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Canadian Forces – Search and Rescue Aircraft – A Visual Guide CC-115  Buffalo DHC's Buffalo originated as a turboprop follow-on to the Caribou  short take-off  and landing transports. The CF operated CC-115s briefly as tactical transports before all remaining Buffalo were transferred to the BC coast for use by 442 Sqn as SAR aircraft. The CC-115 suit West Coast SAR better than larger aircraft but make no use of  STOL. Model:  DeHavilland Canada  DHC-5A Buffalo,  Dimensions: span 29.2m,  length 24m, Height 8.76m, Wing Area 87.7m2,  Powerplant(s):  2  x  GE  CT64-820-3, 2106 kW (T/O). CC-138  Twin Otter Another DHC STOL aircraft, the four remaining  Twotters serve  primarily  in the utility transport role – despite their markings, search-and-rescue is a secondary role (a yellow and red paint scheme stands out well in the Arctic). The 4 CC-138s are all based at Yellowknife, flying with 440 Sqn. In Feb. 2005, a "light utility" replacement  was budgeted, but nothing more was heard. Model: DeHavilland Canada  DHC-6-300 Twin Otter,  Dimensions: span 19.8m,  length 15.1m,  Height 5.66m,  Wing Area 39m2,  Powerplant(s):  2  x  P&WC PT6A-27, 507 kW. CH-149  Cormorant Canada  ordered  15  CH-149 Cormorant SAR helicopters in 2000,  the first entering CF service in 2001. Although of impressive  performance and capabilities,  the CH-149 has been plagued with servicability problems (fuel leaks and mechanical). One Cormorant, '914, was lost in a fatal crash in July 2006 but investigators lean toward human causes. Model:  EH Industries EH101   (AgustaWestland  AW520 model ),  Dimensions:  rotor span 18.5m, length 22.8m,  Powerplant(s): 3 x GE T700/T6A1, 1775 kW max. (sea level ). CC-130E /H  Hercules The Lockheed Hercules has been routinely used for SAR (both as primary and backup search aircraft). Wear on the aging Herc fleet prompted a Fixed-Wing SAR  Project  – currently on  hold  –  which was also intended to provide a replacement for 19 Wing's remaining 6 CC-115 Buffalo. Model:  Lockheed Models L-382 / L-382B,  Dimensions:  span 40.41m, length 29.79m, Powerplant(s):  4 x Allison 501-D22 (T56-A-7B) / Allison (RR) 501-D22A (T56-A-15).