Canadair CL-44

Canadair CL-44
Name	Canadair CL-44
Type	Cargo/Airliner
Manufacturer	Canadair
First flight	16 November 1959
Introduction	1960
Retired	1970s
Primary user	Royal Canadian Air Force
Number built	39
Developed from	Bristol Britannia
Variants	*Canadair CC-106 Yukon *Canadair CL-44-6

Canadair CL-44. The Canadair CL-44 was a large, long-range cargo aircraft and airliner developed and produced by the Canadian manufacturer Canadair during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was a derivative of the Bristol Britannia turboprop airliner, extensively redesigned with a lengthened fuselage and a unique swing-tail for straight-in cargo loading. Primarily operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Canadair CC-106 Yukon and by commercial cargo carriers like Seaboard World Airlines, the CL-44 was a significant, though niche, aircraft in the evolution of global air freight.

Development and design

The CL-44 program originated from a Royal Canadian Air Force requirement for a long-range transport to replace its fleet of Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft. Canadair, which was already licensed to produce the Bristol Britannia, proposed a heavily modified version. Key design changes were managed by a team led by chief designer John H. Park. The most radical innovation was the incorporation of a swing-tail, where the entire rear fuselage, including the empennage, could be hydraulically hinged to one side, allowing unobstructed straight-in loading of bulky freight. The aircraft was powered by four Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprop engines, providing excellent range and fuel efficiency for its era. The civilian variant, developed concurrently, was aimed at the emerging intercontinental air cargo market, with Swissair and BOAC showing early interest before ultimately not purchasing the type.

Operational history

The CL-44 entered service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1960, designated as the Canadair CC-106 Yukon; it set several world records for distance and endurance, including a flight from Tokyo to Washington, D.C. The primary commercial operator became Seaboard World Airlines, which used the aircraft extensively on transatlantic cargo routes, notably under contract for the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Other significant civilian operators included The Flying Tiger Line, Aerotransportes Entre Ríos, and Icelandic Airlines Loftleiðir, the latter using a convertible passenger-cargo variant on low-fare transatlantic services. Despite its capabilities, the CL-44's commercial success was limited by the concurrent arrival of more efficient jet aircraft like the Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 707.

Variants

*CL-44D4: The standard production civilian cargo variant with the swing-tail, built for operators like Seaboard World Airlines. *CL-44J: A stretched variant, unofficially known as the "Canadair Four Forty," created by Conroy Aircraft for Icelandic Airlines Loftleiðir; it featured a fuselage lengthened by over 20 feet to carry up to 189 passengers. *CC-106 Yukon: The military transport version for the Royal Canadian Air Force, lacking the swing-tail but equipped for aerial refueling and long-range patrol duties. *CL-44-6: A one-off prototype with General Electric turbofan engines, also known as the Canadair 400; it did not enter production.

Operators

Primary military service was with the Royal Canadian Air Force (later Canadian Armed Forces). Major civilian cargo operators included Seaboard World Airlines, The Flying Tiger Line, and Aerotransportes Entre Ríos. Icelandic Airlines Loftleiðir was the main passenger carrier using the stretched CL-44J. Other operators included Transeuropa, Air Manila, and Cargolux, the latter using it in its early fleet.

Specifications (CL-44D4)

*Crew: 3–4 *Capacity: 60,000 lb (27,216 kg) payload *Length: 136 ft 10 in (41.73 m) *Wingspan: 142 ft 4 in (43.37 m) *Height: 38 ft 8 in (11.79 m) *Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Tyne Mk. 515/10 turboprop engines, 5,730 shp (4,270 kW) each *Maximum speed: 420 mph (680 km/h, 360 kn) *Range: 5,590 mi (8,990 km, 4,860 nmi) with maximum payload *Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)

Accidents and incidents

The CL-44 had several notable accidents during its service. In 1962, a Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CC-106 Yukon crashed near Rabat, Morocco, killing all on board. A Seaboard World Airlines CL-44D4 was involved in the 1965 mid-air collision with Eastern Air Lines Flight 853 over Danbury, Connecticut. In 1976, a CL-44 operated by Aerotransportes Entre Ríos crashed on approach to Luis María Campos Airport in Argentina. Another significant loss occurred in 1978 when a Cargolux CL-44 crashed shortly after takeoff from Luxembourg Airport, destroying a farmhouse.

Category:Canadian airliners 1950–1959 Category:Canadair aircraft Category:Four-engined turboprop aircraft