HARS Receives Multi-Million Dollar Donation to Keep its DHC-4 Caribous Flying

Milspec Services is donating more than AU$2.2 Million of brand-new surplus parts to help keep the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society of Illawarra, Australia’s ex-Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous airworthy.

The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou served the RAAF for about 45 years, entering service in 1964 through their retirement in 2009. Defense contractor Milspec Services had the contract to support the RAAF’s fleet of Caribous while they were in service, however once the line was retired from military service, they were faced with a large stock of parts of now-obsolete parts. Milspec chose to donate them to HARS. Said Steve Byrne, director of MLSPEC Services: ““We had two options, sell to an overseas operator or scrap them. But then we thought let’s donate them to HARS and assist in keeping an important part of Australian aviation history in the air. For many years the Caribou provided strong income for our business and it’s now time for us to give something back,” he added. “Without spares support, it is difficult to keep any aircraft in the air. With aircraft built in the 1960/1970’s it is even more difficult to find the components needed to ensure they can attend events throughout Australia.”

A commendable decision in our opinion.