Canadian Forces Aircraft

CC-137 Boeing 707
Updated 21 July, 2007

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When I joined the Canadian Forces my first introduction to the CC-137 was my flight on SF715, 5 Nov 1971, from CFB Trenton to CFB Ottawa and on to CFB Greenwood to report to CFB Cornwallis for my Basic Recruit Training. I actually logged the flight in my Private Pilot's Log Book as a passenger flight. Total flight time was logged as 1.8 hours. However I did not log the aircraft tail number.

Over the years in the Canadian Forces I logged many hours in the CC-137 including the flight from Trenton to Lahr on 14 Nov 1973, (7 hours) and Lahr to Cairo on 15 Nov 1973, (4 hours). On this flight there was the flight crew and six of us accompanying 3 vehicles and trailers going on my first UN tour (Op Danaca) into Egypt in Nov 1973. In my log I have Capt Olsen as the pilot and Capt Dodd as the co-pilot. The flight crew let us into the cockpit and I spent several hours of the flight in the cockpit learning about the Loran C navigation and even got to fly the aircraft. I still remember that flight today.

Unfortunately after Aug 1977 I stopped logging flights into my log book therefore I have no idea of the number of hours I logged as a passenger or tech aboard the various CF aircraft - Big Mistake in hindsight!

From Aug 1992 to Sept 1994, I was employed at Boeing/Herc Maintenance as a Communications and Radar Systems Technician at 8 Wing Trenton. Here I helped maintain the Boeings and the last Boeing I worked on may have been the same Boeing that I had flown in when I first joined up.

Profile
Specifications
CC-137 Configurations
Serial Number Register
Links

Profile ^(RFA)

3 view drawing from Richard Ferriere's Wings 2 website ^(RFA), CC-137 title added.

Click to see full size

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Specifications (707-347C) ^(WFE)
The 707-347C is the military version of the 707-320

General characteristics
Crew: 3
Capacity: 170 passengers
Payload: 41,000 kg (90,000 lb)
Length: 46.61 m (152 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 44.42 m (145 ft 9 in)
Height: 12.93 m ( 42 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 280 m² (3,010 ft²)
Empty weight: kg (lb)
Max takeoff weight: 148,000 kg (327,000 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7 turbofans, 19,700 lb (87.6 kN) each

Performance
Cruise speed: 994 km/h (537 knots, 618 mph)
Range: 12,290 km (6,636 nm, 7,638 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)

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CC-137 Configurations ^(CF-AF)

To enable 437 Squadron to perform their goals and accomplish their daily peacetime operations, several Aircraft configurations were developed.

Passenger - normally 170 seated but 212 may be installed by reducing seat spacing. More passengers may be carried in a critical situation such as the Pakistan evacuation where 241 were accommodated.

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 accommodate 6 passengers with 155 high density seats aft.

Mixed configuration - three pallets of cargo forward weighing 25,00 pounds/12,500 Kg with 112 seats aft.

Cargo - up to 90,000 pounds/42,000 Kg over 2500 nautical miles/4000Km.

Medical evacuation - 60 litters plus 45 seats for support personnel.

Air refueling - 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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Serial Number Register

I have used Walker's excellent website on Canadian Military aircraft serial numbers for the basic framework of the information on this page. Cross referenced US serial numbers are from Walker's site or if not listed there came from Joseph Baugher's site on US Military serial numbers. Information is from a variety of sources, and if not from Walker's site will have a footnote ^(sample) that can be cross-referenced on the CF Aircraft Bibliography page. Clicking on the small photos will take you to an external site for the larger size photo unless they are my photos and you will remain on my site. This is an amateur site and information has been collected from various sources and may or may not be accurate!

