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De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou: Difference between revisions

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==Specifications==
==Specifications (C-7B)==
⚫
{{aircraft specifications
⚫
{{aero-table}}
|plane or copter?=plane
⚫
{{Aircraft specifications}}
|jet or prop?=prop

|ref=
<table border="1" width="310" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right">
|crew=Three

|capacity=
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">C-7 Caribou</th></tr>
|payload main=
<tr><td colspan="3">
|payload alt=
</td></tr>
|length main= 72.58 ft

|length alt= 22.12 m
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">'''Description'''</th></tr>
|span main= 95.58 ft
<tr><td>Role</td><td colspan="2">STOL utility transport</td></tr>
|span alt= 29.13 m
<tr><td>Crew</td><td colspan="2">3</td></tr>
|height main= 31.66 ft

|height alt= 9.65 m
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">'''Dimensions'''</th></tr>
|area main= 912 ft²
<tr><td>Length</td><td>72.58 ft</td><td>22.12 m</td></tr>
|area alt= 84.7 m²
<tr><td>Wingspan</td><td>95.58 ft</td><td>29.13 m</td></tr>
|airfoil=
<tr><td>Height</td><td>31.66 ft</td><td>9.65 m</td></tr>
|empty weight main= 18,260 lb
<tr><td>Wing area</td><td>912 ft²</td><td>84.7 m²</td></tr>
|empty weight alt= 8,283 kg

|loaded weight main= 31,000 lb
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">'''Weights'''</th></tr>
|loaded weight alt= 14,198 kg
<tr><td>Empty</td><td>18,260 lb (B variant)</td><td>8,283 kg</td></tr>
|useful load main=
<tr><td>Loaded</td><td>31,000 lb</td><td>14,198 kg</td></tr>
|useful load alt=

|max takeoff weight main=
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">'''Powerplant'''</th></tr>
|max takeoff weight alt=
⚫
<tr><td>Engines</td><td colspan="2">Two [[Pratt & Whitney R-2000|Pratt and Whitney R-2000-7M2]] Twin Wasp 14-cylinder</td></tr>
|more general=
<tr><td>Power</td><td>1,450 hp</td><td>1081 kW</td></tr>
⚫
|engine (prop)= [[Pratt & Whitney R-2000|Pratt and Whitney R-2000-7M2]] Twin Wasp 14-cylinder

|type of prop=
<tr><th colspan="3" align="center" bgcolor="skyblue">'''Performance'''</th></tr>
|number of props=2
<tr><td>Maximum speed</td><td>216 mph</td><td>348 km/h</td></tr>
|power main= 1,450 hp
<tr><td>Combat range</td><td>1,307 mi</td><td>2,103 km</td></tr>
|power alt= 1,081 kW
<tr><td>Ferry range</td><td>242 mi</td><td>389 km</td></tr>
|power original=
<tr><td>Service ceiling</td><td>24,800 ft (B)</td><td>7,559 m</td></tr>
|max speed main=216 mph
<tr><td>Rate of climb</td><td>1,355 ft/min</td><td>413 m/min</td></tr>
|max speed alt= 348 km/h
</table>
|cruise speed main=
|cruise speed alt=
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt=
|never exceed speed main=
|never exceed speed alt=
|range main= 1,307 mi
|range alt= 2,103 km
|ceiling main= 24,800 ft
|ceiling alt= 7,559 m
|climb rate main= 1,355 ft/min
|climb rate alt= 413 m/min
|loading main=
|loading alt=
|thrust/weight=
|power/mass main=
|power/mass alt=
|more performance=
|armament=
|avionics=
}}
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{{aero-specs}}


==Reference==
==Reference==
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|see also={{de Havilland Canada}}
|see also={{de Havilland Canada}}
}}
}}

{{aero-specs}}


[[Category:Canadian military transport aircraft 1950-1959]]
[[Category:Canadian military transport aircraft 1950-1959]]

Revision as of 22:35, 13 March 2007


Template:Infobox Aircraft

The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (known in the US military as CV-2 and C-7 Caribou) was designed as a specialized transport with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It was first flown in 1958.

Design and development

de Havilland Canada's third STOL design was a big step up in size compared to its earlier DHC Beaver and DHC Otter, and was the first DHC design powered by two engines. The Caribou, however, was similar in concept in that it was designed as a rugged STOL utility. The Caribou was primarily a military tactical transport that in commercial service found itself a small niche in cargo hauling. The United States Army ordered 173 in 1959 and took delivery in 1961 under the designation AC-1 which then changed to CV-2 Caribou.

The majority of Caribou production was destined for military operators, but the type's ruggedness and excellent STOL capabilities also appealed to a select group of commercial users. US certification was awarded on 23 December 1960. AnsettMAL, which operated a single example in the New Guinea highlands, and AMOCO Ecuador were early customers, as was Air America, (a CIA front in South East Asia during the Vietnam War era for covert operations). Other civil Caribou aircraft entered commercial service after being retired from their military users.

Today only a handful are in civil use.

DHC-4T Turbo Caribou

Pen Turbo Aviation have designed, test flown and certified a conversion of the baseline DHC-4 Caribou to the PWC PT6A turboprop engine. This variant is designated the DHC-4T Turbo Caribou.

Operational service

In response to a US Army requirement for a tactical airlifter to supply the battlefront with troops and supplies and evacuate casualties on the return journey, de Havilland Canada designed the DHC-4. With assistance from Canada's Department of Defence Production, DHC built a prototype demonstrator that flew for the first time on 30 July 1958.

Impressed with the DHC4's STOL capabilities and potential, the US Army ordered five for evaluation as YAC-1s and went on to become the largest Caribou operator. The AC-1 designation was changed in 1962 to CV-2, and then C-7 when the US Army's CV-2s were transferred to the US Air Force in 1967. US and Australian Caribou saw extensive service during the Vietnam conflict.

The U.S. Army purchased 159 of the aircraft and they served their purpose well as a tactical transport during the Vietnam War, where larger cargo aircraft such as the C-123 Provider and the C-130 Hercules could not land on the shorter landing strips. The aircraft could carry 32 troops or two Jeeps or similar light vehicles. The rear loading ramp could also be used for parachute dropping.

In 1967, a political decision was made by the United States Air Force who, believing that all fixed-wing aircraft operations were its own province, demanded that the Army turn over the Caribou. The Army ultimately traded the Caribou to the Air Force in exchange for an end to restrictions on Army helicopter operations. In addition, some US Caribou were captured by North Vietnamese forces and remained in service with that country through to the late 1970s.

Most of the C-7s have since been phased out of the US military. Other notable military operators included Canada, Malaysia, Brazil, India and Spain. The Royal Australian Air Force still operates 14 Caribous, while Brazil's Caribous are slowly being replaced by more modern EADS CASA C-295 turboprop cargo airplanes.

Operators

Specifications (C-7B)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three

Performance

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

Reference

  • Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.

Related content

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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