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.
CA-12 Boomerang Mk I; The first single-seat fighter version, 105 built
CA-13 Boomerang Mk II; Improved version of the CA-12, 95 built
CA-14; One aircraft fitted with a turbo-supercharged engine, did not enter production.
CA-14A; The CA-14 prototype was later modified to have a square tail & rudder.
CA-19 Boomarang Mk II; Tactical reconnaissance variant with a single vertical camera in the fuselage, 49 built .
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 (August 1943 - August 1945), 5 (November 1943 - August 1946), 83 (September 1943 - August 1945), 84 (April 1943 - October 1943) and 85 (May 1943 - January 1945) 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).
History of the 27 year Restoration of the Boomer "Suzy-Q".
http://boomerang-flight.com/Air Show Pix of the Restored "Milingimbi Ghost".
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/boomer.htmlhttp://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/boomerang/index.shtmlHistory of All Production Boomerrangs
http://www.adf-serials.com/2a46.shtmlDetails of the Inner Workings of a Boomer.
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/ca12bg_1.htmChart on Performance Capabilities of the Boomer
http://uncleted.jinak.cz/pdf/ca12.pdf
