The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designated by the United States military as the CV-2 and later C-7 Caribou) is a Canadian specialized
cargo aircraft
A cargo aircraft (also known as freight aircraft, freighter, airlifter or cargo jet) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is designed or converted for the carriage of air cargo, cargo rather than passenger aircraft, passengers. Such aircraft usually ...
with
short takeoff and landing
A short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft is a conventional fixed-wing aircraft that has short runway requirements for takeoff and landing. Many STOL-designed aircraft also feature various arrangements for use on airstrips with harsh condition ...
(
STOL
A short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft is a conventional fixed-wing aircraft that has short runway requirements for takeoff and landing. Many STOL-designed aircraft also feature various arrangements for use on airstrips with harsh conditio ...
) capability. The Caribou was first flown in 1958 and although mainly retired from military operations, is still in use in small numbers as a rugged
"bush" aircraft.
The design was further developed as the
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing ( STOL) utility transport turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou. The aircraft has extraordinary STOL performance and is able to take off ...
, adding
turboprop
A turboprop is a turbine engine that drives an aircraft propeller.
A turboprop consists of an intake, reduction gearbox, compressor, combustor, turbine, and a propelling nozzle. Air enters the intake and is compressed by the compressor. Fuel ...
engines and other changes that further improved its short-field performance to the point where it competes with
light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross takeoff weight of or less.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 308. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997.
Light aircraft are used as utility aircraft c ...
even with a full load.
Design and development
![Royal Australian Air Force DHC-4 Caribou - A4-299](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Royal_Australian_Air_Force_DHC-4_Caribou_-_A4-299.jpg)
The de Havilland Canada company's third STOL design was a big increase in size compared to its earlier
DHC Beaver and
DHC Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and h ...
, and was the first DHC design powered by two engines. The Caribou was similar in concept in that it was designed as a rugged STOL utility aircraft. The Caribou was primarily a military tactical transport that in commercial service found itself a small niche in cargo hauling. The
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
ordered 173 in 1959 and took delivery in 1961 under the designation AC-1, which was changed to CV-2 Caribou in 1962.
The majority of Caribou production was destined for military operators, but the type's ruggedness and excellent STOL capabilities requiring runway lengths of only 1200 feet (365 metres) also appealed to some commercial users. U.S. certification was awarded on 23 December 1960.
Ansett-MAL, which operated a single example in the
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
highlands, and
AMOCO
Amoco () is a brand of fuel stations operating in the United States, and owned by BP since 1998. The Amoco Corporation was an American chemical and oil company, founded by Standard Oil Company in 1889 around a refinery in Whiting, Indiana, a ...
Ecuador were early customers, as was
Air America (a CIA front in South East Asia during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
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.
The Turbo Caribou Program
PEN Turbo Aviation of Cape May, NJ, has undertaken the re-engineering of the DHC-4A Caribou to a turbine powered variant, designated DHC-4A Turbo Caribou. The conversion utilizes the
PT6A-67T engines and Hartzell 5 Bladed HC-B5MA-3M Constant Speed/Reversing propellers. Overall performance has improved and "new" basic weight is reduced while maximum normal take-off weight remained at 28,500 lbs. Maximum payload is 10,000 lbs. Both Transport Canada (11/14/00) and Federal Aviation Administration (2/27/01) have issued Supplemental Type Certificates for the Turbo Caribou. As of Sept 17, 2014, only 3
air frames have gone through the conversion process. PEN Turbo has stockpiled dozens of air frames at their facility in NJ for possible future conversion
PEN Turbo Aviation named their company after Perry E. Niforos, who died in the 1992 crash of an ''earlier'' turboprop Caribou converted by a different firm, NewCal Aviation.
Operational history
![DHC-4 Caribou Vietnam](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/DHC-4_Caribou_Vietnam.jpg)
In response to a U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Army's CV-2s were transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1967. U.S. and Australian Caribou saw extensive service during the Vietnam War.