Rec No.	Date	Type	CAF/CF#	Man#	Photo(s)
1		707-347C	13701	20315/824
		Originally ordered as N1506W for Western Airlines of California
		Purchased from Boeing when original sale fell through
	24 Feb 1970	Taken on strength as 13701
		Operated by No. 437 Squadron, at CFB Trenton, Ontario
	Late 1970s	Glasgow - International (Abbotsinch) (GLA / EGPF) UK - Scotland, Late 1970s ^(MS)
	6 Apr 1983	Canberra (Fairbairn) (CBR / YSCB) Australia - Australian Capital Territory, April 6, 1983. Visited RAAF Base Fairbairn in 1983. (Apart from official business, the aircraft reputedly delivered new uniform shirts to the CAF student on RAAF Staff College.) ^(WN)
	Aug 1984	Trenton (YTR / CYTR) Canada - Ontario, August 1984 ^(DP)
	Aug 1992	Just departing 27L London - Heathrow (LHR / EGLL) UK - England, August 1992 ^(SF)
	9 Aug 1993	Placed in storage 9 August 1993
	10 Nov 1993	Declared surplus on 10 November 1993
	1994	Struck off from CF
	1 Feb 1994	Sold, to civil register as N803CK, registered to American International Airways on 1 February 1994
	20 May 1994	To HR-AMN on Honduras register, to RACE Aviation on 20 May 1994
	Aug 1994	Leased to VASP of Brazil in August 1994, no change in registration
	18 Aug 1995	Back to US as N108RA, registered to Atlantic Leasing Company on 18 August 1995
	Sept 1996	This registration cancelled September 1996, then history becomes murky
	June 1997	Reported repossessed and sold to USAF by June 1997
		Also reported as registered as P4-CCG on the Aruba register, possibly to Transcontinental Sur Island
		CX-BSI of MAS Cargo of Uruguay
	19 June 1997	Mexico City (- Licenciado Benito Juarez International) (MEX / MMMX) Mexico, June 19, 1997. On pushback and ready to start taxiing to Rwy 23 on use that morning, in Mexico City Intl ^(RMC)
	21 Feb 1998	Transcontinental Sur CX-BSI. Near Pluna's hangar, Montevideo - Carrasco International / General Cesareo L. Berisso (MVD / SUMU) Uruguay, February 21, 1998 ^(JFGVF)
	1998	Recife - Guararapes (REC / SBRF) Brazil, 1998. Ex-Canadian Air Force, fitted with original Stage I engines (no hushkits). Scanned picture. ^(NC)
		XA-ABG, registered to Allegro Air
	2000	Reported parked at Tucson airport in 2000
		Later to Mexicargo
	19 July 2000	Mexico City (- Licenciado Benito Juarez International) (MEX / MMMX) Mexico, July 19, 2000. Front section. Taken from Mexico City control tower. ^(ADL)
	26 May 2001	Tucson - International (TUS / KTUS) USA - Arizona, May 26, 2001. Mexicargo Air. ^(CC-1)
	8 Oct 2004	Tucson - International (TUS / KTUS) USA - Arizona, October 8, 2004. Sits in storage at Tucson awaiting its final fate. Boeing 727-287 OY-SEW late of TNT Express World Wide sits in the forground. ^(MC)
	mid 2005	Scrapped at Tucson in mid 2005
2		707-347C	13702	20316/825
		Originally ordered as N1507W for Western Airlines of California
		Later N1785B used for production testing
		Purchased from Boeing when original sale fell through
	24 Feb 1970	Delivered to Canadian Armed Forces as 13702
		Operated by No. 437 Squadron, at CFB Trenton, Ontario
	Oct 1979	Montreal - Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (Dorval) (YUL / CYUL) Canada - Quebec, October 1979. ^(PL)
	Aug 1980	London - Gatwick (LGW / EGKK) UK - England, August 1980 ^(PK)
	16 Sept 1980	Rio de Janeiro - Galeao International (Antonio Carlos Jobim) (GIG / SBGL) Brazil, September 16, 1980 ^(VC)
	Late 1980s	London - Gatwick (LGW / EGKK) UK - England, Late 1980's. ^(FS)
	May 1987	Montreal - Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (Dorval) (YUL / CYUL) Canada - Quebec, May 1987. ^(PL)
	1993	Vienna - Schwechat (VIE / LOWW) Austria, 1993 ^(CH)
	12 Jan 1993	Placed in storage on 12 January 1993
	2 Jun 1993	Declared surplus on 2 June 1993
		Sold, to civil register as HR-AMF to Omega of Honduras
	20 Dec 1993	Ferried from Toronto to Shannon, Ireland on 20 December 1993, parked there until 6 August 1994
	19 March 1994	Shannon (SNN / EINN) Ireland, March 19, 1994. HR-AMF. Here it has been stripped for a repaint into civil colours and only the red tailplanes and wingtips remain from its military livery. ^(FG)
	28 May 1994	Shannon (SNN / EINN) Ireland, May 28, 1994. HR-AMF awaiting delivery to AeroBrasil. ^(FG)
	6 Aug 1994	6 August 1994 it flew to Ostend, Belgium
		Registered as PT-TCU to Aerobrazil on lease in 1994, but not taken up
	Dec 1994	Still marked HR-AMF as late as December 1994
		Also reported as EL-AKT on Liberian register, but this appears to be an Antonov
	1996	Boeing 707 airframe modified by Northrop Grumman as E-8C JSTARS aircraft. ^(JB1)
		Assigned Northrop Grumman contractor number P-10. ^(JB1)
	Dec 2000	To USAF, as E-8C 96-0043, operational by December 2000
	6 Aug 2001	Delivered ^(VH-Jet)
