De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo

Summary

Description

The DHC-5 Buffalo was conceived in response to a 1962 United States Army requirement for a STOL transport aircraft. De Havilland Canada based its design on an enlarged version of the DHC-4 Caribou, replacing the Caribou's piston engines with General Electric T64 turboprops. The resulting design, the DHC-5 Buffalo, won the U.S. Army competition in early 1963, leading to an order for four aircraft, designated YAC-2 (later CV-7A and subsequently C-8A). The first of these made its maiden flight on 9 April 1964. All four aircraft were delivered in 1965. Although the Buffalo offered improved payload and STOL performance compared to the Caribou, no further U.S. orders followed due to inter-service politics that transferred large fixed-wing transports to the United States Air Force. A production DHC-5D Buffalo was used for breaking time-to-height records for the weight category 12,000–16,000 kilograms (26,000–35,000 lb) on 16 February 1976.

The DHC-5 Buffalo was designed as a twin-engine STOL tactical utility transport, noted for its short takeoff and landing capabilities. Company data indicates a takeoff distance over a 50 ft (15 m) obstacle of 1,210 ft (369 m) at 41,000 lb (18,597 kg) and a landing distance over a 50 ft (15 m) obstacle of 980 ft (299 m) at 39,100 lb (17,735 kg) for the DHC-5A model. The design was based on an enlarged version of the DHC-4 Caribou and initially powered by General Electric T64 turboprops. Later versions, such as the DHC-5D, were equipped with two General Electric CT64-820-4 turboprop engines, each producing 3,133 shp (2,336 kW). These drove Hamilton Standard fully-feathering reversible-pitch propellers that were 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) in diameter, contributing to the aircraft's STOL performance. The airframe featured a high-mounted wing with full-span leading-edge slats and double-slotted flaps designed to enhance lift at low speeds. The DHC-5D model had a maximum payload of 18,000 lb (8,200 kg).

In late 1965, one of the prototype DHC-5s operated by the U.S. Army was deployed to Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam for a three-month evaluation period. The Royal Canadian Air Force first acquired 15 DHC-5A designated as CC-115 for tactical transport, initially operated at CFB St Hubert, QC by No. 429 Squadron. In 1970, the Buffalo aircraft were transferred to a transport and rescue role with No. 442 Squadron, No. 413 Squadron and No. 424 Squadron. Three aircraft were also deployed on UN missions to the Middle East with No. 116 Transport Unit until 1979. On 9 August 1974, Canadian Forces CC-115 Buffalo 115461 was shot down by a Syrian surface-to-air missile, resulting in nine fatalities. Production of the DHC-5A ended in 1972, but restarted with the DHC-5D model in 1974 which sold to several overseas air forces, beginning with Egypt. In 1975, the Buffalo aircraft in Canadian service shifted from a tactical transport role and were converted to domestic search and rescue. The remaining operational Buffalos operated in the Search and Rescue role for No. 442 Squadron at CFB Comox until retirement. Besides Canada and the United States, the Buffalo was used by the air forces of Abu Dhabi/United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously Zaire), Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Oman, Peru, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia.

Main Variants:

• DHC-5 Buffalo: The original twin-engine STOL tactical utility transport designed for the US Army, initially designated as AC-2.

• DHC-5A: This variant served as a utility transport aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Peruvian Air Force, and was designated as the CC-115 in Canadian service.

• DHC-5D: An improved version of the Buffalo, it is powered by two General Electric CT64-820-4 turboprop engines, each producing 3,133 shp.

• DHC-5E Transporter: This was a civil transport version of the DHC-5, aimed at commercial operations.

• Viking DHC-5NG Buffalo NG: A proposed redesigned, new production version to be manufactured by Viking Air, marketed as a Next Generation aircraft.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	Egypt	8
	Sudan	1

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

United Arab Emirates • Brazil • Chile • Cameroon • Congo Democratic Republic • Ecuador • Egypt • Ethiopia • Indonesia • Mexico • Mauritania • Peru • Sudan • Togo • United States • Zambia