Airbus Military (EADS CASA) HC-144 Ocean Sentry

Maritime Search and Rescue Aircraft [ 2009 ]

The Airbus Military HC-144 of the US Coast Guard is an SAR variant of the successful Spanish CN-235 series twin-engine tactical transport.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/29/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The HC-144 "Ocean Sentry" is a fixed-wing, twin-engine aircraft utilized by the modern United States Coast Guard (USCG) service in the Search and Rescue (SAR) role. The type is built atop the framework of the earlier, proven EADS (now Airbus Military) CN-235 tactical transport as thus retains its high-winged monoplane and twin-turboprop configuration as well as its powered rear loading ramp to access the cargo hold. The service took on a stock of 18 total HC-144 aircraft in all, beginning in 2009, and these continue to operate today (2020) in their given over-water role.

Prior to 2009, the USCG was seeking an active replacement for its jet-powered HU-25 "Guardian" business jets by Dassault which covered the same over-water role. The service, therefore, elected to adopt the CN-235-300 MP (Maritime Patrol) "Persuader" model of the C-235/CN-235 series as a successor due to its inherent over-water / Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities, procurement costs, and proven pedigree. As a turboprop-powered design, the newer HC-144 offered considerably more range and improved low-and-slow flying when compared to the twin-jet-engined business jet.

First units became available to the USCG in December of 2006 while squadrons were at-the-ready come April 2009. The series then celebrated its 100,000th hour of operation in September of 2017. Since then, the type has been used with success in a variety of operations - from humanitarian assistance and SAR to environmental reviews and anti-drug / maritime enforcement.

As designed, the aircraft carries an operating crew of six personnel and features a running length of 70.2 feet, a wingspan of 84.7 feet, and a height of 26.9 feet. Empty weight is 21,605lb against a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 36,400lb. Power is by way of 2 x General Electric CT7 series turboprop engines rated at 1,870 horsepower each, giving the performance of a jet engine with the efficiency of a propeller-driven design. These drive four-bladed propeller units in tractor (puller) fashion. The engines are underslung at each wing mainplane. Performance includes a maximum speed of 295 miles-per-hour and a range out to 1,800 miles - giving the platform an mission endurance window of nearly nine hours.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

EADS North America - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

2009
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Active
Project Status

2
Crew

18
Units

SPECIAL-MISSION: SEARCH & RESCUE
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

70.2 ft
(21.41 meters)
Length

84.6 ft
(25.80 meters)
Width/Span

26.8 ft
(8.18 meters)
Height

21,605 lb
(9,800 kilograms)
Empty Weight

36,376 lb
(16,500 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+14,771 lb
(+6,700 kg)
Weight Difference

2 x General Electric CT7 turboprop engines developing 1,870 shaft horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units in puller arrangement.
Propulsion

272 mph
(437 kph | 236 knots)
Max Speed

176 mph
(284 kph | 153 knots)
Cruise Speed

+95 mph
(+153 kph | 83 knots)
Speed Difference

1,802 miles
(2,900 km | 1,566 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

None.

HC-144 - Base Series Designation.

HC-144A - Initial Production Version.

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