de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou sky
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
PaeseUsa
RuoloTrasporto STOL
Primo volo30 luglio 1958
Costruito307

Le de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designato dall'esercito degli Stati Uniti come CV-2 e successivamente C-7 Caribou) è un aereo cargo specializzato progettato e prodotto in Canada con capacità di decollo e atterraggio corto (STOL). Il Caribou volò per la prima volta nel 1958 e, sebbene principalmente ritirato dalle operazioni militari, è ancora in uso in piccoli numeri come robusto aereo "bush".

fonte: de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou su Wikipedia

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Vedi anche:

Seconda guerra mondiale: la storia visiva definitiva dalla guerra lampo alla bomba atomica (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Seconda guerra mondiale Mappa per Mappa (DK Storia Mappa per Mappa) - Amazon

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The Master of the Short Field

Le de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designated CV-2 and later C-7 in U.S. service) was designed to do the impossible: carry the payload of a medium transport while operating from the tiny, rugged airstrips normally reserved for light bush planes. Known for its incredible Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities, the Caribou became an indispensable asset during the Vietnam War, delivering supplies directly to remote Forward Operating Bases that no other fixed-wing aircraft could reach.

Attribute Technical Specification (DHC-4A)
Ruolo STOL Tactical Transport
Equipaggio 3 (Two Pilots, one Loadmaster)
First Flight August 16, 1958
Motopropulsore 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2000-7M2 Twin Wasp radials
Horsepower 1,450 hp (1,081 kW) each
Takeoff Distance 495 feet (151 m) at full gross weight
Landing Distance 425 feet (130 m)
Payload 32 Troops, 26 Paratroops, or 8,000 lbs of Cargo

Engineering for the Jungle Strip

  • Double-Slotted Flaps: The Caribou used a sophisticated full-span double-slotted flap system. This allowed the wing to generate massive lift at very low speeds, enabling the aircraft to “climb like a homesick angel” immediately after a short takeoff roll.
  • Upswept Tail and Rear Ramp: To facilitate rapid loading of vehicles and palletized cargo, the rear fuselage was sharply upswept. This provided a high-clearance rear loading ramp that could be opened in flight for paradrops or used on the ground for drive-on access.
  • Reversible Pitch Propellers: To achieve its legendary landing distances, the Caribou utilized reversible pitch propellers. Upon touchdown, the pilot could “reverse” the thrust, allowing the aircraft to stop in a distance shorter than its own wingspan.
  • Long-Stroke Landing Gear: The “bird-like” landing gear was designed with massive shock-absorption capabilities to handle the high sink rates and “controlled crashes” associated with landing on uneven, unpaved terrain.

Operational Legacy: The “Gravel Truck” of Vietnam

  • Inter-Service Rivalry: The Caribou was so successful at tactical airlift that it sparked a famous dispute between the U.S. Army and Air Force over who should operate fixed-wing transports. Eventually, the Army’s CV-2s were transferred to the USAF as C-7s.
  • Low-Altitude Extraction (LAPES): The Caribou was a pioneer in the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System, where cargo was pulled out the rear ramp via parachute while the aircraft flew just feet above the runway.
  • Durability: The aircraft was built to be simple and maintainable in the field. Its radial engines were reliable and could be serviced with minimal tools in harsh environments.
  • Global Service: Beyond the US and Canada, the Caribou served with distinction in Australia, India, and Spain. Many are still used today by private contractors for specialized heavy-lift bush operations.

Numero visioni : 2754

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