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
Fairchild C-123 Provider
The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and then built by Fairchild Aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. In addition to its USAF service, which included later service with the Air Force Re ...
and the
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally design ...
could not land on the shorter landing strips. The aircraft could carry 32 troops or two
Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...
s or similar light vehicles. The rear loading ramp could also be used for parachute dropping (also, see
Air America).
Under the
Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966
The Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966 was an agreement between United States Army Chief of Staff General Harold K. Johnson and United States Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. McConnell on 6 April 1966. The U.S. Army agreed to give up its ...
, the Army relinquished the fixed wing Caribou to the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
in exchange for an end to restrictions on Army
rotary wing
A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are referred to as a rotor. The Internati ...
operations. On 1 January 1967, the 17th, 57th, 61st, 92nd, 134th, and 135th Aviation Companies of the U.S. Army were inactivated and their aircraft transferred respectively to the newly activated 537th, 535th, 536th, 459th, 457th, and 458th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the USAF (This was Operation "Red Leaf"). On 1 August 1967 the "troop carrier" designations were changed to "tactical airlift".
Some U.S. Caribou were captured by North Vietnamese forces and remained in service with that country through to the late 1970s. Following the war in Vietnam, all USAF Caribou were transferred to
Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
and
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
airlift units pending their replacement by the C-130 Hercules in the 1980s.
![DHC-4 Caribou N1017H OPA 11](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/DHC-4_Caribou_N1017H_OPA_11.11.89_edited-2.jpg)
All C-7s have now been phased out of U.S. military service, with the last example serving again under U.S. Army control through 1985 in support of the U.S. Army's
Golden Knights parachute demonstration team. Other notable military operators included Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia and Spain.
In September 1975, a group of 44 civilians, including armed supporters of the
Timorese Democratic Union
The Timorese Democratic Union ( pt, União Democrática Timorense, UDT) is a conservative political party in East Timor. It was the first party to be established in the country on May 11, 1974, following the Carnation Revolution in Portugal.
...
(UDT), commandeered a
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
(RAAF) Caribou, ''A4-140'', on the ground at
Baucau Airport
Baucau Airport ( pt, Aeroporto de Baucau, , ), formerly Cakung Airport, is an unattended and mostly unused airport near Baucau, East Timor. It is the largest airport in East Timor, and has a much longer runway than Dili's Presidente Nicolau L ...
in the then
Portuguese Timor
Portuguese Timor ( pt, Timor Português) was a colonial possession of Portugal that existed between 1702 and 1975. During most of this period, Portugal shared the island of Timor with the Dutch East Indies.
The first Europeans to arrive in the ...
, which was in the middle of a civil war. The Caribou had landed at Baucau on a humanitarian mission for the
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC; french: Comité international de la Croix-Rouge) is a humanitarian organization which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it is also a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate. State parties (signato ...
. The civilians demanded that the RAAF crew members fly them to
Darwin Airport
Darwin International Airport is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin.
The airport is located in Darwin's northern suburbs, from Darwin city ...
(also
RAAF Base Darwin
RAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base located in the city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory, Australia. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport, for civil aviation purposes. The herit ...
) in Australia, which they did. After the Caribou arrived there, the Australian government detained the civilians for a short period, and then granted refugee visas to all of them. ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' later described ''A4-140'' as "the only RAAF plane ever hijacked", and the incident as "one of the more remarkable stories in Australia’s military and immigration history".
The RAAF retired ''A4-140'', by then its last Caribou, on 27 November 2009.
["Defence 'workhorse' makes final flight."]
''ABC News'', 27 November 2009. Retrieved: 27 November 2009. The aircraft, which was manufactured in 1964, was donated to the
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...
,
Canberra
Canberra ( )
is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...
.
Civilian operations
After retirement from military use, several examples of the Caribou have been purchased by civilian operators for deployment in areas with small airfields located in rugged country with few or poor surface transport links.
Variants
![Royal Australian Air Force DHC-4 Caribou - A4-299 - 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Royal_Australian_Air_Force_DHC-4_Caribou_-_A4-299_-_01.jpg)
;DHC-4 Caribou
:STOL tactical transport, utility transport aircraft.
