Microsoft Flight Simulator Releases Local Legend 24: The CAC Boomerang

The Boomerang is a single-seat, single-engine, multi-role fighter developed and manufactured by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of Australia. CAC began developing the Boomerang to fulfill Australia’s urgent need for a combat aircraft following the outbreak of World War II. The manufacturer, founded in 1936, had been producing the Wirraway, a single-engine, 2-seat general purpose military aircraft frequently used as a trainer. CAC initially based the Boomerang on the Wirraway design and used several of its manufacturing techniques in the fighter’s production process. The fast-tracked effort delivered the first operational Boomerang just over 16 weeks after formal government approval of the design. It holds the distinction of being the only combat aircraft completely designed and manufactured by an Australian concern in history. Several remain in airworthy condition.

The Boomerang took its maiden flight on May 29, 1942, and entered service as a trainer on October 19, 1943. CAC manufactured a total of 250 units during a production run that spanned from 1942 to 1945. The Boomerang first saw combat on May 16, 1943, when a duo of the fighters engaged three Japanese bombers, forcing the enemy to abandon their mission and flee. The Boomerang would ultimately serve several military roles, including interdiction, air superiority, convoy escort, close air support, light bombing, attack, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) data collections. It was most notable for its air-to-surface roles, particularly those like close air support and light bombing where it was directly supporting ground troops.

The Boomerang features a stout fuselage constructed with aluminum framing and wood sheathing. Its cockpit has ballistic reinforcement and a sliding canopy. It features a low-mounted cantilever main wing, a standard empennage, and a retractable standard undercarriage. It measures 25 feet, 6 inches in length, stands 9 feet, 7 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 36 feet. The fighter is powered by a 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4G Twin Wasp radial piston engine that delivers up to 1,200 horsepower to a Hamilton Standard 3-blade, constant-speed propeller. During its operational tenure, the Boomerang was armed with two autocannons, four machine guns, and could carry a single bomb. The Boomerang could also carry up to four smoke bombs for target marking.

The Boomerang has a range of 932 miles, a service ceiling of 29,000 feet above sea level, a climb rate of 2,940 feet per minute, and a maximum speed of 305 miles per hour. Available today for $14.99 USD for purchase in the in-sim marketplace, take the Boomerang and explore the beauty of the world. The sky is calling!