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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2005 21:36:43 GMT 12
Are there any of the 202 Wacketts left in existence anywhere? Just out of interest.
A terribly ugly aircraft but no doubt served a valuable role. I have read some were later used for crop dusting.
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 13, 2005 9:53:09 GMT 12
In the current (Sept.) edition of Australian Aviation there is a census of types of aircraft currently on the Australian civil register, and amongst a lot of very interesting aircraft there is 1 CAC Wackett listed!
I will try and dig up some more info.
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Post by Martin Edwards on Oct 1, 2005 23:43:45 GMT 12
For information on the CAC Wackett including its service and post service histories have a look at www.adf-serials.com/2a3.shtmlSome NZ connections in there as well! Cheers Martin |
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Post by boblace on Feb 4, 2011 4:52:00 GMT 12
We have the Wackett (VH-AIY) that belonged to Horrie Miller at the Aviation Heritage museum, Bull Creek, Western Australia.
We also had a crop-duster belonging to "Air Culture" but that went east about 4 years ago.
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Post by markpilkington on Feb 16, 2011 9:18:43 GMT 12
Smiles, I'm not sure its "terribly ugly?" I reserve that comment for the Fletcher and Airtruk.
The Wackett is in some ways similar to a radial engined Fairchild PT-19 and in its prototype inline formats could be considered a tube and timber forerunner to the postwar Chipmunk layout?
There are 4 surviving "intact" Wackett Trainers in museums in Australia.
These are:
A3-22 / VH-ALV in the AARG Collection at Moorabbin (in storage for restoration)
A3-31/VH-AIY in the Bull Creek Collection in WA (Horrie Millers a/c, recently restored.
A3-49/VH-AJH in the QAM in Qld, a modified Wackett as the KS-3
(forerunner to the Yeoman Cropmaster - formerly with Bull Creek)
A3-139/VH-BEC is in "as found" condition in the Central Australian Aviation Museum in Alice Springs, this aircraft became lost in the Simson Desert and the pilot perished.
A3-129/VH-DGR is now on the register as VH-WKT but is not flying. it is under long term restoration and intended to use a metal Cropmaster wing.
Another two aircraft, A3-85/VH-BLV and A3-167/VH-AGP are stored for intended airworthy restoration, both using metal cropmaster wings - (these are mine, and are intended to move into active restoration this year)
And there are suggestions a new collector has recently acquired two Yeoman Cropmasters for restorations as Wacketts.
Of the 202 built, 40 went civil onto the Australian register after WW2, 30 were sold to the NEIAF in what is now Indonesia, 4 were modified into KS-3 Cropdusters and a further 20 odd converted into Yeoman Cropmasters with metal wings, swept metal tails and flat 6 engines.
4 preserved and at least 3 additional survivors is not a bad survivor rate (@3%) for this unique Australian type.
Yeoman Cropmasters are preserved/stored in museums in NZ (1) Australia (2), with one privately owned and under restoration as a Cropmaster in Australia, a further 2 survive in various conditions including the two apparantly being converted back to Wacketts. with 3 preserved in collections the type is achieving a 10%+ survival rate.
The Wackett was the first in-house design of CAC, the first local design in Australia to go into mass production, the first local design to serve in quantity in the RAAF and the first local design to serve in a foreign airforce.