:;CC-108
::
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
designation for the DHC-4 Caribou.
:;YAC-1
::This designation was given to five DHC-4 Caribou, sold to the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
for evaluation.
:;AC-1
::
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
designation for the first production run of 56 DHC-4 Caribou. Later redesignated CV-2A in 1962.
:;CV-2A
::
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
AC-1 redesignated in 1962.
;;CV-2B
::This designation was given to a second production run of 103 DHC-4 Caribou, which were sold to the U.S. Army, with reinforced internal ribbing.
:;C-7A/B
::These designations were applied to all 144 Caribou transferred to the
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
by the U.S. Army.
;DHC-4A Caribou
:Similar to the DHC-4, but this version had an increased takeoff weight.
;DHC-4T Turbo Caribou
:A conversion of the baseline DHC-4 Caribou powered by the PWC PT6A-67T turboprop engines designed, test flown and certified by the
Pen Turbo Aviation company.
Operators
Military operators
;/
* Abu Dhabi Defence Forces Air Wing – Abu Dhabi operated five Caribou.
[Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, p. 24.]
*
United Arab Emirates Air Force
The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) ( ar, القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي الاماراتي, al-Quwwāt al-Jawiyah wa al-Defa' al-Jawiy al-ʾImārāty) is the air force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), part of the U ...
![De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou A4-152 on display at the RAAF Museum](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-4_Caribou_A4-152_on_display_at_the_RAAF_Museum.jpg)
;
*
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
– 18 ordered in 1963, with further orders for seven in 1964 and four more aircraft ordered individually between 1968 and 1971.
["A4 DHC-4 Caribou"](_blank)
''RAAF Museum Point Cook''. 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2012. Retired 2009.
**
No. 35 Squadron RAAF
No. 35 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) transport unit. Formed in 1942, No. 35 Squadron operated during World War II, transporting cargo and passengers around Australia, New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies, equipped wit ...
1966–2000 – transferred to No 38 Squadron RAAF.
**
No. 38 Squadron RAAF 1964–2009 – all retired.
**
RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam
No. 35 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) transport unit. Formed in 1942, No. 35 Squadron operated during World War II, transporting cargo and passengers around Australia, New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies, equipped with ...
– seven operated from 1964 to 1971 and returned to Australia 1972
;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
– nine delivered; retired from
Canadian Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
in 1971.
**
424 Transport and Rescue Squadron
;
*
Cameroon Air Force
The Cameroon Air Force (french: Armée de l'Air du Cameroun, AdAC) is the air force of Cameroon. The Cameroon Air Force, along with the Cameroon Army, the Cameroon Navy (including the Naval Infantry), the National Gendarmerie, and the President ...
– two delivered in 1971. The surviving Caribou was sold in 1987.
[Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, p. 26.]
*
Air Surveillance Service
There is officially no Air Force of Costa Rica; the only air wing in existence is attached to the Public Force of Costa Rica. Currently this unit, officially called Air Vigilance Service ( es, Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (SVA)), also called the ...
– Two ex-USAF C-7As delivered in the 1980s.
Refurbished in July 2010 for the Fuerza Publica.
["Fuerza Pública revive avión militar Caribú – SUCESOS – La Nación" (in Spanish).](_blank)
Nacion.com. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.
;
*
Khmer Air Force
The Khmer Air Force (french: Armée de l'air khmère; AAK), commonly known by its americanized acronym KAF (or KhAF) was the air force component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (FANK), the official military of the Khmer Republic during the Cam ...
. Operated unspecified number of C-123's. Several were seized by the Khmer Rouge in the
Cambodian Civil War
The Cambodian Civil War ( km, សង្គ្រាមស៊ីវិលកម្ពុជា, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) was a civil war in Cambodia fought between the forces of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (known as the Khme ...
;
*
Ghana Air Force
The Ghana Air Force (GHF) is the aerial warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). The GHF, along with the Ghanaian army (GA) and Ghanaian navy (GN), make up the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF), which are controlled ...
