Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) — Australia's Pioneer Military Aircraft Manufacturer
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was a prominent Australian aerospace manufacturer established in October 1936 to give Australia a self-sufficient military aircraft industry. Headquartered at Fishermans Bend in Melbourne, Victoria, the company produced over 1,500 military aircraft and engines before being integrated into Boeing Australia.
Key Aircraft Produced
CAC Wirraway (CA-1 to CA-16)
Based on the American North American NA-16, the Wirraway was an armed advanced trainer that served as the backbone of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight training during World War II. Because of early war shortages, it was also pressed into active combat as a "panic fighter" and army cooperation aircraft.
CAC Boomerang (CA-12 / CA-13 / CA-19)
The first combat aircraft entirely designed and built in Australia. Rushed into production in 1942 following Japan's entry into WWII, the Boomerang utilised the Wirraway's structure but featured heavy armament and a powerful radial engine. It lacked the high-speed capability needed to intercept enemy fighters but excelled in low-altitude ground-attack and army cooperation roles.
CAC Sabre (CA-27)
A highly modified, licensed version of the American North American F-86F Sabre jet. CAC redesigned the fuselage to accommodate a powerful British Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine, producing one of the most capable Sabre variants in service anywhere in the world.
CAC CA-15 "Kangaroo"
A high-performance, propeller-driven prototype fighter built late in WWII. Protracted development meant it was completed post-war and ultimately cancelled due to the arrival of operational jet engines.
CAC Ceres (CA-28)
A post-war civilian project built between 1959 and 1963, utilising converted Wirraway components to create a heavy agricultural crop-duster — a pragmatic peacetime application of wartime engineering.
Corporate History and Legacy
Foundation (1936)
Sparked by industrialist Essington Lewis, a consortium of Australian companies — including Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) and General Motors-Holden — formed the joint venture to prepare for a looming global conflict. The goal was clear: Australia could not depend on overseas supply chains in wartime.
Jet Age and Licensed Assembly
Post-WWII, CAC shifted to manufacturing licensed jet aircraft, most notably the CAC Sabre, and assembling French Dassault Mirage III fighters for the RAAF. The company remained the cornerstone of Australian military aviation capability through the Cold War era.
Acquisition and Closure (1985–2000)
Facing dwindling peacetime defence contracts, CAC was acquired by Hawker de Havilland in 1985 and renamed Hawker de Havilland Victoria Limited. The facility was ultimately purchased by Boeing Australia in 2000, bringing the CAC chapter to a close — though its legacy endures in every Australian-built aircraft that followed.
Online Aviation Library holds primary-source documentation covering CAC aircraft types. Explore the Australian Aviation Collection for available manuals, technical orders, and reference documents.