparently the test pilots said it was an uncomplicated aircarft to fly and it had an excellent flight performance. The CA-15 was planned to replace the mustangs in RAAF service, but never made it to the production line because the Vampire and Meteor were introduced instead.
TECHNICAL DATA:
(CAC CA-15)

DESCRIPTION: Single-seat, interceptor fighter, with provision for extra wing tanks or wing bombs for escort or fighter-bomber duties. All metal, stressed skin construction.

POWER PLANT: One 2,035 hp Rolls-Royce Griffin Mk 61, with two stage, two-speed blower.

DIMENSIONS: Span, 36 ft; length, 36 ft 3 ins; height, 12 ft 2 ins.

WEIGHTS: Empty, 7,540 lb; loaded, 12,340 lb

PERFORMANCE: Max speed, 448 mph at 26,400 ft. Rate of climb, 4,900 ft/min. Service ceiling, 39,000 ft. Range, 2,540 miles at 5,000 ft.

ARMAMENT: Six 0.50 in. machine guns in wings. Bomb load carried externally beneath wings.

(source-www.raafmuseum.com.au)

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Great airplane, a Mustang, Spitfire, and Temptest rolled up in one!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

sounds like an amazing aircraft...........

 

[cheddar cheese]

Sure does, but it looks a bit ugly.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

like the P-75?

 

[cheddar cheese]

No, worse.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

OH COME ON LOOK AT THIS THING - IT LOOKS LIKE A CRANE/ ROBIN MIX IN PUBERTY!

 

[cheddar cheese]

With the undercarriage retracted It probably looks ok.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

IF IT RETACTED ON THE GROUND IT WOULD PUT ITSELF OUT OF ITS MISERY!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

that CA-15 isn't ugly, it doesn't look to different to a 'stang...........

 

[mosquitoman]

That P-75 looks a bit like a Fairey Battle- look what happened to that

 

[FLYBOYJ]

"LIFE TO TOO SHORT TO DIE IN UGLY AIRPLANES"

 

[DAVIDICUS]

The taxying trials didn't even begin until February of 1946. That makes the CA-15 a day late and a dollar short.

If you want to see a really impressive propeller driven fighter, check out the XP-72 Superbolt. It's maiden flight was in February of 1944.

Specifications of Republic XP-72 Superbolt:

Powerplant: One 3450 hp Pratt Whitney R-4360-13 Wasp Major air-cooled radial engine.

Performance: Maximum speed was 490 mph at 25,000 feet. Normal range was 1200 miles at 300 mph and maximum range was 2520 miles at 315 mph with two 125 Imp. gall. drop tanks.

Initial climb rate was 5280 feet per minute, and climb rate at 25,000 feet was 3550 feet per minute. An altitude of 15,000 feet could be reached in 3.5 minutes, 20,000 feet in 5 minutes. Service ceiling was 42,000 feet.

Weights were 11,476 pounds empty, 14,433 pounds normal loaded, 17,490 pounds maximum. Dimensions were wingspan 40 feet 11 inches, length 36 feet 7 inches, height 16 feet 0 inches, and wing area 300 square feet.

Armament: Either six .50 cal. machine guns or four 37mm cannons mounted in the wings.

 

[mosquitoman]

4 37mm cannons, surely it should be outlawed by the UN!

 

[DAVIDICUS]

I believe there is a provision in the the Geneva Conventions dealing with this. Let's see ... ah, here it is.

Article III, Section 4(B)(2)(a)

NO COMBAT AIRCRAFT SHALL BE OUTFITTED WITH WEAPONRY, THE INFLICTION OF WHICH APPROXIMATES THE UNMERCIFUL UNLEASHING OF SATAN'S HELL HOUNDS.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

THE XP-72 WAS THE ULTIMATE HEAVY WEIGHT WWII FIGHTER. MY GOD, A MECHANICS NIGHTMARE! - IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK JUST TO CHANGE SPARKPLUGS! :

 

[DAVIDICUS]

The XP-72 never entered production and thus never saw combat. I believe only two were built.

I think the honor of the ultimate heavyweight fighter (as in actually fought) belongs to the P-47N. I believe the "M" model, while a very hot performing ship, had serious reliability issues related to its powerplant.

 

[Anonymous]

Where do you get that? The P-47N and M pretty much shared the same power plant. Where do you see any info about engine problems on the P-47M?

=S=

Lunatic

 

[KraziKanuK]

Where do you get that? The P-47N and M pretty much shared the same power plant. Where do you see any info about engine problems on the P-47M?

=S=

Lunatic

The a/c arrived in England in early Jan 1945 and was almost immediately pulled from operations with the 56th FG. Operations were started again in the the last few weeks of WW2.

So, if as you claim there was no problems, why was the a/c pulled from operations?

The engine had abnormally low cylinder head temperatures, the ignition system broke down and the engines were corroded. These problems took several months to correct.

 

[evangilder]

THE XP-72 WAS THE ULTIMATE HEAVY WEIGHT WWII FIGHTER. MY GOD, A MECHANICS NIGHTMARE! - IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK JUST TO CHANGE SPARKPLUGS! :

God forbid you might have to change one of the cans in one of the middle rows!