de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou

Tactical Transport Aircraft

Canada | 1959

"The United States military was the primary user of the Canadian Caribou aircraft - which went on to serve with distinction in the Vietnam War."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the de Havilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou Tactical Transport Aircraft.

2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7M2 14-cylinder twin row radial piston engines developing 1,450 shp.
Propulsion

216 mph
347 kph | 187 kts
Max Speed

24,800 ft
7,559 m | 5 miles
Service Ceiling

1,308 miles
2,105 km | 1,137 nm
Operational Range

1,355 ft/min
413 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the de Havilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou Tactical Transport Aircraft.

3 + 32
(MANNED)
Crew

72.6 ft
22.13 m
O/A Length

95.6 ft
(29.15 m)
O/A Width

31.8 ft
(9.68 m)
O/A Height

18,283 lb
(8,293 kg)
Empty Weight

31,295 lb
(14,195 kg)
MTOW

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou family line.

YAC-1 - US Army Evaluation Model Designation of which 5 examples were ordered.

AC-1A - Initial Production Model Designation later changed to CV-2B, then to C-7A.

CV-2B - US Army Series Designation

C-7A - US Air Force Series Designation

DHC-4A - Australian Base Model Series Designation.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/30/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Caribou series proved to be such an effective battlefield transport aircraft that more than a few were pressed into service as captured C-7's in the hands of the North Vietnamese. The type continues to serve in limited numbers and was seen in action as recent as 2000 with Australian forces in East Timor. By 1973, the Caribou series would see over 300 examples produced.

The Caribou was a twin-engine design undertaken by de Havilland Canada as a private project with hopes of enticing the military forces of both Canada and the United States of America. The initial design was designated as the DHC-4 and was engineered with short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities in mind and was a naturally rugged design to boot, making most enticing to the United States Army, which went on to order five evaluation models as the YAC-1. From there, the Caribou emerged as a production model in the AC-1 series which would later become the CV-2. By the time the United States Air Force took over control of the Caribou aircraft in early 1967, the designation was changed once again to the more identifiable C-7 series.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

At its core, the Caribou was powered by two Pratt & Whitney brand engines generating 1,450shp (DHC-4). Engines were mounted on a high-wing / straight-wing monoplane assembly allowing for optimal ground clearance around the fuselage and especially the three-bladed propeller systems. A large cargo hold door was mounted to the rear part of the main fuselage with the single-rudder tail assembly extending past and over the loading area door. Hold capabilities were very generous and could allow for the transport of 32 troops, 22 medevac litters, 2 vehicles or up to 4 tons of cargo in the form of equipment, supplies or artillery systems.

In the end, the United States became the largest operator of the Caribou system in operation with both the United States Army and the United States Air Force. Australia also operated (and in some cases continues to do so) the type along with Canada, Spain, Columbia and India among others. The system proved quite capable in the rugged Vietnamese battlefront and was a highly prized vehicle for having the ability to land on short airstrips to deliver supplies / manpower and retrieve the wounded.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 307 Units
Contractor(s): de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, LTD - Canada

[ Australia; Costa Rica; Liberia; Malaysia; Canada; Columbia; India; Spain; Tanzania; North Vietnam; United States ]

1 / 10

Image of the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou

2 / 10

3 / 10

4 / 10

5 / 10

6 / 10

7 / 10

8 / 10

9 / 10

10 / 10

❮ ❯

Going Further...
The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou Tactical Transport Aircraft appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)