Soon, the reliable Buffalo will have reached the end of its long career with the RCAF. They contributed to the rescue of many people over the years and will be missed when they are gone.

Definitely one of my more exotic catches in my collection is this Buffalo of the Egypt Air Force. According to online databases this aircraft was first noted in 1982 and is said to be still operational today.

This unique DHC-5 Quiet Short-Haul Research Aircraft (QSRA) variant was a NASA research aircraft modified to study and develop Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) technology. The QSRA was among other things modified with 4 Lycoming F102 turbofan engines. It first flew in this configuration in 1978. This aircraft even performed a landing and takeoff on the US aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, (of course) requiring neither arresting gear nor catapult launch. The techniques learned from this Buffalo stood model for the Boeing YC-14/C-17 programme and is now preserved at Moffett Museum's airpark (CA)

A visitor from 442 Sqn, Comox BC

This Buffalo came to Vernon to do some SAR training

Scanned from negative. This aircraft was written off on 14th March 1985 whilst with the Sudanese Air Force.

company demonstrator

A Buffalo in Paris. To Chile as 920 in 1981, but soon lost at Punta Arenas. Photo by: Ad Smits

Recently imported from the Omani Police Wing where it was A4O-CI and exported as 5Y-GAA in December 1995. In 2004 it was imported by Arctic Sunwest Charters as C-FASY then exported as 7Q-STA in May 2015.

Company demonstrator.

Conducting training ops in the area and later to return to 442 Sqn in Comox

Departing for CFB Comox. I was to find out later that this was the last flight of the pilot prior to his retirement.

CF Buffalo departing Vernon for home base at Comox. Operated by 250.

This aircraft was a DHC demonstrator and went on to become 5T-MAW, 9T-CBA and 3D-AIR. It ended its days as a spares source in Kenya. Scanned from a slide.

Converted to Search and Rescue configuration in 1975, this Buffalo would get the current over all yellow color scheme along with other SAR aircraft in 1981-82.

Comox glacier in the background. Callsign 'Snake'

A visitor from 442 Sqn, Comox BC.