Merged: Caribou to retire in 09
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.
AUSTRALIAN AVIATION EXPRESS