In December 1942, theAustralian War Cabinet began looking to acquire a fighter aircraft with greater range than theSupermarine Spitfire. As a result, arrangements were made in November 1943 for Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation to build 690 aircraft through kits supplied byNorth American Aviation (NAA).[2] Only the first 100 unassembled aircraft were delivered, and four reportedly had the "razorback" style canopy of the P-51B/C variant. 80 of the kits were assembled under the designationCA-17 Mustang Mk 20 withPackard V-1650-3 Merlin engines, the remainder being used for spare parts.[2][3][4] The end of the war led to most of the orders being cancelled.
Local manufacturing of the CA-18 Mustang (Mk 21–23)
In late 1946, CAC received a contract to build 170 (later reduced to 120) Mustangs locally from scratch. These aircraft carried the new designationCA-18.
The first 40 were designatedMustang Mk 21 and powered by Packard V-1650-7 Merlins. 66Mustang Mk 23s followed with British-builtRolls-Royce Merlin 66 or 70 engines.
The first production CA-17 Mustang Mk 20,serial numberA68-01 (not to be confused with the US-built prototypeA68-1001), made its first flight on 29 April 1945 fromFishermans Bend.[5][6] The aircraft was handed over to the RAAF on 4 June 1945 and was tested by theNo. 1 Aircraft Performance Unit. Trials ended in October 1946, and the aircraft was placed in storage until 1953.[5] Only 17 CA-17s were delivered to the RAAF by VJ-Day.[2]
A68-1, the first production CA-17 Mustang Mk 20, as awarbird in 1990. This aircraft is painted in ficticious RAAF colors with the serial number "A68-1001", which belonged to the US-built prototype.
CA-17 Mustang Mk 20
Aircraft built from kits supplied by NAA with V-1710-3 engines. 80 built.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 21
Locally-built aircraft with V-1710-7 engines. 40 built.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 22
Reconnaissance variant withF24 cameras. 14 newly built aircraft and 14 converted from Mk 21s.[4]
CA-18 Mustang Mk 23
Variant with British Merlin 66 or 70 engines. 66 built.[4]
Civilian modification of a CA-18 Mustang with aRolls-Royce Dart turboprop engine. 1 modified from a Mustang Mk 22 but never flown in this configuration.[1]
A full-scale replica of a CA-18 Mustang Mk 23 is located at theQueensland Air Museum at theCaloundra Airport. Construction of the replica began in May 2005 and was placed on static display on 27 December 2008. It carries the fictitious serial numberA68-201, continuing the original sequence which ended withA68-200.[24]
12 April 1962 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 21,G-ARUK (ex-A68-113), piloted by Ron Flockhart, entered a cloud and crashed into theDandenong Ranges inVictoria, Australia. Flockhart was killed in the accident.[25]
27 June 1970 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 22,VH-DBB (ex-A68-193),[26] piloted by Donald Busch, stalled and crashed after completing aflyover at an airshow inBendigo, Australia. The aircraft caught fire, killing Busch.[27]
11 June 1973 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 21,VH-IVI (ex-A68-119), was destroyed in a crash inSydney, Australia, killing its pilot, Raymond J. Whitebread.[28]
19 October 1973 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 22,PI-C651 (ex-A68-192), crash landed atManila International Airport inManila,Philippines. The aircraft was subsequently rebuilt, crashing again on 10 July 2011 after suffering a mid-air collision.[29][30]
6 June 1976 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 22 "Miss Zulu",VH-BOZ (ex-A68-199), crashed on takeoff inBankstown, Australia. The aircraft was subsequently rebuilt, and as of 2019 it flies under the registrationVH-URZ.[31]
5 July 1976 – CA-17 Mustang Mk 20 "Miss Yankee",VH-BOY (ex-A68-39), crashed in Bankstown, Australia. The aircraft was subsequently rebuilt, and as of 2002 it flies under the registrationN551D.[32]
5 August 1993 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 22 "The Best Years Of Our Lives",F-AZIE (ex-A68-198), suffered an in-flight fire. The aircraft was badly damaged, but returned to the skies the following year. As of 2002, it flies as "Short Fuse Salle" (N286JB).[33][34]
10 July 2011 – CA-18 Mustang Mk 22 "Big Beautiful Doll",D-FBBD (ex-A68-192), collided in mid-air withDouglas A-1D SkyraiderF-AZDP (ex-Bu. 124143) in Duxford, UK. Rob Davies, the pilot of the Mustang, bailed out, and his aircraft crashed in a nearby field. The pilot of the Skyraider managed to safely land the damaged aircraft, despite losing its right wingtip. This was the same aircraft as the one that crashed on 19 October 1973.[25][30][35]
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