The Aircraft Projects of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation by Joe Vella

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Freshly published:

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This new book by author and AHSA member Joe Vella has just been published (April 2022).

Joe began writing this book in 1983 when he was invited by the management of CAC to conduct an independent review and compilation of the company’s historical archives. When the company was taken over by Hawker de Havilland in July 1985 the official impetus for a company history evaporated. But Joe continued with his writing and tried unsuccessfully to attract interest from publishers.

The hand-typed manuscript languished in storage for many years until the concept of self-publishing and print-on-demand came into vogue. With some encouragement and mentoring in desktop publishing software, Joe decided to move down this path and so the typed manuscript was scanned and optical-character-recognition employed to convert the files to editable text. The manuscript was also extended to cover the years beyond the takeover by Hawker de Havilland and other entities, a period not included in the original work.

The finished book is an invaluable reference to the aircraft projects commenced by CAC – a total of 106 projects are described. These include projects which were brief conceptual works all the way to projects which entered series production. The political and economic context of the projects is also explained. The projects are outlined in chronological order, making the book easy to follow. A major feature of the book are 114 line drawings prepared by Joe specifically for this publication, which illustrate the projects and complement the many CAC factory drawings also included. Data tables covering performance and dimensions for most of the project also complement the narrative.

The book contains 408 pages, including a comprehensive index. Chapters in the book are as follows:

Introduction: A brief company history (29 pages)

  1. Build-up to war
  2. First-generation jet fighters
  3. Basic trainer thinking
  4. Fast jets and Sabre prospects
  5. Winjeel derivatives, private aircraft venture and naval work
  6. Supersonic trainer/attack aircraft
  7. Commuter aircraft, helicopters and naval exports
  8. System upgrades, MB326H concepts and submarine detection
  9. Light transports and light military support aircraft
  10. Advanced and basic trainer aircraft concepts – a last fling
  11. Post company merger projects
  12. Aero engine work
(317 pages for the above chapters)

Appendices:

  1. CAC Company Data
  2. The Government’s Control of the Aircraft Industry
  3. CAC Logos
  4. Selected Design & Program Management Personnel
  5. An Explanation of Constructor Number Revisions
  6. Design Families
  7. Organisation Charts
  8. Factory Layout
  9. Contract Number List (As issued by CAC)
  10. Production Aircraft List (As issued by CAC)
  11. Aircraft Constructor Numbers
  12. CAC Project and Drawing Number Systems
  13. Design Origin Background
(18 pages for the above appendices)

And finally a 23-page photographic addenda of images collected during the editing of the book.

The book is available through online bookstores for a recommended retail price of $65. ISBN 9780645185904
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My copy arrived today . . . it's a hefty tome, A4 format, and over an inch thick . . .

cheers,
Robin.
 
Ordered mine through Book Depository, it was less expensive than Amazon and there were no shipping charges. Very much looking forward to receiving my copy.
 
elmayerle said:
Ordered mine through Book Depository, it was less expensive than Amazon and there were no shipping charges. Very much looking forward to receiving my copy.
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Interesting - at the time I ordered, Amazon was the least expensive option.
 
What a tome :) !
I am so grateful to come across books through this forum that are not the focus of interest, but are still a benefit to the reader.
Unfortunately, I noticed too late that there is also a hardcover edition with ISBN 9780645185911 - at least that's what the imprint of the paperback edition says.
 
My copy arrived today and it looks to be an absorbing chunk of reading material.
 
Can anyone with this book in their hands say if Chapter 7 makes any reference to CAC and the Hughes 500 helicopter that they were potentially going to build and distribute? Thanks.

500 Fan.
 
500 Fan said:
Can anyone with this book in their hands say if Chapter 7 makes any reference to CAC and the Hughes 500 helicopter that they were potentially going to build and distribute? Thanks.

500 Fan.
Click to expand...
Yes it does though not a great deal - maybe half a page
 

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