The Liberal-Kommanist government of Paul Martin has appeared to dither
in recent days about whether to deploy a 200 service-member mobile
hospital and water purification asset known as DART to the Indian
Ocean. Not sure if it's needed.
 
Some unnamed sources are cited by Canadian media as saying that the
Canadian Forces no longer  possess the resources to deploy DART, ergo
the politicians attempt to distract the Canadian public by saying a
foreign government request for DART is a prequisite.

What is the present composition of the Canadian Forces Strategic Airlift force?
What type of aircraft, payloads? 
How many?
Do the Canadian Forces have any C-130, c-141, C-5, C-17, or cargo versions
of Boeing 7x7 or AirBus?

Happy New Year, grthumongous!

I think you'll find everything you are looking for on the RCAF website.

1 Canadian Air Division: The Aircraft:
http://www.rcaf.com/1997_2010_present/aircraft/transports/index.htm
 
1 Canadian Air Division: The Squadrons:
http://www.rcaf.com/1997_2010_present/squadrons/index.htm

>>>>>> CC-130 Hercules: Quantity 44:

     No. 424 Squadron - Trenton, Ontario
     No. 426 Squadron - Trenton, Ontario
     No. 429 Squadron - Trenton, Ontario
     No. 436 Squadron - Trenton, Ontario
     No. 413 Squadron - Greenwood, NS 
     No. 435 Squadron - Winnipeg, Man 

"On 28 October 1960 the RCAF's first Lockheed C-130B "Hercules"
bulk-cargo and troop-carrier aircraft was officially accepted at RCAF
Station Uplands, to be delivered to No. 435 Squadron at Namao. This
nimble heavyweight of the RCAF's Air Transport Command, among other
things, features a rear-loading system incorporating a large door
section in the fuselage which lowers to form a loading ramp and
facilitates the handling of bulky, long loads. With a freight
compartment capacity of 4,300 cubic feet, roughly the size of a
railroad freight car, this turboprop giant can haul the heaviest load
of any CAF aircraft. It can transport more than 12 tons of cargo 3,400
miles at 340 miles an hour and can airlift 64 fully-equipped
paratroops, or 92 infantrymen, or 70 litter cases and attendants."

Manufacturer:     Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
Crew/Passengers:  Crew: 2 pilots, 1 navigator, 1 flight engineer, and 
                  1 loadmaster 
Troops:           up to 90 or Paratroops: 64 or Litters: 74 plus two attendants
Power Plant:      Four Allison T-54-A-15 turboprop engines with 4,910 
                  EHP (3,661 KW)
Performance:      Max Speed: 368 mph (621 km/h) Cruising Speed: 355 
                  mph (571 kmh)
Service Ceiling:  42,900 ft (13,075 m) Range: 5,465 mi (8,795 km)
Weights:          Empty: 76,780 lb (34,827 kg) Maximum Take-off: 
                  175,000 lb (79,379 kg)
Dimensions:       Span: 132 ft 7 in (40.41 m) Length: 97 ft 10 in 
                  (29.81) m
Height:           38 ft 1 in (11.61 m) Wing Area: 1,745.5 sq ft 
                  (162.16 sq m)
Armament:         None but provision for chaff & flare dispensers
Cost:             CC130B $2,141,440 CC130H(73) $4,973,000 CC130H(84) 
                  $22,415,000
http://www.rcaf.com/1997_2010_present/aircraft/transports/hercules/index.htm

>>>>>> C-141,  C-5,  C-17:  NONE

>>>>>> CC-150 Polaris: Quantity 5:

     No. 437 Squadron - Trenton, Ontario

"The five-plane fleet's primary role is long-range transport of
personnel and equipment, up to 194 passengers or 32,000 kg of cargo.
four aircraft can be configured in the combi-role carrying both
passengers and freight and they are equipped with a large cargo door
plus a strengthened floor and fuselage. One aircraft (CC150001) is
permanently configured for VIP transportation duties. They've
participated in operations supporting Canadian Forces, NATO and
numerous United Nations and Red Cross initiatives. The squadron has an
excellent reputation transporting high ranking government officials
and foreign dignitaries, including members of the Royal Family, the
Prime Minister, the Governor General around the world. The Huskies are
proud of their motto, "Omnia Passim," (Anytime, Anywhere).
Two aircraft in the fleet are currently being upgraded, along with
German Air Force aircraft, to be capable of in-flight refueling."

