CH-113 Labrador
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| CH-113 Labrador | |
|---|---|
 |
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| A CH-113 Labrador practising an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter | |
| Type | Medium helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Vertol Aircraft Corp. Boeing Vertol |
| Maiden flight | August 1962 |
| Introduced | 1964 |
| Retired | 2004 |
| Status | ice |
| Primary users | Canadian Forces Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Army |
| Produced | 1962-1971 |
| Developed from | CH-46 Sea Knight |
The Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador was a twin-engine, twin-rotor, Canadian search and rescue (SAR) helicopter used in air-marine rescue operations from 1962 until 2004.
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[edit] History
The Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army first acquired the CH-113A Voyageur for use as a medium-lift transport helicopter in the 1960s, at the same time as the CH-147 Chinook was acquired as a heavy-lift transport helicopter.
Following the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, which saw the army and RCAF dissolved, the CH-46 Sea Knight model was selected to augment the medium-lift transport helicopter fleet, with the Voyageur fleet converted to Labrador specifications. The creation of Air Command (AIRCOM) in 1975 saw the Labrador fleet assigned to air-marine SAR duties.
The Labrador was fitted with a watertight hull for marine landings, a rescue hoist, 1,110 kilometer flying range, 5,000 kilogram cargo hook, emergency medical equipment and an 18 person passenger capacity. By the 1990s the heavy use and hostile weather conditions of air-marine rescue were taking their toll on the Labrador fleet, resulting in increased maintenance costs.
In 1992 it was announced that the Labradors were to be replaced by a version of the AgustaWestland EH101 to be called the "CH-149 Chimo", with 15 on order. This was subsequently cancelled by a different government in 1993, resulting in cancellation penalties, as well as the prospect of another decade of service for the Labrador fleet.
In 1998 a CH-113 from CFB Greenwood tragically crashed on Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula while returning from a SAR mission, resulting in the deaths of all crewmembers onboard. It was very evident that the fleet required replacing, therefore the same government, under extraordinary political pressure, returned to the EH101 manufacturers and placed an order for 15 aircraft to be called the CH-149 Cormorant.
Delivery of the new aircraft began in 2003 and the last CH-113 was retired in 2004.
In October 2005 Columbia Helicopters Inc of Portland, Oregon purchased 8 of the retired CH-113 Labradors. This will add to their complement of 15 Vertol 107-II Helicopters.[1]
[edit] Specifications (CH-46 Sea Knight)
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General characteristics
- Crew: 4: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief, 1 aerial gunner/observer
- Capacity: 25 troops
- Length: 45 ft 8 in fuselage (13.92 m
- Fuselage width: 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m))
- Rotor diameter: 51 ft (16 m)
- Height: 16 ft 8.5 in (5.1 m)
- Disc area: 4,100 ft² (380 m²)
- Empty weight: 15,537 lb (7,047 kg)
- Loaded weight: 17,396 lb (7,891 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,300 lb (11,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T58-GE-16 turboshafts, 1,870 shp (1,400 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 165 mph (143 knots; 265 km/h)
- Combat radius: 184 mi (160 nm, 296 km)
- Ferry range: 420 mi (360 nm, 676 km)
- Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,045 ft/min (10.4 m/s)
- Disc loading: 4.2 lb/ft² (21 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.215 hp/lb (354 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 2× XM-218 .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (optional), 1 Ramp mounted 240G 7.62mm machine gun (optional)
[edit] References
- ^ Columbia Helicopters Acquires eight CH-113 Labrador helicopters from Canadian military. RotorHub. RotorHub.com.
[edit] External Links
- Columbia Helicopters - Largest Civilian Operator of BV/KV Model 107
- Detail List of CH-113 Labradors & Voyageurs
- Boeing Vertol 107, H-46 Sea Knight & CH-113 Labrador on Airliners.net
- Photo Gallery of Lab Retirement at CFB Trenton
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