THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
Federal Member for Blair
9 December 2009
125/2009
AMBERLEY TO RECEIVE A CARIBOU
A
retired Caribou aircraft will become a permanent static display at RAAF Base
Amberley in recognition of the Caribou’s 45 years of service to Australia and its long
association with the local area.
Air Force Caribou has a long history of operational activity from Amberley and part
of the fleet was based there until 2 years ago,” said Mr Neumann.
“Air Force Caribou were based at RAAF Amberley from 1992 until 2007. For 15
years, Amberley-based Caribou provided vital support to ADF operations and
exercises across Australia, East Timor, PNG and the South Pacific.”
“The establishment of a static display is a fitting tribute to the thousands of people
who proudly flew and maintained the Caribou in South-East Queensland.”
Australia received a total of 29 Caribou between 1964 and 1971. The light tactical
transport aircraft were well known for their ability to operate from short and
unprepared airstrips. Caribou conducted tasks across Australia, and in Vietnam,
South East Asia, Kashmir and the South Pacific.
“In recent years, the ageing Caribou became increasingly labour intensive and
costly to operate. It was a tribute to the aircrew and maintenance personnel that the
Caribou was able to operate as long as it did,” said Mr Combet.
“In the interim, the Caribou will be replaced by the King Air, which will provide a
modern and efficient transport capability for the Australian Defence Force. A long
term replacement for the Caribou will be selected in consultation with Defence.”
“The Caribou’s lengthy and illustrious Air Force career has also been recognised
with one aircraft being provided to the Australian War Memorial and another to the
RAAF Museum at Point Cook, Victoria.”
Disposal of the remaining Caribou aircraft is being managed by the Defence
Materiel Organisation.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Jessica Hill (Shayne Neumann)
0488 076 420
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