Manufacturer:  	  Airbus Industries Ltd
Crew/Passengers:  Maximum 194 passengers in standard configuration and 
                  60 passengers in combi-configuration
Power Plant: 	  Two GE CF6-80C2A2 turbofans each with 24,265 kg thrust
Performance: 	  Cruising Speed: Mach 0.80
Service Ceiling:  44,839 ft (13,667 m) Range: 7,250 mi (11,668 km)
Weights: 	  Gross: 152,616 lb (69,226 kg) Cargo Load: 70,547 lb 
                  (32,000 kg)
Dimensions:       Wing Span: 144 ft 0 in (43.9 m) Length: 153 ft 0 in 
                  (46.66 m)
Height:           51ft 10 in (15.8 m) Wing Area: 2,360 sq ft 
                  ( 219 sq m)
Armament:         None
Cost:             Each 3 (ex-Cdn) aircraft at $51.2M, one a/c @ $54.1M 
                  and one a/c @ $57.1 M
http://www.rcaf.com/1997_2010_present/aircraft/transports/polaris/index.htm


Additional Link:

Aerial Postcards:
http://www.aerialpostcards.com/CT-114/CT-114_Tutor.htm

I was glad to find this info for you. If you have any questions,
please post a clarification request before closing/rating my answer
and I'll be happy to reply.

Thank you,
hummer

Google Search Terms Used:

Canadian Forces Strategic Airlift force

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 02 Jan 2005 16:19 PST

Hi again, grthumongous,

According to Canadian National Defense, the Canadian Forces only has
32 Hercules, not 44 as reported by the RCAF:

FACTS AND FIGURES - CC-130 HERCULES
14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. 
 8 Wing Trenton, Ont. 
17 Wing, Winnipeg, Man. 
[3 Afghanistan]
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/cc-130/intro_e.asp

8 Wing, Trenton:
"Along with its primary roles of providing air transport and Search &
Rescue, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton maintains the equipment warehouse for the
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)..."
http://www.airforce.forces.ca/8wing/about_us/about_e.asp

D.A.R.T.: September 28, 2004:
How does it get sent out?
"The Canadian government makes the decision to send DART after it
receives a request from an individual country or the United Nations.
A reconnaissance team of about 12 people ? drawn from the Department
of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian International Development Agency,
National Defence Headquarters and DART ? heads out first to find
what's needed.
Once DART knows where to set up camp, it begins shipping troops and
equipment, usually from the airport at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in
Ontario. Almost everything DART needs ? more than 40 vehicles and 340
tonnes of supplies ? is stored in a warehouse at the base, ready to be
shipped at 48 hours notice. Another 11 tonnes of medical supplies are
stashed nearby."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdnmilitary/dart.html

Apparently, D.A.R.T. has just been following protocol, sending a team
out first to find out what is needed, as reported back in September by
the CBC.

Cheers,
hummer

Hummer, thanks for the supplemental information.
I know that Colonel Stogran is a fine officer and that the service
members of DART were eager to be deployed on this mission.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2005/01/05/807830-sun.html


http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=2fe4ce56-5cfc-4a41-93f6-8dad973ae1d6

Dear grthumongous,

I'm glad you wrote - watch the CBC news tonight, they are going to
address this very issue. We're all relieved that D.A.R.T. has finally
gotten off the ground and hopefully we'll have a better understanding
of what it must take place to make it happen. I heard that perhaps
D.A.R.T. needs to be pared down to a more manageable level so it can
act quicker - sounds reasonable.

Thank you for your thank you, nice rating, and unexpected tip, you are
very nice. By the way, I tried to find some helicopters in Sumatra but
I really don't believe there are any - what would they be, Sea Kings? 
8-)

Take care - will be thinking of you tonight,
hummer

Thank you Hummer.
I watched it, including Mansbridge's ponderous yet tangential coverage
of airlift capabilities for transporting DART in his extended
interview with the three pundits. The matter of airlift was briefly
raised by one of the pundits and then they moved on leaving most
viewers  unaware of the growing logistical gaps in the Canadian
Forces.

As far as I know the CC-130s in the inventory are not even capable of
being refueled in flight (no inflight refueling) so I guess they have
to land to top-up.  Even if they could receive inflight refueling, the
Canadian Forces version of the KC-135 were retired ten years ago so
even the CF-18s need a friendly neighbourhood tanker to operate.
Remember the helium balloon shootdown episode.

The Canadian Forces Future Strategic Airlifter Project was considering C-17s.

http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-fsa2.htm

A C-17 prepares to accept fuel during inflight refueling, photo lower right.
 

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/kc-767.htm

"In July 2001 the Italian Air Force announced the purchase of four new
aerial refueling tankers, and options for two more -- a deal worth
maybe $700 million. The planes will be the first ever 767
tanker-transports. Italy chose the Boeing aircraft over a design
offered by European plane maker Airbus. The Italian Air Force will
receive the first of its four 767 tankers in late 2005."

With the loonie currently enjoying a more favorable exchange rate at
1.25 rather than the 1.62 rate of two years ago now seems like an
opportune time to buy something.

Best Regards.