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A Canadian deHavilland Caribou demo
aircraft being tested at Fort Myer, Virginia on December 9,1958. Dave
Fairbanks, manager of deHavilland flight operations, obtained permission
from the FAA to use the Fort Myer parade field with a level, 900 feet
grass section. Fairbanks arrived in a Caribou in front of the military
observers, took on 32 troops, took off, circled and landed. He loaded
again with cargo and vehicles and want through same routine. Next day
the procedure was demonstrated in every detail for General Howze,
Secretary of Defense Wilson and a number of congressmen. The convincing
display put an abrupt end to the debate - the Army could buy the
airplane they so badly wanted and began ordering them in batches of 50.
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