– Ghana acquired eight new-build Caribou in 1963, which were operated until replaced by
Fokker F.27-400Ms in 1975.
;
*
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...
– India received 20 new build Caribou, supplementing them with four ex-Ghanaian Caribou in 1975.
![An old de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou at THR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/An_old_de_Havilland_Canada_DHC-4_Caribou_at_THR.jpg)
;
*
Imperial Iranian Air Force
The history of the Iranian Air Force, currently known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, can be divided into two phases—before the Islamic Revolution, and after it.
Imperial era
The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was a branch ...
– One aircraft delivered to Iran. It was retired after
Iran–Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for almost eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council ...
.
;
*
Kenya Air Force
The Kenya Air Force (KAF) or sw, Jeshi la Wanahewa is the national aerial warfare service branch of the Republic of Kenya.
The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the he ...
– received six DHC-4As, operating the type from 1966 to 1987.
;
*
Kuwait Air Force
The Kuwait Air Force ( ar, القوات الجوية الكويتية , al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining f ...
– received two aircraft in 1963.
;
*
Liberian Army – Two refurbished aircraft were delivered to the Air Reconnaissance Unit in 1989.
[Henley and Ellis ''Air Enthusiast'' March/April 1998, pp. 26, 28.] The aircraft were destroyed during the civil war.
;
*
Malaysian Air Force
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, ms, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia; TUDM; Jawi: ) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (; ). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force format ...
– retired their Caribou from active service.
;
*
Sultanate of Oman Air Force
;
*
Spanish Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Spanish Air and Space Force Anthem
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 10 December
, equipment ...
– received 12 new Caribou later supplemented by 24 former United States Air Force C-7As. Final retirement 12 June 1991.
;
*
Republic of Vietnam Air Force
The South Vietnam Air Force, officially the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF; vi, Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa, KLVNCH; french: Force aérienne vietnamienne, FAVN) (sometimes referred to as the Vietnam Air Force or VNAF) was the aer ...
;
*
Swedish Air Force
The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History
The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...
– operated one DHC-4 Caribou designated Tp 55 between 1962 and 1965 for evaluation purposes at
Skaraborg Wing
Skaraborg Wing ( sv, Skaraborgs flygflottilj), also F 7 Såtenäs, or simply F 7, is a Swedish Air Force wing with the main base located near Lidköping in south-central Sweden.
History
The decision to set up the air wing was made in 1936, but ...
(F 7).
[Buser, Wayne]
"Caribou Roster."
Dhc4and5.org, 4 September 2010. Retrieved: 26 May 2011.
;
*
Tanzanian Air Force
The Tanzania Air Force Command ( sw, Kamandi ya Jeshi la Anga) is the aerial service branch of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF). The current commander of the Tanzania Air Force Command is Major General SB MANI
, who replaced major gen ...
;
*
Royal Thai Police
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) ( th, สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ; ) is the national police force of Thailand. The RTP employs between 210,700 and 230,000 officers, roughly 17 percent of all civil servants (excludi ...
– used three DHC-4A from 1966 to 2005.
;
*
Uganda Police Force
The Uganda Police Force is the national police force of Uganda. The head of the force is called the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The current IGP is Martin Okoth Ochola. Ochola replaced former IGP, General Kale Kayihura in March 2018. Rec ...
Air Wing
;
*
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
*
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
;
*
Vietnam People's Air Force
The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF, ), formally refers itself as the Air Defence - Air Force (ADAF, ) or the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF, ), is the Air force, aerial warfare service branch of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North V ...
– captured several ex-
VNAF airplanes.
;
*
Zambian Air Force
The Zambian Air Force (ZAF) is the air force of Zambia and the air operations element of the Zambian Defence Force. Following the creation of the Republic of Zambia in 1964, the former Northern Rhodesia Air Force was renamed as the Zambian Air ...
– operated four Caribou.
[Taylor 1971, p. 19.]
