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.
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 was 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
- Canadian Forces Air Command
Specifications (CC-137)
Data from Boeing CC137 (707-347C)[7]
General characteristics
Performance
See also
- Related development
- Related lists
- List of military aircraft of Canada
References
Notes
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.
External links
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Canadian Forces post-1968 unified aircraft designations |
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| 100–119 |
- CF-100
- CF-101
- 102–103 skipped
- CF-104
- CF-105
- CC-106
- CP-107
- CC-108
- CC-109
- CSR-110
- CF-111
- CH-112
- CH-113
- CT-114
- CC-115
- CF-116
- CC-117
- CH-118
- CO-119
- CO-119(2)
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| 120–139 |
- CT-120
- CP-121
- CP-122
- CSR-123/CC-123
- CH-124
- CH-125
- CH-126
- CH-127
- CT-128
- CC-129
- CC-130
- CX-131
- CC-132
- CT-133
- CT-134
- CH-135
- CH-136
- CC-137
- CC-138
- CH-139
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| 140–159 |
- CP-140
- CC-141
- CT-142
- CH-143
- CC-144/CE-144
- CT-145
- CH-146
- CH-147
- CH-148
- CH-149
- CC-150
- 151–154 skipped
- CT-155
- CT-156
- 157–159 skipped
- CU-160
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| 160– |
- CU-161
- CU-162
- CU-163
- 164–166 skipped
- CU-167
- CU-168
- 169 skipped
- CU-170
- 171–176 skipped
- CC-177
- CH-178
- 179–187 skipped
- CF-188
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