It is now a year since we last reported on the progress being made by Greg Batts of Combat Aircraft Constructions PL on his extensive CAC Boomerang restorations at Archerfield in Brisbane Qld, Australia. Regular readers will know that the first flight of Greg’s own project, CA-12 Boomerang ex RAAF serial A46-54 has been imminent for some time.
CA-12 Boomerang A46-54
A46-54 has had numerous tasks completed to ready the aircraft for its imminent first flight since WWII and as we all know the devil is in the detail. Many small detail items that used to be listed on the workshop white board have taken some time to resolve, not alone the major task of fitting the wooden shell over the tubular internal frame. This led to fitting of all fillets and panels, as well as the fitting of the Radio Shack, Canopy and Windscreen. Problems with the seat meant its removal for correction and reinstallation, consuming more time.
All electrical, hydraulic, fuel and instrumental fit out are completed and with the aircraft essentially complete, a test program of the systems was started, including retraction testing of the landing gear, flaps up and down, and cooling gills opening and closing, all done by hydraulics.
The next phase is the inspection of the aircraft requiring an independent engineer. With The white board list now down to the final test flight program, the forward plan is to remove the outer wing panels so the remainder can be transported to Toowoomba Airport Qld., where reassembly will take place including fitting of the propeller assembly, calibration of the fuel tanks, weight and balance, re installing the outer wings and ailerons. With final testing and inspections done it will then be engine runs and if all successful the probability of a first flight. Greg Batts said “I have no idea how long the process will take to get to first flight day, but it will happen someday, hopefully soon”.
A46-54 is finished in a different colour scheme to the two currently flying CAC Boomerangs (CA-13 A46-122 and CA-12 A46-63) in Australia. The upper surfaces of the aircraft are finished in foliage green with Sky Blue underneath. Its Squadron letters are done in the Medium Sea Grey of the early Boomerangs. All this makes the aircraft very distinctive. This scheme will make for an attractive and interesting comparison when A46-54 is displayed at air shows and ceremonies in coming years alongside her peers.
Greg Said, “I have been extremely fortunate to have my good friend and LAME Steve Orwin assisting me over these many years. His knowledge on the older warbirds has assisted greatly”. Warbirds Online will be there when this ‘aussie’ aircraft takes to the air again. The exact timing is uncertain but hoped to be within a couple of months.
Whilst visiting the workshop we were also able to view progress on two other CA-12 Boomerangs being A46-77 and A46-55.
CA-12 Boomerang A46-77
A46-77 has since our last visit, had its centre section largely completed and is nearing a stage where it can be mated to its fuselage, which is also progressing very well. The centre section reconstruction from the similar Mk IV Harvard is a complex and difficult task involving many manhours of work to get it to Boomerang state, so it is great to see this phase nearing completion. A new set of retract Ram Outriggers are under construction, and once fitted the fuel tanks can go in and be connected up, allowing the tank bay doors to go on for finals.
During the time of our visit the vertical and horizontal surfaces of the tail were repainted and fitted to the fuselage, indicating the progress being made on this project. Rudder and Elevators are ready for fabric to be added. Work will continue apace on advancing this Boomerang up onto its wheels in the next couple of months, and then doing the final fit-outs. The main fuselage Fuel Tank is currently being worked on, that will need to be fitted prior to the centre section going under the fuselage. This aircraft is forging forward to the time when it too joins the active fleet of these great Australian fighters.
CA-12 Boomerang A46-55
A46-55, another of Greg’s own aircraft, has also advanced significantly. This Boomerang is one of the most complete survivors of type and as such, is a time capsule. A lot of the components of the aircraft were present on the project when acquired by Greg and as a result do not need to be sourced.
The forward fuselage frame has been cleaned and primed and currently being X-rayed. It has been found to be in better condition than most of the other surviving Boomerang frames and will thus require only minor repair before use in the project. The rear tube frame will then go through the same process. The lower Monocoque Pan that fits under the rear tube frame is currently in the jig for strip down, inspection and reassembly. The aircraft’s Nose Cowl is being constructed. A brand new (never fitted) Mk IV Harvard centre section is already in the workshop ready for conversion to Boomerang status for this aircraft. The complex wooden shell for A46-55 is already completed and ready for fitting when the time comes. A46-55 will fill the space void in the workshop once A46-54 is removed and work will then hasten, but for now is definitely making great strides forward.
CA-12 Boomerang A46-92
A46-92 Boomerang project has stalled. This rather historic Boomerang that received battle damage during 4 Sqn RAAF operations leading in USAF P38 fighters in PNG, has been relegated to the back corner of the workshop with a tarp over it since 2019. Given that extreme work is being done on A46-77 to get it up on its wheels asap, and the fact that restoration on A46-55 is now being stepped up, along with getting A46-54 into the air, it would appear that the A46-92 project may not see additional progression, at least not with Combat Aircraft Constructions, given their current workloads and future time constraints.
Warbirds Online again extends our thanks Greg Batts and the team at Combat Aircraft Constructions for allowing us access to this unique Warbird restoration facility.
CAC Boomerang A46 54 Landing Gear Retraction Test
© John Parker 2022
Hi John, thanks for a fascinating and in-depth update on Greg’s activities!
One question – Geoff Goodall’s Warbirds Directory has A46-92 as belonging to Rod Provan (2002-17). Is it in actual fact Greg’s?
Hi Zac
Thanks for the feedback. As far as we understand the entry in Geoff Goodall’s Warbirds Directory is correct.
Kind regards
John
Great work well done.