Australische ex-RAAF vliegwaardige Caribous

[Lifeliner 3]

RAAF persbericht:

NEW CARIBOUS LAND IN ALBION PARK RAIL

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today joined local Member for Throsby Stephen Jones to welcome two ex-RAAF Caribou aircraft to their new home at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Albion Park Rail.

“I congratulate the Society for their successful tender, these aircraft will be a fantastic addition to the collection,” Mr Clare said.
“The planes will be used for Anzac Day events, Vietnam Veterans’ events and other heritage activities like Wings over the Illawarra.
“The Society will maintain these aircraft in flying condition so Australians will be able to continue to see these planes on the ground and in the air.”

Mr Jones said the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 1979 by a group of aviation enthusiasts interested in the preservation of Australian aviation history.
“It is a great local organisation that works tirelessly to improve their collection and give the public the opportunity to see and understand our aviation heritage,” Mr Jones said.

The Caribou aircraft has a unique place in Australian military aviation history.
They were first brought into service in Vietnam, served with the United Nations Military Observer Group between 1975 and 1978 and were also used for humanitarian purposes in Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

The Caribou was famous for its ability to take off and land on these short, crude dirt runways.
Caribous will also be preserved at RAAF Base Townsville, RAAF Base Amberley, the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and at the Australian War Memorial.

[Stratofreighter]

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RAAF Caribou Disposal Details Announced

Australia's Minister for Defence announced details on September 15 of the planned disposal of the recently retired Royal Australian Air Force Caribou fleet.

15-Sep-2011

Australia's Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, announced on Septrember 15 that the nine surviving recently retired Royal australian Air Force (RAAF) DHC-4 Caribou aircraft and associated equipment are being disposed of to two organisations.

These are:
Amrock Aviation Pty Ltd, based in Brisbane, which will take seven of the aircraft and use them for humanitarian work in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands; and
The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Illawarra, which will preserve and display two aircraft, one propeller, 15 engines and two spares packages.

Other organisations will receive Caribou propellers:
Upwey RSL (Victoria);
Clarence City Council (Tasmania);
Caboolture Warflight and Heritage Museum (Queensland);
Narromine Aviation Museum (NSW);
Dorrigo RSL (NSW);
Northampton RSL (WA); and
Redlands RAAFA (Queensland).

“For more than 40 years, Caribou aircraft were the workhorse of the Australian Defence Force, primarily supporting the Army” Mr Clare said. “They were used extensively in Vietnam, as well as in East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands supporting humanitarian and relief work. They were a versatile aircraft, capable of short take offs and landings on unprepared runways. The Caribou served Australia with distinction and these organisations will help us preserve the aircraft for future generations.”

The type had originally entered RAAF service in 1964 and a total of 29 of the type were acquired. The survivors were finally retired in a ceremony at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland, on November 7, 2009. The type had been operated by 38 Squadron at Townsville, which has now re-equipped with King Air 350s.