Overview The deHavilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, first flown on 9 April 1964, is of similar configuration to, but larger than, the C-7 Caribou (it was originally termed the Caribou II). The Buffalo incorporates high-mounted wings, two turboprop engines mounted under the wings’ leading edges, a slab-sided fuselage, an upswept rear section, and T-tail. Despite being evolved largely …
Overview The C-7A (DHC-4) is a light tactical transport designed for operation in the most primitive of conditions. Capable of carrying passengers, litter patients, or cargo, it can land and take off on unprepared surfaces of less than 1,000 feet in length. Its cargo area was unobstructed and had floor rollers to permit airdrop of …
Overview Military version of the Convair 240/340/440 series of twin-engine commercial airliners. The first Samaritan, a C-131A derived from the Convair 240, was delivered to the Air Force in 1954. It was primarily used by the USAF for aeromedical casualty evacuation. The C-131A had large loading doors for stretchers or cargo and was equipped to …
Overview The CASA C-212-100 Aviocar is a light military transport that was designed to operate in areas lacking in infrastructure and unpaved runways. It has a high-wing configuration and fixed landing gear, is fitted with twin turboprop engines, and has excellent Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) capability. The cargo compartment can accommodate 18 passengers and …
Overview The C-12 Huron, an executive passenger and cargo aircraft, is the military version of the Beech Model 200 Super King Air. The prefix “Super” was later dropped by Raytheon (who had acquired Beechcraft) in 1996. The aircraft is a high-performance, twin-engine turboprop that accommodates a pilot, co-pilot, and eight passengers. It first flew on …
Mission The S-3B Viking is an all weather, carrier-based jet aircraft, providing protection against hostile surface combatants while also functioning as the Carrier Battle Groups’ primary overhead/mission tanker. Extremely versatile, the aircraft is equipped for many missions, including day/night surveillance, electronic countermeasures, command/control/communications warfare, and search and rescue (SAR). Background Derived from the S-3A and …
Mission Four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft. Background In February 1959, the Navy awarded Lockheed a contract to develop a replacement for the aging P2V Neptune. The P3V Orion, derived from Lockheed’s successful L188 Electra airliner, entered the inventory in July 1962, and more than 30 years later it remains the Navy’s sole land-based …
Mission Four-engine turboprop signals intelligence (SIGINT) reconnaissance aircraft. Background During the 1990s twelve P-3Cs were converted to EP3-E ARIES II to replace older versions of the aircraft. The original ARIES I aircraft were converted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The last EP-3E ARIES II aircraft was delivered in 1997. EP-3Es have been heavily …
Mission The Lockheed C-141B Starlifter fulfills the vast spectrum of airlift requirements through its ability to transport combat forces over long distances, inject those forces and their equipment either by airland or airdrop, resupply employed forces, and extract the sick and wounded from the hostile area to advanced medical facilities. Background President John F. Kennedy’s …
Overview Howard Hughes was one of the driving forces behind the design of the Lockheed Constellation commercial transport. During WWII, the USAAF purchased 22 early model Constellations which were designated as C-69s. At the end of the war, the USAAF decided to standardize on the Douglas C-54 as its four-engined transport of choice, and promptly …
