The Caribous of 86 Wing cover a large area of East Timor and encounter a variety of challenging working conditions for the crew and aircraft. Photographs by MAJ Dave Munro.

After 36 years of service the RAAF's Caribous of 86 Wing are once again on active service, this time in East Timor.

The Caribou commenced its service in 1964 and was to see active service during the Vietnam War. Since that time it has been a valuable tool for the RAAF in humanitarian assistance, during natural disasters as well as peacekeeping missions.

Testament to the versatility of the Caribou was demonstrated in late 1999 when the Caribou deployed with INTERFET forces to East Timor. The Caribou's ability to land and take off on short runways and its suitability for the difficult conditions encountered by Australian Defence Force personnel in East Timor has made the aircraft a valuable tool for the implementation and maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment in East Timor.

This 'old workhorse of the skies', in most cases older than the pilots who fly it, has over the years developed a reputation for being a reliable aircraft capable of fulfilling its duty even in this youth orientated world. The role of 86 Wing and its Caribous, is to take cargo and personnel around East Timor sites for the United Nations Transitional Authority East Timor (UNTAET).

According to Squadron Leader Geoff Kimmins, Detachment Commander of 86 Wing, RAAF, the Caribou, while an old aircraft, is still a very effective operational platform. 'It's 36 years old now, but engineering-wise it's still a fine aircraft and very effective the way it's been operated by Australians,' he said.

The Caribous of 86 Wing cover a large area of East Timor and encounter a variety of challenging working conditions for the crews and aircraft.

'We are servicing three airfields at the moment, and there are some challenging airfields amongst those particularly when the wet sets in, as they become wet and boggy,' Squadron Leader Kimmins said.

One of the most challenging airfields is Maliana near the border with Indonesia, which is a grassed strip surrounded by trees and villages that becomes boggy in wet conditions. During these times the skill of the pilots is tested when taking off or landing. The common problem is skidding when the aircraft either breaks for landing or powers up for take off.

Unlike most of us when we get older, there are no restrictions on the Caribou that weren't there to begin with. 'The Caribou has had some enhancements since we originally purchased it, and is now an even more capable platform, particularly in the areas of navigation and night vision equipment,' Squadron Leader Kimmins said.

Even with all the modern equipment on board pilots still have to rely on the same skills as their forebears.

Squadron Leader Brendan Reinhardt, one of the pilots of the Caribous said, 'flying the Caribou in East Timor is challenging, especially in the wet weather. Now that the wet season has rolled in quite often you are flying low under the cloud or coming back over the mountains in cloud you've really got to be careful that you don't get caught out - the weather is really bad here.'

While the Caribou might be old it still has that romantic charm of the old radial engine aircraft from a bygone era. 'It's one of the old and bold - you feel like you are there in one of the big ones of World War II, two big radial engines rattling away beside you, and it is really one of the last old style Squadrons around,' Squadron Leader Reinhardt said.

Although the Government continues to look for a replacement for the Caribou, the old warhorse just keeps on keeping on.