RAAF to retire Caribou
 

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...1213176771.jpg

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

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

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?

Replacement
 

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.

I've never appreciated just how massive a vertical stabiliser these things have. Greater area than the whole side of the fuselage...

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:

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.

We probably shouldn't hold our breath ....
 

"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."

Anyone 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!!)

Jumping the gun a bit
 

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:

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

I heard that 38 Sqn are going to aquire the Army's fleet of King Air's from the middle of next year.

I have pics of the busted Caribou at Efogi, as of last week, but don't know how to post them. Can anyone explain?

Wozzadee: This will tell you.
http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-tips-you.html

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.

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/q...e/caribou1.jpg
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/caribou2.jpg

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.

Many happy memories..bye 'bou

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...roc2003239.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...roc2003005.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...981/img002.jpg

Would there be any milage doing a Basler on them?:confused:

never seen one up close but i bet they sound wonderful, what radial is that ?, r2800 perhaps?

The US Army/USAF DHC-4s had 2 Pratt and Whitney R-2000-7M2 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.