Eagle County Regional Airport in Colorado was host to a rare aircraft this month when DHC-4A Caribou N600NH visited in support of operations carried out by US Navy Seals.
DHC-4A Caribou N600NH was based at the airport for approximately 16 days, tasked with supporting the US Navy Seals in high altitude parachute jumps.
MC-130H – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Along with a USAF MC-130H they were flying to approximately 22,000 feet before the jumpers left the aircraft and headed for a drop-zone on BLM land to the north or the airport.
MC-130H – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Instead of free-falling, the jumpers’ chutes were deployed almost immediately, giving them 10-15 minutes of time in the air before touchdown, with each section of jumpers following in a line all the way to the ground.
DHC-4A – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
While the jumpers descended, their jump aircraft circled constantly to effectively block the airspace for the safety of the parachutists.
DHC-4A – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
This DHC-4A Turbo Caribou is a turbine conversion, and is one of only a handful of active Caribou in the USA. It is mostly contracted out to the military for work such as this.
DHC-4A – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
N600NC is ex-Kenyan Air Force, delivered in 1965. In 1986 it was flown to Malta for storage, alongside many others for New Cal Aviation, before being flown to Cape May, NJ, for storage and possible future turbine conversion.
MC-130H – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
In 1994 it was converted with PT6A-67T turbines at Penn Turbo Aviation, and gained FAA certification in 2001.
MC-130H – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
This particular example is operated by Rampart Aviation and is normally based at Pinal Air Park in Arizona.
