An era ended yesterday when the Royal Australian Air Force Museum at Point Cook took delivery of DeHavilland Caribou A4-152. Australia was one of the largest and longest operators of the Caribou, the aircraft’s flying characteristics were uniquely suited to RAAF operations. This machine saw service in Vietnam and went on to peace keeping and humanitarian duties around the world. After 45 years the Caribou has been retired. Apart from A4-152; aircraft A4-140 will go to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. What happens to the remaining aircraft is not yet known. The passing of the Caribou marks the end of another era. For the first time in its history the RAAF does not have a piston engined aircraft in its inventory. The pic below shows A4-152 at an airshow several years ago.
By: Binbrook 01 - 1st December 2009 at 16:56
Interestingly about two weeks ago one of the units airframes was airlifted back to its base as an underslung load by a Chinook after a landing incident earlier this year its serial was A4-199, and it seemed to be fairly intact.
The same Australian (DND) website has pictures of one of the ex RAAF 707s (the 707th built) that has gone to a museum, sadly twas the front fuselage only.
Cheers
TS
By: Phantom Phil - 1st December 2009 at 15:12
As long as they don’t end up like this one!
By: Digger - 1st December 2009 at 13:40
If you look carfully you can see the Loadie with one of those “Big Hands” waving out the back in this shot from a couple of years ago.
The noise inside these things is incredible! I remember landing somewhere in Shoalwater Bay, where we only used half the distance required by the Kiwi Andovers…..impressive..
By: wieesso - 29th November 2009 at 06:23
Then there is the “ultimate development” of the Caribou/Buffalo… NASA’s QSRA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_eDutgh4IU
… and beside NASA 715 this one:
N716NA, C-8A Buffalo Augmentor Wing Jet-STOL research aircraft
By: contrailjj - 29th November 2009 at 02:39
I always thought this aircraft was a prime candidate for having turbine engines installed.
By: Bager1968 - 29th November 2009 at 01:10
As used by the Canadian Forces.
Then there is the “ultimate development” of the Caribou/Buffalo… NASA’s QSRA:
By: pagen01 - 28th November 2009 at 08:12
I always thought this aircraft was a prime candidate for having turbine engines installed.
It did, and they called it the DHC-5 Buffalo!
By: David Layne - 28th November 2009 at 08:00
I always thought this aircraft was a prime candidate for having turbine engines installed.
By: PaulR - 27th November 2009 at 13:28
Sad to hear of the Bou’s passing, my late father always recalled fondly working on and travelling in them (leaving out the complaints of the oven-like interiors when on the ground) when he was in Oman in the 70s and 80s. Must try and find some of his old photos, if any escaped my mum’s dumping fetish when she moved house a couple of years ago.
By: JägerMarty - 27th November 2009 at 12:30
Nice post Keith, saw one flying over eastern Melbourne when @ work yesterday or day before. 45 year’s a fair effort
By: CanberraA84-232 - 27th November 2009 at 11:45
Seems they had a good run. Great to hear at least 2 will survive, but surely more will be on display in civilian run museums.
With air force maintenance, I bet they still have some service life is any operator gets a hold on them.
Not much in the FI department im afraid, fatigue has been a major factor in the decision to put the ‘Bou out to pasture, one even had a fatigue failure of the mainspar last year.
By: pagen01 - 27th November 2009 at 08:15
Thanks for that piece Keith, as you say a remarkable aeroplane, I ddn’t realise the RAAF were still using them up to now.
By: Mondariz - 26th November 2009 at 23:37
Seems they had a good run. Great to hear at least 2 will survive, but surely more will be on display in civilian run museums.
With air force maintenance, I bet they still have some service life is any operator gets a hold on them.
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November 26, 2009 at 9:00 pm