regards
Mark Pilkington
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Post by boblace on Feb 19, 2011 4:11:32 GMT 12
Here is restored VH_AIY at The Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, Western Australia.  Cheers. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 19, 2011 17:01:20 GMT 12
VH-BEC has been restored to display standard after it was recovered (it only suffered weather exposure, as it force-landed when lost, rather than crashed). At Alice Springs 10Jul2009  One that got away, NZ's sole Wackett ZK-AUC - Cr Taupo 8Jun58  |
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 19, 2011 18:55:52 GMT 12
Smiles, I'm not sure its "terribly ugly?" I reserve that comment for the Fletcher Mark, I respect your knowledge, however let's not get into THIS argument! I think the Wackett is a great little machine, I can't wait to eventually see one in the flesh. I only wish I had access to one of the books on the history of the type andCAC. |
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Post by boblace on Feb 21, 2011 4:17:54 GMT 12
VH-AJH being packed for shipping from Bull Creek W.A. to Queensland 9th July 2008  Cheers,  |
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ron
Squadron Leader
Posts: 110
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Post by ron on Feb 21, 2011 22:06:03 GMT 12
Here is an image of VH-AJH on display at the Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra.  |
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Post by Bruce on Feb 21, 2011 22:08:35 GMT 12
I fail to see how "VH" and "Culture" can be on the same aeroplane !  |
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Post by boblace on Feb 22, 2011 4:10:54 GMT 12
Well, if you can get a K1w1 called "Bruce".... |
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Post by yak2 on Mar 12, 2011 12:18:09 GMT 12
From the CAC 50th anniversary brochure. Period (1942) shot of Wacketts on the Fishermans Bend assembly line and over Melbourne CBD etc.:  |
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Post by yak2 on Mar 12, 2011 12:20:58 GMT 12
A terribly ugly aircraft but no doubt served a valuable role. Mmmmm. That from a bloke who fancies Vildebeest's  |
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Post by corsair67 on Mar 12, 2011 13:26:19 GMT 12
While not the most beautiful looking aircraft around, I certainly wouldn't describe the Wackett as an ugly aircraft.
It'd be nice to see one flying again someday.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2011 13:32:17 GMT 12
Do you seriously think the Wackett is not an ugly design aesthetically? It looks all out of proportion to me. the engine looks too small, the wheels are gangly, the canopy looks massive compared with the fuselage...
My statement has nothing to do with whether it was a good trainer or trying to knock an Aussie design or anything, I just reckon it's bloody ugly. A lot of kiwi designs are equally as ugly, the PL-11 is a great example. Apparently good at what it did, but bloody fugly.
I don't disagree that the Vildebeest aestheticlly is pugnacious, clumsy looking and perhaps to many eyes an ugly aircraft. I guess I have grown to love it because of the many stories I have heard about the type from their aircrew and groundcrew members. They were a very reliable, stable and reasonably capable platform for the roles they performed till replacements could be found. The bravery of the men who flew operationally in them, particularly in combat, astounds me. But that adds to the type's charm. I have met a guy who flew them against the Japanese and lived to tell the tale.
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Post by yak2 on Mar 12, 2011 14:29:18 GMT 12
To me it looks like an anorexic Wirraway. Not the prettiest little bird, but certainly not ugly. More function over form. It was originally designed for an in-line engine, but I prefer the appearance of the radial. It's stablemate the Wackett bomber was not the prettiest aircraft either. It introduced a number of novel features but the availability of proven types precluded further development. Both were produced during a period of grave uncertainty and a time of significant local industrial expansion/capability. I owned a Wilga once. On one occasion Essendon Tower/ATC described it as a 'Polish chook house'. Some people thought it ugly, but wherever I landed they came up to have a look. Not pretty but I reckon it had character. Certainly more than 'poofy' little Cessnas and Pipers and similar tin cans.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 12, 2011 17:00:17 GMT 12
The Wilgas definately have character, we had one based at Wigram when I was based there, with NZ Police. It was damned cool. I would call a Wilga unconventional, but not ugly.
"Not the prettiest little bird, but certainly not ugly. More function over form."
Hehe, sounds like Juliet Gillard. ;D
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Post by yak2 on Mar 12, 2011 18:16:44 GMT 12
Juliet  Gillard necking one in New York. Pic from today's Herald Sun.  Dave, I think your description of her is fair. |
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Post by baz62 on Mar 17, 2011 22:04:43 GMT 12
While not the most beautiful looking aircraft around, I certainly wouldn't describe the Wackett as an ugly aircraft. It'd be nice to see one flying again someday. She's got a round engine....she'll do me! And I'm not referring to your PM before anyone says anything!! ;D |
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Gillard necking one in New York. Pic from today's Herald Sun.
