True fighter variants on the Texan/Harvard | FerrariChat
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True fighter variants on the Texan/Harvard

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by GrigioGuy, Oct 15, 2007.

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  1. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #1 GrigioGuy, Oct 15, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    From another board

    COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT WIRRAWAY - In April 1938, the North American NA-16 advanced trainer was adopted for manufacture in Australia, becoming the first project for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. Named the Wirraway, first Australian-built example flew on March 27, 1939, and production by CAC totalled 755, with deliveries spread from July 1939 to June 1942 and then from November 1943 to July 1946. Total included 233 funded by Britain to support Empire Air Training Scheme. Production batches identified by different CAC charge numbers, but with few external changes and mostly minor improvements. Mark numbers seldom used, but comprised: Wirraway I, 40 CA-1; Wirraway II, 60 CA-3, 32 CA-5, 100 CA-7, 200 CA-8 and 188 CA-9; and finally Wirraway III, 135 CA-16.

    The Wirraway was powered by 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S1H1G Wasp (most of which were built by CAC) and basic specification included two Vickers Mk V 0.303-in (7.7-mm) machine guns in the upper front fuselage and a third (Mk I) gun on a mount in the rear cockpit. Up to 1,000 Ib (454 kg) of bombs (or 1,500 lb/ 680 kg in Wirraway III) carried on wing racks, and practice bombs under centre section. Classified as a general purpose type, Wirraway served in numerous roles, including light/dive bombing, coastal patrol and advanced training.

    Service use with RAAF began with No 12 Sqn in September 1939 at Darwin, engaged on coastal patrols, and then No 21 (GP) Sqn in 1940 in Singapore, seeing service against Japanese forces invading the Malayan Peninsula in December 1941. Six more squadrons flying Wirraways
    operationally by January 1942, including No 24 engaged in defence of Rabaul. Army co-operation added to Wirraway's roles in 1942, and No 4 (AC) Sqn operated in New Guinea in 1942/43. In training role, Wirraways equipped several Service Flying Training Schools as part of EATS through out war.

    Max speed, 220 mph (354 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,524 m). Rate of climb, 1,950 ft/min (9.9 ml sec). Service ceiling, 23,000 ft (7,010 m). Range, 720 mis (1,158 km). Empty weight, 3,992 lb (1,811 kg). Gross weight, 6,595 lb (2,991 kg). Span, 43 ft 0 in (13.1 m). Length, 27ft 10 in (8.48 m). Wing area, 255.8 sqft (23.8 m2).
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  2. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #2 GrigioGuy, Oct 15, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    COMMONWEALTH BOOMERANG - Single-seat 'stop-gap' fighter initiated late 1941 to make good RAAF's foreseen lack of imported fighters of better performance. Design based on using components of Wirraway trainer, combined with 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G radial engine and two-speed supercharger. Initial five CA-12 aircraft built early 1942, followed by first production batch of 100 ordered February 1942. First CA-12 flown May 29, 1942, and deliveries began July 1942. Further production comprised 95 CA-13, delivered from August 1943, 49 CA-19, delivered from May 1944, and single CA-14, making total of 250 by early 1945. Differences between variants minor. Armament comprised eight 0.303-in (7.7-mm) Browning guns in first five CA-12s, changed to four Brownings with two 20-mm Hispano cannon in production aircraft. CA-13s had metal (instead of fabric) covered ailerons and CA-19s had single F.24 camera in rear fuselage for tac-R role. Single CA-14 had General Electric B-2 turbo-supercharger in rear starboard fuselage side and R-1830-S1C3-G engine; it first flew on January 13, 1943.

    Boomerangs entered service at 2 OTU late 1942, and flew operationally with Nos 4, 5, 83, 84 and 85 Sqns. Of these, Nos 4, 5 and 84 saw service against Japanese forces in New Guinea and Borneo; other two squadrons remained in Australia.

