Caribous
Page 2 of 2
Last Updated: April 3, 2020
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RMAF M21-04 (cn # 248) on display at Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum, Kuala Lumpur - Sungai Besi, Malaysia on February 19, 2005. ( Franz Lackner) |
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The view from the ramp door during cloud seeding in the haze/smoke! You can see the PVC pipe on both sides of the ramp to spill salt water into the clouds. (Capt.Kalam bin Pie (RMAF) |
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RMAF "Project Jentayu" was a experiment to test the feasibility of a fixed wing gunship in TUDM service. The experiment involved arming a DHC 4 Caribou with a M197 20mm Gatling gun.Failed due to excessive recoil from 20mm burst, cracking the Caribou airframe. The test aircraft I believe is RMAF 21-13 (c/n 281). The M197 were acquired from USAF surplus that originally destined for South Vietnam. Very little is know about this Project. |
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While G. Howe and Bill were serving with the Marines of the 31st MAU on the U.S.S. Tarawa when we recovered this aircraft (FM1405) for the MAF and dropped it off in Kuching...1979. Bill sent the photos to me. (Photos provided by G. Howe) |
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M21-05 (cn # 270) crashed 5/24/99. (Capt.Kalam bin Pie (RMAF) |
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M21-12 (cn # 280) November 29, 1980. Enroute from Balik Papan
to Kuching, the aircraft commander feathered the port engine and continued
the flight on a single engine using METO power due to Port IOC fluid low
level warning light illumination. The aircraft landed at Simanggang airstrip
due to poor weather conditions at Kuching. The port engine was restarted
as the aircraft had a main wheel stuck in the mud while turning for backtrack.
The aircraft commander decided to continue the flight after 7 pints of IOC fluid was replenished. STOL technique was used for take off. Just after airborne the starboard feathering button light illuminated. The aircraft becomes uncontrollable and started to yaw and bank to the right. All corrective actions carried out by the aircraft commander to recover the aircraft but failed and ended up crashed 1500 yds from the airstrip. Fortunately, there was no fatalities. the aircraft was written off. (Capt.Kalam bin Pie (RMAF) |
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On September 24, 1982,
Caribou aircraft FM 1415 (c/n # 305) (callsign Misty 116B) took off at
1450 hours from Taiping airstrip for an air drop supply mission. On board
were the Pilot, Co-pilot, one Air Quarter Master and 4 Air Dispatchers.
The aircraft took off at 28,388 lbs all-up-weight and with 4 hours endurance. The aircraft was enroute for Atap, Gedung and Tenau cruising at 3,500 ft. At 1505 hrs, the aircraft called on the RT, reporting east of Ipoh, then switched over to RMAF operational frequency, informing Taiping that they were 5 minutes out of Brinchang and established at ops area. That was to be the last call heard from Misty 116B. Contradicting emergency procedures, DISTRESFA was only activated at 1900 hrs and Search and Rescure was initiated. FM 1415 was sighted, crashed 6 1/2 miles North-east of Atap on September 25, 1982 at 1040 hrs. There were no survivors from the accident. (Capt.Kalam bin Pie (RMAF) |
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On 7/31/95 M21-13 (c/n
# 281) callsign Angkasa 197, with six people on board, took off for a conversion
sortie for the newly qualified pilots. The training was carried out in
the vicinity of Labuan airfield and part of the circuit had to be flown
over water. The pilot planned for a locator approach. Half way through
the base turn, the aircraft commander noticed violent fluctuation of the
RPM and MAP. It was immediately diagnosed as a "runaway propeller" and
the port engine shut down. PAN call was declared.
Immediately after that, starboard engine Zone 2 and 3 fire warning lights illuminated and flames were seen in front of the starboard engine. The starboard engine was also shut down. Mayday call was transmitted and aircraft prepared for ditching. The aircraft impacted the water tail first. The crew in the cockpit immediately abandoned ship through the top escape hatch. One of the aircrew surfaced from the port side of the aircraft. The aircraft finally sank bringing along with it three of the crew. (Capt.Kalam bin Pie (RMAF) |
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