Civil operators
;
*
Ansett-MAL – operated one aircraft in the
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
highlands.
;
*
La Sarre Air Services
** acquired C-GVGX in 1977 (delivered 1961) and unknown status after 1981 when
Propair
Propair Inc. is a charter airline with its headquarters and main base at the Rouyn-Noranda Airport in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada. It operates charter and medevac flights and had a secondary base at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport ...
formed from merger of La Sarre Air Services (used in El Salvador to Nicaragua 1986)
;
*
Air Vigillance Service
;
*
AMOCO Ecuador
*
Anglo-Ecuador Oilfields
*
Aerolíneas Cóndor of SA
;
*
Air Inter Gabon
;
*
Municipal Government of Puncak Regency
*
Trigana Air
Trigana Air (registered as Trigana Air Service) is an airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
History
The company commenced operations in early 1991 with two Beechcraft King Air 200 fixed-wing aircraft, and by the end of that year had added two lic ...
;
*
New Cal Aviation
;
*
Garamut Exploration Services
*
Vanimo Trading
Vanimo is the capital of Sandaun Province (West Sepik) in north-westernmost Papua New Guinea and of Vanimo-Green River District. It is located on a peninsula close to the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border, border with Indonesia.
Religion
Its ...
;
*
Air Asia
;
*
Air America
*
Bannock Aerospace
*
Chieftain Air
*
Deutsche Aviation
*
Environmental Research Institute of Michigan
*
Fowler Aeronautical Service
*
H A T Aviation Inc.
*
John Woods Inc.
*
New Cal Aviation
*
Pen Turbo Aviation
*
Flightworks
Aircraft on display
Australia
;Airworthy
* A4-210 – DHC-4 airworthy with the
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society
The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, often referred to by its acronym, HARS, is an Australian based aircraft restoration group. The group has two museums, at Shellharbour Airport in New South Wales, Australia, and Parkes, New South Wales ...
,
Illawarra Regional Airport
Shellharbour Airport, formerly Illawarra Regional Airport, also referred as Albion Park Aerodrome or Wollongong Airport, is an airport located in Albion Park Rail, Shellharbour City, New South Wales, Australia. The Historical Aircraft Restor ...
,
Albion Park, New South Wales
Albion Park is a suburb situated in the Macquarie Valley in the City of Shellharbour, which is in turn one of the three local government areas that comprise the Wollongong Metropolitan Area, New South Wales, Australia. Although it is surround ...
. Now carries civil registration.
* A4-234 – DHC-4 airworthy with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Illawarra Regional Airport, Albion Park, New South Wales. Now carries civil registration.
;On display
* A4-134 - DHC-4 on display at
The Army Museum Bandiana
The Army Museum Bandiana is dedicated to collecting, housing, displaying military equipment, weapons and vehicles associated with the Australian Army. It is the largest and most diversified military museum in Australia
The museum is based within A ...
,
Bandiana, Victoria
Bandiana is a Suburb of the City of Wodonga local government area in northeast Victoria, Australia.
History
Bandiana takes its name from the early name for the area, probably from a First Nations toponym.
The hill now known as Bears Hill appea ...
.
* A4-140 – DHC-4 in storage at the Treloar Technology Centre of the
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia and some conflicts involving pe ...
in
Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory
Mitchell (postcode: 2911) is a light-industrial estate of Canberra, Australia in the district of Gungahlin. Mitchell was named in honour of Major Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, an explorer of inland New South Wales and Surveyor-General of Ne ...
. This airframe was gifted to the museum in November 2009.
* A4-152 – DHC-4 on static display at the
Royal Australian Air Force Museum in
Point Cook, Victoria
Point Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Wyndham local government area. Point Cook recorded a population of 66,781 at the 2021 census.
Point Cook ...
. This airframe was gifted to the museum in November 2009.
* A4-159 - DHC-4 forward section at the
Queensland Air Museum
The Queensland Air Museum is a not-for-profit community-owned aviation museum located at Caloundra Airport in Queensland, Australia. Its mission is to collect and preserve all aspects of aviation heritage with an emphasis on Australia and Queens ...
in
Caloundra, Queensland
Caloundra ( ) is a coastal town and the southernmost town in the Sunshine Coast Region in South East Queensland, Australia.
