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Boeing 707 (CC-137)
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The Beech refuelling kits for the 707 were delivered
to 437 Sqn in mid 1972 for air-to-air refuelling of the CF-5. This
role was carried on with the CF-18 until the 707 fleet's retirement
in the summer of 1997.
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A CF Boeing 707 in formation with its replacement,
the Airbus A-310, designated the CC-150 Polaris. This view illustrates
the considerable difference between the old paint scheme and the
current, low-visibility livery.
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Boeing 13704 was one of two fitted with Beech 1050
aerial refuelling pods and remained in service with the Canadian
Forces until 1997 when the fleet was retired. These last two Boeing
707s logged roughly 38,000 hours during their stint with the Canadian
Forces and are seen here refuelling another recently retired Aircraft,
the CF-5 Freedom Fighter.
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Boeing 13705 was the last of the non-tanker Boeings
to be pulled from CF service, having been put into storage on 29
April, 1995 and subsequently having been struck off strength as
were the remainder of the fleet. In addition to their regular duties
of carring passengers and freight on scheduled flights betwenn Comox,
British Columbia and Shearwater, Nova Scotia and on across to Lahr,
Germany twice weekly, the Boeings were frequently pulled out of
line service for various tasks, such as carrying the Prime Minister,
foreign dignitaries and members of the Royal Family and training
flights.
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Boeing 13702 of 437 Transport Squadron operating
out of CFB Trenton, Ontario was finally declared surplus on 2 June,
1993. However, before being retired, the fleet had carried such
dignitaries as Premier Kosygin of the USSR on his October 1971 visit
to Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau on his historic visit to China
in October 1973, and Pope John Paul II during his 1984 visit to
Canada among others.
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The Boeing CC-137 was the Air Force's main air-to-air
refueling asset. Seen here is one of the Boeings with a CF-18 from
CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. The CF-18 is on loan to AETE from 410 Squadron.
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Acquired in 1970, the Boeing CC-137 served the
Canadian Forces as a strategic airlifter and air-to-air refueller
for fighter Aircraft. The 137 fleet was retired in the summer of
1997.
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Full side view of Air Transport Group's cargo /
passenger Boeing 707 Aircraft. The 707 wasin service with the Canadian
Air Force from 1970 to 1997. It could carry either 172 passengers,
cargo, or a combination of both. The versatile 707 could also be
configured for air-to-air refuelling.
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Although 437 Transport Squadron was the only Canadian
Forces squadron to operationally fly the 707, 426 Transport Training
Squadron had the responsibility to train the flight crew, maintenance
people, and flight engineers on all of the military transport aicraft
including the 707 and to provide augmentation and maintenance personnel
as needed. In 1985, 426 conducted 80 different courses and produced
nearly 2100 graduates.
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To enable 437 Squadron to perform their goals and accomplish
their daily peacetime operations, several Aircraft configurations
were developed.
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Passenger - normally 170 seated but 212 may be installed
by reducing seat spacing. More passengers may be carried
in a critical situationsuch as the Pakostan evacuation where
241 were acommodated.
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VIP - a stateroom was used for Heads of State and could
seat 8 with 115 seats aft of the stateroom. A mini-capsule
was available for senior officials and could accomodate
6 passengers with 155 high density seats aft.
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Mixed configuration - three pallets of cargo forward weighing
25,00 pounds/12,500 Kg with 112 seats aft.
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Cargo - up to 90,000 pounds/42,000 Kg over 2500 nautical
miles/4000Km.
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Medical evacuation - 60 litters plus 45 seats for support
personnel.
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Air refuelling - along with the fuel itself, 50 passengers
and 25,000 pounds/12,500 Kg of support equipment can be
carried.
Configuration times varied from 4-20 hours depending
on the previous configuration and the availability of personnel.
No commercial carrier in the world had the capability of these
varied configurations.
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A low frontal view of Air Transport Group's Boeing
707 on approach to landing. Trenton's 437 "Husky" Sqn
has flown the Canadian Forces' five Boeings since 1970. Its motto
Omnia Passim (Anything Anywhere) has proven most accurate for this
hard-working squadron.
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