The DHC-5 was designed against a US Army requirement for a fixed-wing airlift aircraft capable of carrying similar loads to the CH-47A Chinook into and out of short airstrips. De Havilland Canada’s desire was to build on the success of the radial-engined Caribou with an improved version, powered by turboprops and, as part of the development, DHC-4 Caribou c/n 1 was converted to turbine power, flying for the first time on 22 September 1961. Suitably impressed with performance of the ‘Caribou II’, the US Army signed a contract for four prototypes, but the project was subsequently strangled by inter-Service politics and changes to US procurement policies designed to protect US industry.
Despite this early setback, De Havilland Canada pressed on what was now called the Buffalo, securing sales to Canada, Brazil and Peru before production was paused in 1972. An improved version appeared shortly after, and production continued in 1986 although sales didn’t quite reach the same level as the DHC-4. Viking Air acquired the type certificate in 2006 and announced plans to return the Buffalo to production as the DHC-5NG powered by Pratt & Whitney PW150 engines. Despite securing a small number of commitments, the project appears to have been abandoned.
Canada and Egypt were the final military operators. The type remains in commercial service in limited numbers, supporting aid agencies in Somalia and South Sudan where the environment is well-suited to the Buffalo’s strengths.
First flight: 09 Apr 64 (c/n 1, 63-13686)
Production: 125, at Downvsiew, ON
First delivery: Apr 65, to the US Army (c/n 1, 63-13686)
Last delivery: 10 Dec 86, to the Kenyan Air Force (c/n 125 and 126, serials 218 and 220 respectively)
Variants: CV-7A – prototypes for the US Army (4 built);
DHC-5A/CC-115 – initial production version, with increased power, weights and performance, powered by T64-820-1 engines (55 built; first flight 17 May 67 (c/n 5, CF-LAQ));
DHC-5B – proposed version powered by T64-P4C engines;
DHC-5C – proposed version powered by Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.12 engines;
DHC-5D – further developed version powered by T64-820-4 engines (66 built);
DHC-5E Transporter – civilian version, based on the DHC-5D (1 converted, but project abandoned after its loss at the Farnborough Air Show)
Conversions: Several conversions were undertaken, the only one which survives is the Quiet STOL Research Aircraft, converted by Boeing for Ames Research Center with a new wing and tail section, and powered by 4 Avco Lycoming YF-102 turbofans (first flight 6 Jul 78).
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