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wessex19
30th Sep 2008, 13:48
Source; Australian Aviation

CARIBOU TO BE RETIRED IN 2009: "The RAAF will retire its fleet of 14 DHC-4 Caribou tactical transports next year following the discovery of fatigue cracking and corrosion on the fleet's airframes and various systems.

Although the RAAF planned to operate the fleet through until 2012, the decision to bring the retirement date forward comes after a Caribou suffered severe damage to its left wing and upper fuselage after was what was previously reported as a ‘hard landing' in Papua New Guinea last month. The cause of the damage has since been attributed to a structural failure caused by severe fatigue.

Although nothing has been officially announced, sources say the Caribou's transport capability in regions such as PNG and East Timor will be temporarily covered by Army King Airs until a permanent replacement can be provided through the delayed Air 8000 Phase 2 project. "


http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/1/7/7/43142_1213176771.jpg

http://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/images/caribou/caribou-lapes.jpg

http://members.aol.com/SamBlu82/caribou.jpg

Wiley
30th Sep 2008, 15:40
Ahhhh... the venerable gravel truck. The only fixed wing aircraft in the world that could suffer a bird strike from the rear.

What will be the replacement a/c? C-27, or something politically correct from the Near North?

Or nothing?

microlight AV8R
30th Sep 2008, 16:18
Reckon the C27 is a good bet as it's marketed as having a lot of common systems to the C130J which is already operated by RAAF.

nacluv
30th Sep 2008, 17:07
I've never appreciated just how massive a vertical stabiliser these things have. Greater area than the whole side of the fuselage...

Flight Detent
1st Oct 2008, 00:36
WOW...as I was looking thru this post, I recalled being in PNG (38detA) as the last Caribou transitted thru there on it's delivery flight to Sydney!!

Boy, that does make me feel a little older!! (or at least realize the fact!)

Cheers...FD...:ooh:

Doors Off
1st Oct 2008, 02:42
It will be sad to see it leave. A very special aircraft that is so good it is almost a helicopter. :}

Can it really be 'replaced'? Safe flying to the crews for the remainder of it's time in service.

Like This - Do That
1st Oct 2008, 03:15
"MIN 89/97 Tuesday, 1 July, 1997

THREE COMPANIES SHORT-LISTED FOR CARIBOU REPLACEMENT

The Minister for Defence, Mr McLachlan, announced today that three companies had been short-listed as potential suppliers for the Australian Defence Force's new Light Transport Aircraft."

Wiley
1st Oct 2008, 05:16
I've never appreciated just how massive a vertical stabiliser these things haveAnyone who has sat at the holding point watching what happens to the 'bou's 'massive vertical stabiliser' with brakes set and METO power applied just before it starts a STOL takeoff comes away with great respect for the durability -and malleability - of aviation grade aluminium. With full power applied, the whole tail section of the 'bou takes on a mind of it own, twisting and turning every which way, a bit like a snake that's been pinned to the floor on a shovel blade. (And that's not as big an exaggeration as some might suspect - the amount of flexing and wobbling is little short of alarming!!)

BentStick
1st Oct 2008, 05:19
Australian Aviation may be jumping the gun here. As I understand it, the Bou's early retirement is a suggestion that CAF is putting to Government - it is not a done deal. :suspect:

I wouldn't be putting money on evidence of either corrosion or fatigue contributing to the failures reported on the Efogi Bou either. The difference between a landing and a crash at that strip is miniscule and a sure fire cure for hicups. :eek:

Gundog01
1st Oct 2008, 07:06
The parts from the Bou in Efogi havent even been analysed yet. Reason for the retirment is because of cost benefit of maintaining the fleet. Hundreds of man hours to get a frame or 2 online.

See the thread in D&G Gen Aviation

Cat Fived
1st Oct 2008, 07:22
I heard that 38 Sqn are going to aquire the Army's fleet of King Air's from the middle of next year.

Wozzadee
1st Oct 2008, 07:33
I have pics of the busted Caribou at Efogi, as of last week, but don't know how to post them. Can anyone explain?

henry crun
1st Oct 2008, 07:37
Wozzadee: This will tell you.
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/203154-image-posting-pprune-some-tips-you.html

Wiley
1st Oct 2008, 11:06
Why is it that the suggestion that 38 Sqn will acquire a brace of used King Airs as the Caribou replacement (and operate them for many years to come) sound very plausible to me?

If I was a betting man, that would be the option I'd be putting my money on - and I wish I could be half as certain of winning the lottery.

Wozzadee
1st Oct 2008, 23:31
thanks Henry Crun.

Pics of the busted Caribou at Efogi. I have more if anyone is interested. let me know.
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq93/wozzadee/caribou1.jpg
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq93/wozzadee/caribou2.jpg

Doors Off
2nd Oct 2008, 00:08
Makes you wonder? If the incident caused a caribou to end up like that, even with those big oleo's and big tyres with a frame designed to conduct rough field landings what would it have done to a C27J or CN235?

Another testament to the old Caribou's strength.

Trojan1981
2nd Oct 2008, 08:25
Many happy memories..bye 'bou

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh68/trojan1981/ExCroc2003239.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh68/trojan1981/ExCroc2003005.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh68/trojan1981/img002.jpg

Green Flash
2nd Oct 2008, 09:45
Would there be any milage doing a Basler on them?:confused:

mr fish
2nd Oct 2008, 15:56
never seen one up close but i bet they sound wonderful, what radial is that ?, r2800 perhaps?

GreenKnight121
2nd Oct 2008, 19:50
The US Army/USAF DHC-4s had 2 Pratt and Whitney R-2000-7M2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_R-2000) Twin Wasp 14-cylinder, 1,450 hp (1,081 kW) each.

The RAAF Caribou also have R-2000s, of 1,450 HP, although which exact mark(s) seems unclear. The -7M seems, however, to have been standard from the factory.

rigpiggy
1st Jan 2012, 19:39
looks like he hammered it on hard enough to ripple the LH leading edge inboard of the nacelle. I would say it is a testament to the DHC designers

herkman
1st Jan 2012, 22:32
I had heard that HDH was buying DC4's to remove the engines from for our Caribou's.

Plenty of C54 and DC4 aircraft around that time. I believe that they were all zero timed before fitting.

When you consider the engines must be seventy years old they have served well, but of course they are one of the major weakness's now.

Only air acraft I ever heard that sounded better, was the NA AJ2P Savages from the USN that stage through Australia to do an aerial survey of New Zealand.

Double row wasps with the tube really great sound

Regards

Col