Boeing CC-137 Husky

Boeing · Canada · first flew 1970 · transport aircraft

The CC-137 Husky is the Canadian Armed Forces designation for the Boeing 707-347C, operated as a strategic transport and probe-and-drogue air-to-air refuelling tanker. Five aircraft were acquired and served with No. 437 Transport Squadron.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Boeing 707 airframe in RCAF/CAF markings
• Hose-drum refuelling pods under outer wings on tanker variants
• Five aircraft serving No. 437 Squadron — visually identical to civil 707

Visually indistinguishable from the civil Boeing 707 except for Canadian Armed Forces livery and, on tanker aircraft, the hose-drum pods visible beneath the outer wings.

Specifications

• The Boeing CC-137 Husky has a length of 46.61 m (153 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 44.42 m (146 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 1010 km/h (628 mph).
• Typical crew: 5.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Delivered from 1970, the five Huskies replaced the CC-106 Yukon in the long-range strategic lift role. Two aircraft were configured as tankers with hose-drum refuelling units under each outer wing, supporting CF-18 Hornet operations. All five were retired by 1997.

Variants

Two principal configurations were operated: pure transport and combined transport/tanker. The tanker variant carried probe-and-drogue pods under the outer wing sections.

Where you'll see it

The CC-137 gave the Canadian Forces over 27 years of strategic airlift and tanking capability, participating in Gulf War logistic support before retirement in 1997.

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