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.
  
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Mixed configuration - three pallets of cargo forward weighing 25,00 pounds/12,500 Kg with 112 seats aft.
  4. Cargo - up to 90,000 pounds/42,000 Kg over 2500 nautical miles/4000Km.
  5. Medical evacuation - 60 litters plus 45 seats for support personnel.
  6. 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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