    Max speed, 305 mph (491 km/h) at 15,500 ft (4,724 m). Cruising speed, 190 mph (305 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m). Rate of climb, 2,940 ftlmin (14.9 mlsec). Time to 25,000ft (7,620 m), 13.2 min. Service ceiling, 34,000 ft (10,363 m). Range (internal fuel), 930 mis (1,496 km). Range (drop tank), 1,600 mis (2,575 km). Empty weight, 5,373 Ib (2,437kg). Gross weight, 7,699 Ib (3,492 kg). Max overload, 8,249 Ib (3,742 kg). Span, 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m). Length, 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m). Wing area, 225 sqfi (20.90 m2).
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  3. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

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    #3 snj5, Oct 15, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Excerpted from "North american's P-64" by Harry Gann and John Sloan

    The NA-50 design was begun in 1939 for Peru which ordered 7 single place fighter aircraft. NA used it's trainer design with a forshortened fuselage and wings. These were delivered in 1940.
    Siam ordered 6 refined versions of the NA-50, the NA-50A (although internally referred to as NA-68s). This had several improvements over the original aircraft. These aircraft were embargoed in shipment to Siam after Pearl Harbor, and served in the USAAC an P-64 advanced fighter trainers. There is a great photo taken then Lt. (later Senator) Barry Goldwater flying one of these P-64s over Luke Air Field (below).
    The NA 50A had 4 x .303 machine guns, two in the wing and two in the cowl and used a wet centersection (blah! - rt) for more fuel storage. The engine was a Wright R-1820-GR100 of 875 hp. Some P-64s were delivered with underwing mounted Masden 20mm cannon with 100 rounds a side.

    Below is a photo of the Peruvian NA-50 from Aerofiles, and photos of the P-64 in USAAC service

    Specifications and performance:

    Span 37' 4"
    Length 7' 11"
    Empty: 4647#
    Gross: 5990#
    Top speed at SL: 245
    Top speed at 10,000: 281
    Ceiling: 32000


    There is at least one surviving NA-50 on a stick in Peru, and the one surviving P-64 (now re-cowled with a Dauntless cowl) is on display at the EAA Air Museum.
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  4. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

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    #4 snj5, Oct 15, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Similarly to the below mentioned NA-50, Siam ordered several two seat attack versions of the T-6, factory coded NA-69. these were also impounded by the USAAC, and several were shipped to Nichols Field in Manila where they saw combat service against the Japanese invasion of the PI in 1941.

    These variants were set up to carry wing bombs in addition to cowl guns and rear gunnerry position. Again, the Wright 1820 of 785 hp wasused to give a top speed of 250 mph.

    Here is a well known photo of A-27s in USAAC service at Nichols field in 1941. (Note 1820 engine cowl and air intake and cowl guns, in addition to the 3 blade props) as well as an exciting and newly discovered photo of a burned and captured A-27 at Clark field.
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  5. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #5 rob lay, Oct 15, 2007
  6. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #6 GrigioGuy, Oct 15, 2007

    Well, that will certainly clear the C-150s out of the pattern :D
     
  7. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

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    #7 snj5, Oct 15, 2007
    More likely a hole in your prop when the synchronizer fails. I've talked to several mechanics who cared for active duty gunnery SNJs that had shot a nice clean hole in the prop in the air when he interrupter failed. The approved Navy proceedure was to simply file the hole smooth and keep on using the blade. These guys said they could always tell their airplane because with the hole in the blade, their plane always 'whistled' as it taxied up.
     
  8. planeflyr

    planeflyr Karting

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    #8 planeflyr, Oct 15, 2007
    About a dozen or so years back someone imported several MiG 15's from China. These were obviously Korean War service aircraft. They arrived in crates on the west coast along with the importer, and the ultimate buyer/owner for customs inspection. When they opened the crates for inspection they found the machine guns still installed. There were ammunition belts in the breech and the breech was closed ready for full rock-and-roll! Apparently the Chinese just dissassembled what they needed to in order to crate them up and that's how they arrived. The new owner and importer along with the customs and subsequently BATF, FBI, and other alphabet agencies were aghast. All was on the up and up though so there was only a short delay in delivery while the guns were removed. Glad that everyone had a sense of humor about the whole thing in retrospect.

    Planeflyr
     
  9. LightGuy

    LightGuy Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 LightGuy, Oct 27, 2007
    Chances are the working machine guns consist of propane gas fueled "blank" guns for sound and visual effect not actual guns. That would require class 3 weapon permits. On a plane = FBI, ATF,(and probably Janet Reno would come out of retirement for this bust) at the front door. Or through the roof.
     

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