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Military transport aircraft / DHC-4

# de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou

The DHC-4 Caribou was a Canadian piston-engine tactical transport built for short, remote airstrips.

![de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou aircraft photograph](https://onlyplanes.ru/images/military-aviation/models/de-havilland-canada-dhc-4-caribou.webp)

Development

## History

The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou was a Canadian twin-engine transport designed for short and lightly equipped airfields. It first flew in 1958. Military customers needed to bring people and supplies closer to an operation than ordinary transports could reach. The Caribou addressed that need through a useful cabin and excellent takeoff and landing performance rather than high cruise speed. In United States service it was initially designated CV-2 and later C-7.

The aircraft is a high-wing design with two piston engines, large flaps and a rear loading ramp. The wing position leaves access around the hold, while the ramp makes loading possible without a major freight terminal. The Caribou could carry troops, supplies and small equipment. Short-field ability still depended on weather, weight and surface condition; it did not make every piece of ground suitable for landing. Crews had to assess obstacles on approach and ensure that the aircraft could depart after unloading or taking on another load.

The United States Army received the first aircraft in the early 1960s. During the Vietnam War, Caribous supplied remote strips that were difficult to serve regularly with larger transports. The aircraft formed a link between a major airlift hub and smaller airfields nearer to units. Reducing the last ground leg could matter more than a difference in cruise speed. A short-strip operation nevertheless required continuing maintenance and close coordination with the people handling cargo on the ground.

Military aircraft later passed to the United States Air Force. Some found civilian work in remote regions after their military careers. The Caribou's design idea continued in the DHC-5 Buffalo, which introduced turboprop engines and other changes. The Buffalo is a separate type, not merely another name for the same aircraft. Any performance comparison must account for different generations and operating requirements.

The Caribou matters in tactical logistics as an aircraft adapted to the final airborne leg of a supply route. A giant freighter can bring material to a central base, but the next step may require a different machine. The DHC-4 occupied that niche, combining moderate carrying capacity with access to strips where conditions were much more demanding than at a large airport.

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