Boeing CC-137

The Boeing CC-137 is the designation for five Boeing 707-347C transport aircraft which served with the Canadian Forces from 1970 to 1997. The aircraft provided long range passenger transport for the military, VIP transport for government and air-to-air refueling for fighters such as the CF-116 Freedom Fighter and CF-18 Hornet. It was replaced by the Airbus CC-150 Polaris in the transport role and much later in the tanker role.

CC-137
A Canadian Armed Forces Boeing 707 (CC-137)
Role Military transport aircraft
Manufacturer Boeing
First flight 1970
Introduction 1972
Retired 1997
Primary user Canadian Forces
Number built 5
Developed from Boeing 707

Design and development

During the 1960s, the Royal Canadian Air Force set out a requirement to replace the aging fleet of Canadair CC-106 Yukons and Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan transports. Initially, the Boeing KC-135 was being considered because the versatile design could also fulfill a yet-unspecified aerial refuelling role.[1] Although a "purpose-built" aircraft would have suited the RCAF requirements better, an opportunity to acquire Boeing 707s as an alternative, soon presented itself.[2]

Operational history
Boeing CC-137 tanker in 1994

Canada purchased five Boeing 707s in 1970–71 to replace the RCAF's CC-106 Yukons in the long range transport role and the CC-109 Cosmopolitan as an executive or short-range transport.[3] The first four aircraft had been built for Western Airlines, but that order was subsequently cancelled; the fifth was bought separately a year later. To fulfil Canada's requirements for aerial refueling, two aircraft were fitted with Beechcraft made probe and drogue refueling pods in 1972.[4] The two sets of refuelling equipment were moved from aircraft to aircraft to keep fleet utilization even between the airframes.

The CC-137 fleet had a combined total of 191,154 hours, remaining in service in the transport role until 1995, with two aircraft continuing in use as tankers until 1997.[4][5]

Most of the fleet ended up with the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS programme either for spare parts or conversion to E-8C standard for the United States Air Force.[6]

Operators
 Canada

Specifications (CC-137)

Data from Boeing CC137 (707-347C)[7]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Capacity: 170 passengers and 90,000 lb (41,000 kg) payload
  • Length: 152 ft 11 in (46.61 m)
  • Wingspan: 145 ft 9 in (44.42 m)
  • Height: 42 ft 5 in (12.93 m)
  • Wing area: 3,010 sq ft (280 m2)
  • Empty weight: 140,000 lb (63,569 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 327,000 lb (148,000 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7 turbofans, 19,700 lbf (88 kN) thrust each

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 618 mph (994 km/h, 537 kn)
  • Range: 7,638 mi (12,290 km, 6,636 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 39,000 ft (12,000 m)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Stachiw 2004, p. 18.
  2. Stachiw 2004, p. 18–19.
  3. Bowers 1989, p. 454.
  4. Canada's Air Force, Aircraft, Historical Aircraft, Boeing 707 (CC-137) Canadian Department of National Defence. Retrieved: 1 March 2008.
  5. Stachiw 2004, p. 23.
  6. http://www.rcaf.com/Aircraft/aircraftDetail.php?CC-137-97%5B%5D
  7. Stachiw 2004, p. 26.

Bibliography
  • Bowers, Peter M. Boeing Aircraft since 1916. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-804-6.
  • Stachiw, Anthony L. Boeing CC137 (707-347C). St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada: Vanwell Publishing Ltd., 2004. ISBN 1-55125-079-9.
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