Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation Boomerang Restoration

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CA-12 A46-54 | CA-12 A46-77 | CA-12 A46-92 | CA-12 A46-73 | CA-19 A46-249

Fuselage visited from Tyabb, Vic for the purpose of tube frame repairs and construction of the fuselage wooden monocoque. Repairs to the tubular frames carried out by Aviation Welding Australia Pty Ltd at Archerfield Airport Qld. With the frames repaired the fuselage is reassembled at Combat Aircraft Constructions for the construction of the fuselage wooden monocoque. After fabric covering applied, fuselage is returned to Old Aeroplane Company, Tyabb, Vic., for continuation of restoration to airworthy.

CA-19 A46-249

Details

Maker:

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Melbourne, Aust.

Model:

CA-19 Boomerang

CAC:

Batch Number 19-T9, Makers Serial Number 1073, Delivery Note A57282

Engine:

Pratt & Whitney R1830-90B No. 20529

RAAF Sqn:

No squadron issue.

Significance:

Last Boomerang aircraft built by CAC (view photo)

Service Record

31/01/1945

Test Flight by CAC Test Pilot - F/L Greg Board. (RAAF)

01/02/1945

Issued 1AD ex CAC

15/11/1945

Issued1AD for storage

24/12/1945

Submitted to C.D.C

17/02/1946

Stored under Category "C"

22/03/1946

A/C to be issued with Cat "E"

01/10/1946

Offered to C.D.C for disposal

13/05/1946

Authorised by C.D.C for Write-Off (W/O)

06/05/1947

Approved for issue to CSIRO

13/10/1947

Mainplanes removed and issued CSIRO (for wing tests at ARL* �see below)

07/10/1947

Free issue of fuselage and engine cancelled with residue now to be held in situ (1AD) pending further advice

02/04/1948

Allocated SAS ex 1AD

11/03/1949

Passed to D.A.P. (for write off) ex 1AD

08/05/1949

Write off completed by DAP

22/10/1961

Fuselage remains found behind Vessey's Shell garage at Pomborneit, Western Vic.

Initial rebuild to static condition of fuselage over many years. (view photo) (view photo)

01/12/2010

Strip down to commence restoration to A/W by Old Aeroplane Company Tyabb, Vic

25/08/2014

Transfer to Combat Aircraft Constructions, Brisbane, Queensland for completion of tube frame repairs and wooden fuselage covering build.

*Aeronautical Research Laboratories Vic. (ARL)
ARL conducted oscillation (fatigue) test on 14 sets of Boomerang wing platforms in 1948 and the wing section off A46-249 was included for test. Wings were purposely tested to failure to study how fatigue affects airframes. Below is some information from the official report on those tests. A46-249: Listed as specimen No. 7 tested.

'Aircraft has completed 2 hours 5 mins total flying attributable to test flying. This wing was received in good order, but before being tested had the corners of the cannon shell ejector chute cut-out on lower surface of outer wing ground to a radius of approximately 3/16", and polished. The wing joint bolts were tightened to 18ft.lb. torque. The wing passed through 1,699,600 cycles of oscillation before final failure.

(This was the highest cycle of the 14 specimens tested and partially attributed to its limited flying hours since new.) The report listed the step by step failures of each platform at cycle intervals. The report contained one photo of #249 tank bay door showing the initial point from which the total failure progressed. (view photo)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Business Assistance	Individual Assistance
Aviation Welding Australia P/L � Archerfield, QLD	Ron O'Neill
Aviaquip Pty Ltd � Seaforth, Vic	Graham Potts
	Steve Orwin
	Peter Brooke
	Matthew Denning