DHC-4 CARIBOU

DHC-4 CARIBOU - De Havilland Canada 1958

• MODEL                     -DHC-4A Caribou
• CREW                       -2
• PASSENGERS             -32
• ENGINE                    -2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7M Twin Wasp, 1081kW
• Take-off weight         -12927 kg
• Empty weight            -8283 kg
• Wingspan                 -29.15 m
• Length                     -22.12 m
• Height                      -9.68 m
• Wing area                 -84.72 m²
• Max. speed               -348 km/h
• Cruise speed             -293 km/h
• Ceiling                      -7560 m
• Range w/max.payload -389 km

The decision to build the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou was taken in 1956, the object being to develop an aircraft combining the load-carrying capability of the Douglas DC-3 with the STOL performance of the Beaver and Otter. The Canadian army placed an order for two and the US Army followed with five, the US Secretary of Defense waiving a restriction which limited the US Army to fixed-wing aircraft with an empty weight less than 2268kg.

The prototype flew in July 1958, its high wing having a characteristic centre-section with marked anhedral. The rear door was designed as a ramp for items weighing up to 3048kg. In the trooping role up to 32 soldiers could be carried. The Caribou served with the RCAF as the CC-108 and with the US Army as the AC-1 (1962 designation CV-2A). As a result of its evaluation of the first five aircraft the US Army adopted the Caribou as standard equipment and placed orders for 159.

The second batch of aircraft was designated CV-2B. Following tension on the border between China and India, the US Army handed over two Caribous to the Indian Air Force in early 1963. In January 1967 the 134 Caribous still in service with the US Army were transferred to US Air Force charge as C-7A and C-7B transports. The aircraft was a general sales success and examples flew not only with air forces throughout the world, but also with civil operators. In Canadian service the Caribou was replaced by the DHC-5 Buffalo and surplus examples were sold to a number of nations including Colombia, Oman and Tanzania. Many of the Canadian aircraft had been loaned to the United Nations, seeing extensive international service. Production ended in 1973. The DHC-4A model supplanted the DHC-4 on the production line from aircraft no. 24: the two models are very similar apart from the later model's increase in weight, maximum take-off weight of the DHC-4 being 11793kg. Total production was 307.

DHC-4 Caribou Video