The Boeing CC-137 is a retired transport and tanker aircraft which served with the Canadian Forces from 1970 to 1997. The Boeing 707-347C 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.
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 historyedit
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]
Bowers, Peter M. Boeing Aircraft since 1916. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN0-85177-804-6.
Stachiw, Anthony L. Boeing CC137 (707-347C). St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada: Vanwell Publishing Ltd., 2004. ISBN1-55125-079-9.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boeing CC-137.
Canadian Forces Historical Aircraft – Boeing 707 (CC-137)
Boeing CC-137 B707-320 at rcaf.com
January 01, 1970
boeing, retired, transport, tanker, aircraft, which, served, with, canadian, forces, from, 1970, 1997, boeing, 347c, aircraft, provided, long, range, passenger, transport, military, transport, government, refueling, fighters, such, freedom, fighter, hornet, re. The Boeing CC 137 is a retired transport and tanker aircraft which served with the Canadian Forces from 1970 to 1997 The Boeing 707 347C 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 Status Retired Primary user Canadian Forces Number built 5 Developed from Boeing 707 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications CC 137 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign and development editDuring 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 edit nbsp 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 edit nbsp Canada Canadian Forces Air Command No 437 Husky Squadron RCAF based at CFB Trenton OntarioSpecifications CC 137 editData from Boeing CC137 707 347C 7 General characteristicsCrew 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 amp 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 edit nbsp Aviation portal nbsp Canada portal Related development Boeing 707 Boeing C 137 Stratoliner Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker Related lists List of aircraft of Canada s air forcesReferences editNotes edit Stachiw 2004 p 18 Stachiw 2004 p 18 19 Bowers 1989 p 454 a b Canada s Air Force Aircraft Historical Aircraft Boeing 707 CC 137 Canadian Department of National Defence Retrieved 1 March 2008 Stachiw 2004 p 23 Archived copy www rcaf com Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 22 May 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Stachiw 2004 p 26 Bibliography edit 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boeing CC 137 Canadian Forces Historical Aircraft Boeing 707 CC 137 Boeing CC 137 B707 320 at rcaf com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boeing CC 137 amp oldid 1205802569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