Geography
Caloundra is north of the Brisbane central business district. Caloundra is accessible from Landsborough r ...
.
* A4-173 – DHC-4 on static display at the
Queensland Air Museum
The Queensland Air Museum is a not-for-profit community-owned aviation museum located at Caloundra Airport in Queensland, Australia. Its mission is to collect and preserve all aspects of aviation heritage with an emphasis on Australia and Queens ...
in
Caloundra, Queensland
Caloundra ( ) is a coastal town and the southernmost town in the Sunshine Coast Region in South East Queensland, Australia.
Geography
Caloundra is north of the Brisbane central business district. Caloundra is accessible from Landsborough r ...
(fitted with the wings and tail off A4-164).
* A4-195 – DHC-4 with the Australian Army Flying Museum in
Oakey, Queensland
Oakey is a rural town and locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. The Museum of Army Aviation is located at Oakey Airport.
Geography
The town is situated on the eastern side of the Darling Downs and the Toowoomba Region lo ...
.
* A4-199 – DHC-4 gate guard at
RAAF Base Townsville
RAAF Base Townsville (formerly RAAF Base Garbutt) is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air base located in , west of Townsville in Queensland, Australia. It is the headquarters for No. 1 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets and, along with L ...
in
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. With a population of 180,820 as of June 2018, it is the largest settlement in North Queensland; it is unofficially considered its capital. Estimated resident population, 3 ...
.
* A4-204 - DHC-4 on display at
National Vietnam Veterans Museum,
Phillip Island, Victoria.
* A4-225 - DHC-4 on display at
South Australian Aviation Museum
The South Australian Aviation Museum, located in Port Adelaide, South Australia, is an aviation museum which displays aircraft, aircraft engines, and rockets of relevance to South Australia, and the history of aviation and the aerospace industr ...
,
Port Adelaide, South Australia
Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide city centre, Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is t ...
.
![AU-Qld-Caboolture-Airport with Caribou-2021](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/AU-Qld-Caboolture-Airport_with_Caribou-2021.jpg)
* A4-228 - DHC-4 on display at Caboolture Warplane and Flight Heritage Museum,
Caboolture Airfield, Caboolture, Queensland.
* A4-231 - DHC-4 on display at National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Phillip Island, Victoria.
* A4-236 – DHC-4 on static display at the Aviation Heritage Center,
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military airbase located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland in Australia and southwest of Brisbane CBD. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron (operating the F/A-18F Super Hornet), N ...
,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
.
* A4-275 - DHC-4 stored at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Albion Park, New South Wales.
* A4-299 - DHC-4 on static display at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Association Museum at Evans Head, New South Wales.
Costa Rica
;On display
* MSP002 - DHC-4 on static display at Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport, Liberia, Costa Rica
India
;On display
* BM769 – DHC-4 on static display at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters in
Shillong, Meghalaya
Shillong () is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, which means "The Abode of Clouds". It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with a p ...
* BM774 – DHC-4 on static display at the
Indian Air Force Museum in
Palam, Delhi.
Malaysia
;On display
* M21-04 – DHC-4A on static display at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum in
Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.
* A ex-RMAF DHC-4A on static display at the Malaysian Army Museum at
Port Dickson
Port Dickson (Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Podeksen'', Jawi: ) is a beach resort in Port Dickson District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is the second largest urban area in Negeri Sembilan after Seremban, its state capital. The town's adminis ...
,
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
.
Spain
;On display
* T.9-9 – DHC-4A on display in
San Torcuato, La Rioja.
* T.9-10 – DHC-4A on display in
Fuenlabrada, Madrid.
* T.9-23 – C-7A on static display at the
Villanubla Air Base in
Villanubla, Castile and León. This airframe was previously operated by the 37th Transport Wing.
