Boeing CC-137

Infobox Aircraft
name= CC-137


caption= A Canadian Armed Forces Boeing 707 (CC-137)
type= Military transport aircraft
manufacturer= Boeing
designer=
first flight=1970
introduced= 1972
retired= 1997
status=
primary user= Canadian Forces
more users=
produced=
number built=5
unit cost=
developed from = Boeing 707
variants with their own articles= C-137 Stratoliner

The 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. Presently, Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports provide a compromised platform for air refuelling but future conversions of the CC-150 Polaris will allow for a high-speed option.

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. [Stachiw 2004, p. 18.] Although a "purpose-built" aircraft would have suited the RCAF requirements better, an opportunity to acquire Boeing 707s as an alternative, soon presented itself. [Stachiw 2004, p. 18–19.]

Operational history

Canada purchased five Boeing 707s in 1970 (which had been built for Western Airlines but the order was subsequently cancelled) 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. Bowers 1989, p. 454.] To fulfil Canada's requirements for aerial refueling, two aircraft were fitted with Beechcraft made probe and drogue refueling pods in 1972. [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/707lst_e.asp Canada's Air Force, Aircraft, Historical Aircraft, Boeing 707 (CC-137)] Canadian Department of National Defence. Retrieved: 1 March 2008.] 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. [ Stachiw 2004, p. 23.]

Operators

;CAN
*Canadian Forces Air Command
** No. 437 "Husky" Squadron RCAF based at CFB Trenton, Ontario

pecifications (CC-137)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref= "Boeing CC137 (707-347C)" [Stachiw 2004, p. 26.]
crew=3
capacity=170 passengers
payload main=90,000 lb
payload alt=41,000 kg
length main=152 ft 11 in
length alt=46.61 m
span main=145 ft 9 in
span alt=44.42 m
height main=42 ft 5 in
height alt=12.93 m
area main=3,010 ft²
area alt=280 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 140,000 lb
empty weight alt= 63,569 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=327,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt=148,000 kg
more general=

engine (jet)=Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7
type of jet=turbofans
number of jets=4
thrust main=19,700 lb
thrust alt=87.6 kN
max speed main=
max speed alt=
cruise speed main=618 mph
cruise speed alt=537 knots, 994 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main=7,638 mi
range alt=6,636 nm, 12,290 km
ceiling main=39,000 ft
ceiling alt=12,000 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Boeing 707
* C-137 Stratoliner

sequence=
* CT-134 - CH-135 - CH-136 - CC-137 - CC-138 - CH-139 - CP-140

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

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/707lst_e.asp Canadian Forces Historical Aircraft - Boeing 707 (CC-137)]
* [http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/transports/b707/index.php?name=Boeing%20CC-137%20B707-320 Boeing CC-137 B707-320 at rcaf.com]