CAC CA-25 WINJEEL A85-410
MSN CA25-10
(AA000031)

 

 
01DEC55
 Factory completion date. (Engine #7918, Propellor #T37870).
14DEC55
 First flight.
20DEC55
 Received at 1AD Laverton ex CAC Fishermen's Bend under delivery note number A19724.
04JAN56
 Allotted to No 1 BFTS, Uranquinty and ready for collection at 1AD.
17JAN56
 Received at No 1 BFTS, Uranquinty ex 1AD.
17DEC58
 Transferred with No 1 BFTS to new location at Point Cook.
12FEB59
 Incident at Point Cook. FLTLT P.K. Brown (033641) and Air Cadet Thompson (A216421). Side window opened for cooling during taxy, shattered with force, scattering pieces throughout aircraft and penetrating pilot's suits. Time Since New: 793 hours. (Source: 1)
31JUL59
 Incident at Point Cook. FLTLT R.H. Martin (022188) and Cadet AC K.J. Williams (A24897). Taxied to holding point for run-up, on student applying parking brakes, sharp crack heard and left rudder pedal collapsed; taxied back to hangars by instructor. TSN:993 hours. (Source: 1)
29OCT59
 Incident at Point Cook. LT A. Ignatieff RAN. Partial engine failure after take-off, power reduced and emergency landing carried out; starboard magneto distribution block caused a dead cut on one bank of plugs. (Source: 1)
?
 Special Occurrence Report Point Cook (file missing). R.R. Croft (033729). (Source: 1)
16AUG61
 Incident at Point Cook. SQNLDR W.S. McGowan (35301). On air test, severe engine backfire and cockpit filled with smoke, force landed at Point Cook; supercharger oil seal. (Source: 1)
09JUN64
 Despatched to CAC, Fishermen's Bend ex No 1 BFTS for E service.
26OCT64
 Received at No 1 BFTS ex CAC.
27SEP66
 Despatched to CAC, Fishermen's Bend for E service of mainplane and centre section.
26JAN67
 Received at No 1 BFTS ex CAC.
13OCT67
 Incident. Excessive engine vibration, PAN declared, landed OK and shut down. (Source: 1)
01NOV67
 Flown for 1:30 by Flt Lt Wellington & Flt Lt Eddleston at the RAAF Academy, Point Cook. (Source: 2)
19JAN68
 Incident. FLTLT W.G. Penney (0213618). During pre-flight, found large hole in lower leading edge of port elevator. Cat 1. (Source: 1)
15NOV68
 Received at Parafield for E service.
24NOV68
 Noted at Parafield, SA in the Dept of Aircraft Production hangars. (Source: Nigel Daw)
31DEC68
 No 1 BFTS (Basic Flying Training School) renamed No 1 FTS (Flying Training School). (Source: 1)
21MAR69
 Despatched to No 1 FTS ex Parafield.
29APR70
 On a ferry flight from Point Cook to East Sale as Number 4 in a formation of 5 aircraft, engine momentarily lost power then continued to run roughly, temperatures and pressures within limits, cylinder head temperature low; broke formation, declared PAN and force-landed at Latrobe Valley. (Source: 1)
22SEP70
 Allotted to Hawker de Havilland, Bankstown for Mod 100 (FAC?)
18NOV70
 Allotted to No 4 Flight, Williamtown.
30JUN71
 Allotted to No 1 FTS, Point Cook for D service.
10JUL71
 Issued to No 4 Flight ex No 1 FTS.
04JUL72
 Allotted to No 1 FTS for E service.
AUG72
 Allotted to No 4 Flight ex No 1 FTS.
28AUG75
 Photographed at Williamtown, apparently soon after the aircraft was painted in FAC camouflage.
02FEB76
 Allotted to No 1 FTS for unscheduled E service. (Source: 1)
MAR76
 Allotted to No 4 Flight.
APR77
 The aircraft was photographed in FAC camouflage and bearing the name FLTLT M.R. Tardent DFC.
21SEP77
 Ran off runway at Holsworthy FLTLT W.N. Higginbothan (0227054). Cat 4 damage. (Source: 1)
15JAN79
 Allotted to No 481 Sqn, Williamtown with R-985 S/No 10561(W5/45).
Subsequently the aircraft was operated by No. 76 Squadron, Williamtown as a Forward Air Control aircraft for which role it was camouflaged. For a time it was painted with the name and pennant of SQNLDR K.J. Mitchell, DFC.
22JAN82
 Allotted to No 3 AD, Amberley for SURFIN (Surface Finishing) training.
26FEB82
 Delivered by road from Williamtown to Amberley. (Source: 1)
Photographs suggest that the aircraft was delivered still in FAC camouflage but minus engine. During its time at SURFIN, the aircraft was painted silver with a tapered blue band on the fuselage bearing the inscription "Royal Australian Air Force". At some stage the aircraft was painted with the fictitious serial A85-17.
01AUG83
 Reported held Amberley
DEC88
 Reported still held Amberley as a training aid. (Final entry on Status Card).
Used as a rescue and firefighting trainaid at RAAF Amberley but not burned.
11AUG94
 Transported from Amberley to Caloundra on loan to QAM from the RAAF Museum in return for the loan to the RAAF of Cessna 337 P2-ELO for fire-fighting training.
18NOV96
 Sold to QAM.

 

SOURCES
1
 Parnell, Neville 2012 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-22 & CA-25, Aviation Heritage Vol 43 No 4, published by the Aviation Historical Society of Australia, Dec 2012.
2
 Log Book of Wg Cdr Anthony Eddleston (A216911) held in the QAM Library (Barcode Number 006468).

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 

 


 

ISSUE
DATE
REMARKS
9
10JUL19
Added a reference on 01NOV67.
8
09DEC17
Added an image of A85-410 leading a formation of four FAC Winjeels. Thanks to Malcolm Roxburgh.
Added an image of the aircraft in the fire training area at Amberley. Thanks to Nick Sayer.
7
14JUN17
Added an air to air image of the aircraft in FAC configuration but painted silver thanks to Kym Manuel.
Added an image in FAC camouflage thanks to Kym Manuel.
6
29DEC15
Added an air to air image thanks to John Laming and John Hopton.
Added an image in FAC camouflage thanks to John Hopton.
5
29SEP14
Added an air to air image (FAC uncamouflaged) thanks to Norm Clarke.
Added an air to air image (FAC camouflage) thanks to ADF Serials.
4
22DEC12
Added further information from Source 1. Thanks to Neville Parnell.
3
29APR12
Added an image from December 1996 thanks to Nick Sayer.
2
01FEB02
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