* T.9-25 – C-7A on static display at the
Museo del Aire in
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
. This airframe was previously operated by the former 37th Transport Wing.
Thailand
;On display
* 12271 – DHC-4A on display at Camp Naresuan,
Hua Hin District, Thailand.
United States
![16 19 011 caribou](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/16_19_011_caribou.jpg)
;Airworthy
* 2 – DHC-2 airworthy with John K. Bagley of
Rexburg, Idaho
Rexburg is a city in Madison County, Idaho, United States. The population was 39,409 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County and its largest city. Rexburg is the principal city of the Rexburg, ID Micropolitan Statist ...
.
* 62-4149 – CV-2B airworthy at the
Cavanaugh Flight Museum
The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is an aviation museum in Addison, Texas, with a non-profit 501(c)(3) status for aviation educational.
Mission
The Museum promotes aviation education, research and American aviation heritage. Further, the Museum pro ...
in
Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County w ...
.
;On display
* 57-3079 – YC-7A on static display at the
U.S. Army Transportation Museum at
Joint Base Langley–Eustis
Joint Base Langley–Eustis is a United States military facility located adjacent to Hampton and Newport News, Virginia. The base is an amalgamation of the United States Air Force's Langley Air Force Base and the United States Army's Fort Eu ...
near
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News () is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the 5th most populous city in Virginia and 140th most populous city in the Uni ...
.
* 57-3080 – YC-7A on static display at the
United States Army Aviation Museum
The United States Army Aviation Museum is an aviation museum located on Fort Rucker near Daleville, Alabama. It has the largest collection of helicopters held by a museum in the world.Phillips 1992, p. 37.Purner 2004, p. 204. The museum features ...
at
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located primarily in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training installation for U.S. Army Aviators and ...
near
Daleville, Alabama
Daleville is a city in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 5,295, up from 4,653 in 2000. It is part of the Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's nickname is "Gateway to Fort Rucker", as this U.S ...
.
* 57-3082 – YC-7A (4th of original 5 on order) on static display at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX Linear Air Park. The U.S.Army accepted delivery at the DeHavilland plant in Toronto, Ontario during late November, early December 1959. On 31 December 1966 this aircraft and equipment was transferred from U.S. Army ownership to U.S. Air Force ownership. The aircraft served the U.S. Air Force at headquarters, U.S.Air Force Logistics Command at Wright Petterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. until 1975. It was then transferred to Pope AF at Fayetteville, NC to serve the "Golden Knights" parachute team as a jump aircraft. Later, when Dyess was seeking a C-7 for display, they sent a team down to Pope AFB and secured this particular machine in 1992. The 463rd Maintenance Squadron deployed to Pope AFB to break this aircraft down so it could be brought to Dyess by a C5B Galaxy. It was officially dedicated here 2 May 1992.
* 57-3083 – YC-7A on static display at the
82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum
The 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum is a museum located at Ardennes and Gela Streets on the Fort Bragg Army base. Established in 1945, the museum chronicles the history of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1917 to the present including ...
at
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is a military installation of the United States Army in North Carolina, and is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with around 54,000 military personnel. The military reservation is located within Cum ...
near
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city.
Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...
.
* 60-3767 – C-7A on static display at the
Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center
The Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum (former names include Travis Air Museum, Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum, and Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center) is an aviation museum located at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. The ...
at
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located three miles (5 km) east of the central business district of the city of Fairfield, in Solano County, Californi ...
near
Fairfield, California
Fairfield is a city in and the county seat of Solano County, California, in the North Bay sub-region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is generally considered the midpoint between the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, approximately fro ...
.
* 62-4188 – C-7A on static display at the
New England Air Museum
The New England Air Museum (NEAM) is an American aerospace museum located adjacent to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The museum consists of three display hangars with additional storage and restoration hangars. Its co ...
in
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,613. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region and occupies approxim ...
.
* 62-4193 – C-7A on static display at the
National Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force (formerly the United States Air Force Museum) is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the ...
in
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...
.
