RCAF retires the Buffalo

[albatross]

Sad to see her go.
An exceptional aircraft, especially in the SAR role.
https://youtu.be/RH3l4kwlqy8

[NutLoose]

Crikey I thought they went years ago, is the turbo prop conversion based on the civi one where the guys son died on the final certification flight, the control lock had been left in and it climbed rapidly, stalled and sadly went in killing them all.

There is a film of it on you tube :( the owner gave up on the project after watching his son die in front of him, absolutely tragic.

[India Four Two]

What a nice video. If I had joined CASARA (Civil Air Search and Rescue Association) sooner than last year, I might have had a ride in a Buffalo. Too late now.

NutLoose, the tragic accident you are referring to involved a turbine conversion of the DHC-4 Caribou. The Buffalo, although similar looking, is a completely different and bigger aircraft.

[fitliker]

The standing joke in Comox was : What is brown and smelly and comes out the rear of a Buffalo ?
The Airborne :).

[NutLoose]

What a nice video. If I had joined CASARA (Civil Air Search and Rescue Association) sooner than last year, I might have had a ride in a Buffalo. Too late now.

NutLoose, the tragic accident you are referring to involved a turbine conversion of the DHC-4 Caribou. The Buffalo, although similar looking, is a completely different and bigger aircraft.

Thanks, that explains it.

[TBM-Legend]

There was, of course, the spectacular Buffalo crash at Farnborough in 1984...

[treadigraph]

I recall seeing one passing through Gatwick in the 1970s on delivery to the Mauritanian Air Force or similar. My memory has the aircraft lifting off quickly and with plenty of flap then climbing in a very flat attitude, possibly even slightly nose down. Rather impressive!

[India Four Two]

treadders,

See this video at 9:45. Lots of flap and no rotation whatsoever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydFdISL66sk

[Cornish Jack]

TBM-=Legend - that was my instant recall also ! Not the least impressive was the crew almost nonchalantly exiting as the dust settled ! For a while thereafter, firm arrivals were described as "doing a Buffalo" !

[Old-Duffer]

Whilst in Borneo (1966/7) I was fortunate to have many trips in the Malaysian Air Force Caribou. It always seemed to me to have plenty of power and it was an embarrassment when the RAF brought in the Andover (replacing the Twin Pin). The short field performance was very impressive and I assume that the Andover was a political decision - like so many others, which handicap the armed forces, to keep some politician happy and his/her constituents employed.
Old Duffer

[Dave Gittins]

I remember the completely baffled look on Bill Loverseed's face when he climbed out of the wreck.. I'd been at Farnborough the day before so only saw it on the TV.

A Britts pilot I knew who been in the RAF with Bill said they'd always had suspicions about his eyesight.

[Compass Call]

NutLoose
The Buffalo was built as a turboprop. Perhaps you are thinking of the Caribou which was the predecessor to the Buffalo?

[chevvron]

I remember the completely baffled look on Bill Loverseed's face when he climbed out of the wreck.. I'd been at Farnborough the day before so only saw it on the TV.

A Britts pilot I knew who been in the RAF with Bill said they'd always had suspicions about his eyesight.
I was walking up the stairs of Farnborough Tower; heard a bang and looked out to see the flames subsiding.

[albatross]

You are referring ,I believe, to the DHC-4 Caribou not the DHC-5 Buffalo.
Yes the Caribou turbine conversion accident was a very sad and avoidable tragedy.

Crikey I thought they went years ago, is the turbo prop conversion based on the civi one where the guys son died on the final certification flight, the control lock had been left in and it climbed rapidly, stalled and sadly went in killing them all.

There is a film of it on you tube :( the owner gave up on the project after watching his son die in front of him, absolutely tragic.

[MightyGem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SzMvKXP8Pc

[MG]

The CC-295 Kingfisher replacing it will be a very different beast. I see that there’s a gap before it becomes operational.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/01/final-operational-flight-of-the-cc-115-buffalo-aircraft.html

[N707ZS]

After retirement what is there fait. It seems like many years since the first batch were retired and a few flew through the UK to Zimbabwe.

[Mogwi]

There was, of course, the spectacular Buffalo crash at Farnborough in 1984...

A lucky escape! I believe it was a slight headwind that suddenly became a slight tailwind. I was inbound from Yeovilton at the time and was advised to land on the western end of the runway!

Mog

[albatross]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SzMvKXP8Pc

I remember the commentator's remark: “Ooh, bit of a hard landing there!”

[chevvron]

I remember the commentator's remark: “Ooh, bit of a hard landing there!”
Only the controllers in the tower at the time actually witnessed it; the rest of us crammed into our tiny rest room to watch every time it was repeated!
As I recall, a piece of propellor blade became embedded in the canopy of a helicopter in static.
Next day, the ELT was triggered (by persons unknown) and it took us a hell of a search to stop it meanwhile, the work crew worked well into the night to restore the runway surface.

[treadigraph]

After retirement what is there fait. It seems like many years since the first batch were retired and a few flew through the UK to Zimbabwe.
I recall several Tanzanian Cariboux migrating homeward via blighty in the late 70s...

[N707ZS]

I have photographs of five transiting Newcastle in pairs October 95 and Jan 96. A long time ago now.

[rotarywrench]

It certainly has been an icon on the Canadian West coast with quite a distinctive sound, from the the 3,000 hp engines. This Comox based Buffalo landed at Port McNeil. It backed up on the wet 2400 foot runway to take off.
Backing up (a bit long)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8jw2uzWtGs

Taking off (a lot quicker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BheG0T2808I