	29 Aug 2001	Damaged in flight with 93rd Airborne Control Wing on 29 August 2001 when waveguide melted due to hydraulic system failure which pumped hydraulic fluid into electronics bay. Landed safely but heavily damaged. Preliminary repair estimate was US$3,788,079.59.
3		707-347C	13703	20317/826
		Originally ordered as N1508W for Western Airlines of California
		Purchased from Boeing when original sale fell through
	24 Feb 1970	Delivered to Canadian Armed Forces as 13703
		Operated by No. 437 Squadron, at CFB Trenton, Ontario
	mid 1972	Fitted with wing tip Fletcher-Sergeant "probe and drogue" refueling pods in mid 1972, no official change in designation
	Mid 1980s	Glasgow - Prestwick (PIK / EGPK) UK - Scotland, Mid 1980's.
	Fall 1985	Supported CF-5 detachment from 434 Squadron on deployment to Norway for NATO exercises in fall of 1985
	29 Nov 1985	Chatham NB, Being loaded with fuel in preparation for a transatlantic flight. Would refuel thirsty 434 Squadron CF5s on their way to a NATO exercise in Norway. ^(AR)
	1992	Faro (FAO / LPFR) Portugal, 1992 ^(PA)
	Sept 1992	Toronto waterfront Canada - Ontario, September 1992, With refueling pods. ^(DP)
	June 1994	Trenton (YTR / CYTR) Canada - Ontario, June 1994. Making a tight turn in the company of two CF-188 Hornets. ^(DP)
	July 1995	Fairford (FFD / EGVA) UK - England, July 1995 ^(AM)
	July 1995	Fairford (FFD / EGVA) UK - England, July 1995 ^(BS)
	24 July 1995	Fairford (FFD / EGVA) UK - England, July 24, 1995. Leaving RIAT 1995 ^(SP)
	27 Apr 1997	Struck off strength from CF
		Sold to USAF for conversion to Joint STARS E-8C 97-200
	14 Apr 1997	Ferried to Lake Charles, Louisiana on 14 April 1997
	5 Nov 2001	Delivered 5 November 2001 to 93rd Airborne Control Wing at Robins AFB, Georgia
	2005	Unit re-designated 116th Airborne Control Wing by 2005
4		707-347C	13704	20318/829
	Feb 1969	Originally ordered by Western Air Lines of Los Angeles, California, USA, in February 1969, to be registered N1509W ^(BM-JM)
	Aug 1969	Western encountered financial problems and the order was cancelled in August 1969 and the airline began selling aircraft. ^(BM-JM)
		The c/n was reallocated to a 707-347C-H for the CAF ^(BM-JM)
	20 Oct 1969	The aircraft rolled off the assembly line ^(BM-JM)
	3 March 1970	first flight on March 3, 1970 ^(BM-JM)
	24 Feb 1970	Delivered to the CAF as 13704
	mid 1972	Fitted with wing tip Fletcher-Sergeant "probe and drogue" refueling pods in mid 1972, no official change in designation
	24 Feb 1997	Struck off strength from CF
	17 April 1997	Sold to the USAF on April 17, 1997 ^(BM-JM)
		Boeing 707 airframe modified by Northrop Grumman as E-8C JSTARS aircraft. ^(BM-JM)
		Assigned Northrop Grumman contractor number P-13. ^(JB)
		USAF serial number changed to 97-0201
	14 Feb 2002	Delivered ^(VH-Jet)
		Operated by 93rd Airborne Control Wing at Robins AFB, Gerogia
	2002	Took part in RAF Waddington air show in 2002
	18 July 2003	Fairford (FFD / EGVA) UK - England, July 19, 2003. Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2003 U.S. Air National Guard 16th ACCS/116th ACW ^(GP)
	19 July 2003	Fairford (FFD / EGVA) UK - England, July 19, 2003. Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2003 16th ACCS/116th ACW ^(KB)
	29 May 2005	Seen at RAF Mildenhall May 29, 2005 ^(JB1)
	2005	Operating from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in 2005
	29 May 2005	Seen at RAF Mildenhall 29 May 2005
5		707-347C	13705	20319
		Originally ordered as N1510W for Western Airlines of California
		Purchased from Boeing when original sale fell through
	24 March 1971	Taken on strength Canadian Armed Forces as 13705
	12 May 1971	Arrived at CFB Trenton on 12 May 1971
		Operated by No. 437 Squadron, at CFB Trenton, Ontario
	28 April 1985	Seen at London Heathrow airport on 28 April 1985, with UN flag on tail
	29 April 1995	Placed in storage on 29 April 1995, was last operational CC-137 (non-tanker version ^(CF-AF))
	3 May 1995	Struck off strength from Canadian Forces
		Sold to USAF
	1996	Boeing 707 airframe modified by Northrop Grumman as E-8C JSTARS aircraft. ^(JB1)
		Assigned Northrop Grumman contractor number P-9. ^(JB1)
		USAF serial number changed to 96-0042. ^(JB1)
		Also reported as 95-0124 but this appears to be an error
	24 Sept 2005	Suffered considerable damage from debris while hangared at Northrop Grumman facility, Lake Charles, LA, Sep 24, 2005 when hangar doors were blown in by Hurricane Rita.. ^(JB1)
	Dec 2005	AFM. ^(JB1)

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Links

Canadian Forces Aircraft Info Page on this Aircraft: English francais

RCAF.com: Boeing CC-137 B707-320

Wikipedia: CC-137 Husky

Flight Sim CC-137 Aircraft and panels

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