* 63-9756 – C-7B on static display at the
Museum of Aviation in
Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins (typically ) is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located in Houston and Peach counties in the central part of the state. It is currently Georgia's eleventh-largest incorporated city, with an estimated population of 80,308 in th ...
.
* 63-9757 – C-7B on static display at the
Hill Aerospace Museum
Hill Aerospace Museum is a military aviation museum located at Hill Air Force Base in Roy, Utah. It is dedicated to the history of the base and aviation in Utah.
History
Preparations for a museum began in 1984, when ground was broken on an "Ae ...
at
Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force (USAF) base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and bordering the Cities of Layton, Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, and Sunset with its largest border immediately adjacent to ...
near
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau, making it Utah's eighth ...
.
* 63-9760 – C-7A on static display at the
Air Mobility Command Museum
The Air Mobility Command Museum a military aviation museum located at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware dedicated to the history of the Air Transport Command, Military Air Transport Service, Military Airlift Command and Air Mobility Command. ...
at
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware. 436th AW is the host wing and runs the busiest and largest a ...
near
Dover, Delaware
Dover () is the capital and second-largest city of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County and the principal city of the Dover, DE, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County and is part of ...
.
* 63-9719 – C-7B stored at the
Texas Air & Space Museum
The Texas Air & Space Museum is an aviation museum located near Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport in Amarillo, Texas. The museum displays civilian and military aircraft, as well as a wide range of air and space artifacts.
History
In 19 ...
in
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo ( ; Spanish for "yellow") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the largest city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County ...
.
* 63-9765 – C-7B in storage at the
Air Force Flight Test Center Museum
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
at
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation in California. Most of the base sits in Kern County, but its eastern end is in San Bernardino County and a southern arm is in Los Angeles County. The hub of the base is E ...
near
Edwards, California
Edwards (formerly, Muroc and Wherry Housing) is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California.
It is located east-southeast of Mojave, about northeast of Lancaster, east of Rosamond, and south of California City at an elevation o ...
.
Last known Caribou delivered to U.S. Army, in U.S. Army Golden Knights markings.
Specifications (DHC-4A)
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
* Andrade, John. ''Militair 1982''. London: Aviation Press, 1982. .
The C-7A Caribou Association ''deHavilland Caribou (DHC-4) and Buffalo (DHC-5) website''.
* "Caribou to Bow Out Early". ''
Air International
''AIR International'' is a British aviation magazine covering current defence aerospace and civil aviation topics. It has been in publication since 1971 and is currently published by Key Publishing Ltd.
History and profile
The magazine was fir ...
'', Vol. 76. No. 4, April 2009, p. 5.
* Green, William. ''Macdonald Aircraft Handbook''. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1964.
*
* Henley, Don and Ken Ellis. "Globetrotting Reindeers: De Havilland Canada's Caribou – an Airlift Legend". ''
Air Enthusiast
''Air Enthusiast'' was a British, bi-monthly, aviation magazine, published by the Key Publishing group. Initially begun in 1974 as ''Air Enthusiast Quarterly'', the magazine was conceived as a historical adjunct to '' Air International'' maga ...
'', No. 74, March/April 1998, pp. 20–33. .
* Hotson, Fred W. ''The de Havilland Canada Story.'' Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. .
''Kuwait Air Force (KAF)''entry at the ''Scramble'' (magazine) website:
entry at the ''Scramble'' magazine website.
entry at the ''Scramble'' magazine website.
* Soupart, Roger. "Adios Muchachas!". ''Air Enthusiast'', No. 45, March–May 1992. pp. 44–51. .
* Taylor, John W.R. (ed.). ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72''. London: Janes's Yearbooks, 1971. .
External links
The C-7A Caribou Associationa 1959 ''Flight'' article
"The brave caribous in the dark: How a transport aircraft was converted into a bomber" ''The Probe'', 17 December 2021.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Havilland Canada Dhc-4 Caribou
DHC-4
1950s Canadian civil utility aircraft
1950s Canadian military transport aircraft
High-wing aircraft
STOL aircraft
Cruciform tail aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1958
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft