De Havilland C-7A Caribou - TAM, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member kb7ywl
N 38° 16.210 W 121° 55.805
10S E 593590 N 4236331
De Havilland C-7A Caribou s/n 60-3767
Waymark Code: WME6Q2
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/10/2012
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member DougK
Views: 2

The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designated by the US military as the CV-2 and later C-7 Caribou) is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. The Caribou was first flown in 1958 and although mainly retired from military operations, is still in use in small numbers as a rugged "bush" aircraft.

In response to a US Army requirement for a tactical airlifter to supply the battlefront with troops and supplies and evacuate casualties on the return journey, de Havilland Canada designed the DHC-4. With assistance from Canada's Department of Defence Production, DHC built a prototype demonstrator that flew for the first time on 30 July 1958.

Impressed with the DHC4's STOL capabilities and potential, the US Army ordered five for evaluation as YAC-1s and went on to become the largest Caribou operator. The AC-1 designation was changed in 1962 to CV-2, and then C-7 when the US Army's CV-2s were transferred to the US Air Force in 1967. US and Australian Caribous saw extensive service during the Vietnam War.

The US Army purchased 159 of the aircraft and they served their purpose well as a tactical transport during the Vietnam War, where larger cargo aircraft such as the Fairchild C-123 Provider and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules could not land on the shorter landing strips. The aircraft could carry 32 troops or two Jeeps or similar light vehicles. The rear loading ramp could also be used for parachute dropping.

Under the Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966, the Army relinquished the fixed wing Caribou to the US Air Force in exchange for an end to restrictions on Army rotary wing operations. On 1 January 1967, the 17th, 57th, 61st, 92nd, 134th, and 135th Aviation Companies of the US Army were inactivated and their aircraft transferred respectively to the newly-activated 537th, 535th, 536th, 459th, 457th, and 458th Troop Carrier Squadrons of the USAF. On 1 August 1967 the "troop carrier" designations were changed to "tactical airlift".

Some US Caribou were captured by North Vietnamese forces and remained in service with that country through to the late 1970s. Following the war in Vietnam, all USAF Caribous were transferred to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard airlift units pending their replacement by the C-130 Hercules in the 1980s.

All C-7s have since been phased out of the US military, with the last example serving again under US Army control through 1985 in support of the US Army's Golden Knights parachute demonstration team.

This aircraft, AC-1-DH s/n 60-3767, was the sixth airframe off the deHavilland Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, production line, was accepted in May 1961 and assigned to USAAVNS (US Army Aviation School) Ft Rucker, AL; in September 1966 it was assigned to the 4449th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Lawson Army Air Field, Ft Benning, GA. The squadron task was to provide training (by Army instructors) for USAF crews who would take control of the Caribous under operation "Red Leaf". On 1 January 1967 it was redesignated C-7A, transferred to the USAF under operation "Red Leaf" and assigned to the 4442th CCTW/4449th CCTS, Sewart AFB, TN. On 28 April 1967 it was flown to DeHavilland, Downsview, Ontario, Canada, for repairs; in 1969 it was assigned to the 18th TATS, Dyess AFB, TX; on 10 March 1972 it was assigned to the 700TAS/918TAG/94TAW (AFRES), Dobbins AFB, GA; in 1973 it was assigned to the 150TAS/170TAG, New Jersey ANG; in 1977 it was assigned to the 135TAS/135TAG, Maryland ANG; in October 1980 it was transferred back to the Army and assigned to California Air National Guard; in April 1981 it was assigned to California Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD) named 'Elvira"; in December 1990 it was assigned to the California Air National Guard. It was then transferred
to the Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, CA, for display.

Specifications:
Crew: 3
Pax: 32 troops/24 paratroops/14 casualty stretchers
Power Plant: 2× 1,450 hp Pratt and Whitney R-2000-7M2 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines
Dimensions:
- Span: 95' 7"
- Length: 72' 7"
- Height: 31' 8"
Weight:
- Empty: 16,920 lb
- Maximum: 28,500 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 216 mph
- - Cruise: 181 mph
- Range: 1,280 miles
- Ceiling: 24,800 ft
- Climb: 1,355 fpm

Sources: (visit link) (visit link) (visit link) (visit link)
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): De Havilland C-7A Caribou

Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 60-3767

Construction:: original aircraft

Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA

inside / outside: outside

Other Information::
JIMMY DOOLITTLE AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Building 80 461 Burgan Bl Travis AFB, CA 94535 Mailing Address: 400 Brennan Circle Travis AFB, CA 94535 Office: (707) 424-5605 Gift Shop: (707) 424-4450 Email: TravisAirMuseum@travis.af.mil Museum Link: http://jimmydoolittlemuseum.org/index.html Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Federal holidays Escort hours (no military ID) 9am-(around) 3pm Docent tours on a call-ahead basis. Air park hours: Everyday until dark Admission is free. Gift shop in the museum 10am-3pm Picnic area next door. If you will require a base visitor access pass, please read Access to Travis Air Force Base.


Access restrictions:
Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA Access to Travis Air Force Base If you are traveling to the Travis Air Museum and you do not have someone with official access to Travis Air Force Base to sponsor you, you will need to have an escort sponsor you and bring you to the Museum. You will be required go to the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center to present a valid drivers license, vehicle registration, current proof of insurance for each vehicle, and submit to a criminal background check. Be advised this is required for all vehicles regardless of type. If a bus or other commercial vehicle will be used, please collect vehicle and driver information to include drivers license, vehicle type, company owner, and contact information, for the vehicle company, and be prepared to provide it upon request. In addition, a valid photo ID is required for all visitors age 18 and older. Please contact the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center for all questions concerning access to the base and museum. Once this process has been completed and you have a pass, you will be escorted by authorized personnel to the Travis Air Museum. This pass is only valid for travel to and from the Travis Air Museum, is only valid for a specified time, and is not authorized for any other travel on Travis Air Force Base. If you wish a tour of the base or more information please contact the Travis Air Force Base Public Affairs office.


Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Static Aircraft Displays
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
There are no logs for this waymark yet.