Retirement of CC137
(Republished from the 23 April 1997 issue of the Voxair)
On 1 April 97, after an illustrious 26 year career, the CC137 (Boeing 707) retired from service. This venerable aircraft, the workhorse of the north, had been with us since 1970/71 when five were purchased to provide a world-wide strategic transport and air-to-air refueling (AAR) capability.
With a speed of mach .81 and a max flying time of 11 hours, the Boeing provided medium and long range transportation of both passengers and freight, VIP transport, medical evacuation, and strategic in-flight refuelling for CF5 and CF18 Fighters.
It carried up to 212 pax or 43,000 kg of freight or a combination of both. The two modified for air-to-air refuelling significantly increased the range and capability of our fighters and were pivotal in ensuring our NATO and UN commitments were met. Fittingly, their last mission was AAR and transport support to fighter group 14-28 March 97.
From their home base of 8 Wing Trenton, the CC137 was flown by 437 Sqn of Air Transport Group to all points of the globe in support of many high profile taskings such as the Gulf War, numerous VIP missions and global humanitarian relief. These included, just to name a few:
- OP Magnet – the airlifting of Vietnamese ‘boat people’ out of Hong Kong;
- OP Boreal – the transporting of provisions to the former Soviet Union;
- OP Airbridge – resupply to former Yugoslavia, and
- humanitarian missions to such places as Ethiopia, Namibia, Sudan, Somalia and Rwanda.
VIPs included many Canadian Prime Ministers, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and various members of the Royal Family, Pope John Paul II, former Premier Kosygin of the USSR along with many others too numerous to mention.
The two remaining aircraft have logged approximately 38, 000 hours each during their stint with the CF. Whether flying service personnel and their dependents across the country or overseas, refuelling our fighters in flight, hauling freight or transporting VIPs, the 707 has been one of the most flexible and reliable aircraft in our inventory.
Achieving this enviable record has been through the dedicated work of many, and all who have flown, maintained or supported the CC137 can be proud of their contribution. The CF will sorely miss its unique operational capabilities and reliability, but the fleet and its roles and responsibilities will be ably replaced by both the Hercules and the Polaris aircraft.
Those who know her well will always hold a special place in their hearts for the Boeing.