CH-113 Labrador

Infobox Aircraft
name= CH-113 Labrador


caption= A CH-113 Labrador practising an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter
type= Medium helicopter
manufacturer= Vertol Aircraft Boeing Vertol
designer=
first flight= August 1962
introduced= 1964
retired= 2004
status=
primary user= Canadian Forces
more users= Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Army
produced= 1962-1971
number built=
unit cost=
developed from = CH-46 Sea Knight
variants with their own articles=

The Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador was the Canadian name for the CH-46 Sea Knight and was a twin-engine, twin-rotor, Canadian search and rescue (SAR) helicopter used in air-marine rescue operations from 1962 until 2004.

Design and development

The Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army first acquired the CH-113A Voyageur for use as a medium-lift transport helicopter in the 1960s, at the same time as the CH-147 Chinook was acquired as a heavy-lift transport helicopter.

Following the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces, which saw the army and RCAF dissolved, the CH-46 Sea Knight model was selected to augment the medium-lift transport helicopter fleet. Carrying the designation "Labrador", the existing "Voyageur" fleet was converted to Sea Knight specifications and all new and refurbished aircraft retained the CH-113 designation. The creation of Air Command (AIRCOM) in 1975 saw the Labrador fleet assigned to air-marine SAR duties.

The Labrador was fitted with a watertight hull for marine landings, a rescue hoist, 1,110 kilometer flying range, 5,000 kilogram cargo hook, emergency medical equipment and an 18 person passenger capacity. By the 1990s the heavy use and hostile weather conditions of air-marine rescue were taking their toll on the Labrador fleet, resulting in increased maintenance costs.

Replacement

In 1992 it was announced that the Labradors were to be replaced by a version of the AgustaWestland EH101 to be called the "CH-149 Chimo", with 15 on order. This was subsequently cancelled by a different government in 1993, resulting in cancellation penalties, as well as the prospect of another decade of service for the Labrador fleet.

In 1998 a CH-113 from CFB Greenwood tragically crashed on Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula while returning from a SAR mission, resulting in the deaths of all crewmembers onboard. It was very evident that the fleet required replacing, therefore the same government, under extraordinary political pressure, returned to the EH101 manufacturers and placed an order for 15 aircraft to be called the CH-149 Cormorant.

Delivery of the new aircraft began in 2003 and the last CH-113 was retired in 2004.

In October 2005 Columbia Helicopters of Portland, Oregon purchased eight of the retired CH-113 Labradors. This added to their complement of 15 Vertol 107-II Helicopters. [cite web |title = Columbia Helicopters Acquires eight CH-113 Labrador helicopters from Canadian military |work = RotorHub |publisher = RotorHub.com |date = | url = http://www.shephard.co.uk/Rotorhub/default.aspx?Action=745115149&ID=c186be12-8152-418b-9b56-ec198753da2e |accessdate = ]

Operators

;CAN
* Canadian Forces
* Canadian Army
* Royal Canadian Air Force;USA
* Columbia Helicopters

pecifications (CH-46 Sea Knight)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

crew=4: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief, 1 aerial gunner/observer
capacity=25 troops
length main=45 ft 8 in fuselage
length alt=13.92 m
* Fuselage width: 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m)
height main=16 ft 8.5 in
height alt=5.1 m
span main=51 ft
span alt=16 m
area main=4,100 ft²
area alt=380 m²
empty weight main=15,537 lb
empty weight alt=7,047 kg
loaded weight main=17,396 lb
loaded weight alt=7,891 kg
loaded weight more=with armor, guns, and ammunition
max takeoff weight main=24,300 lb
max takeoff weight alt=11,000 kg
engine (prop)=General Electric T58-GE-16
type of prop=turboshafts
number of props=2
power main=1,870 shp
power alt=1,400 kW
max speed main=165 mph
max speed alt=143 knots; 265 km/h
combat radius main=184 mi
combat radius alt=160 nm, 296 km
ferry range main=420 mi
ferry range alt=360 nm, 676 km
ceiling main=14,000 ft
ceiling alt=4,300 m
climb rate main=2,045 ft/min
climb rate alt=10.4 m/s
loading main=4.2 lb/ft²
loading alt=21 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.215 hp/lb
power/mass alt=354 W/kg
guns=2× XM218 .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) machine guns (optional), 1 Ramp mounted M240G 7.62 x 51 mm machine gun (optional)

ee also

aircontent
related=
* CH-46 Sea Knight
* CH-147 Chinook
similar aircraft=
sequence=
* CSR-110 - CF-111 - CH-112 - CH-113 - CT-114 - CC-115 - CF-116
lists=
* List of active United States military aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the United States
see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.colheli.com/ Columbia Helicopters - Largest Civilian Operator of BV/KV Model 107]
* [http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/CAF_Vertols_detailed_list.htm Detail List of CH-113 Labradors & Voyageurs]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=Boeing%20Vertol%20107%20%28H-46%20Sea%20Knight%29&distinct_entry=true Boeing Vertol 107, H-46 Sea Knight & CH-113 Labrador on Airliners.net]
* [http://www.casaraontario.ca/~ottawa1/Photos/LAB_Retirement_CFB_Trenton/ Photo Gallery of Lab Retirement at CFB Trenton]