This rear loading medium range transport aircraft entered RAF Squadron service in 1966 and is designed to operate from forward or unprepared air strips only 460 metres long.
It has a unique variable undercarriage which allows the aircraft floor to be raised or lowered so that stored may be loaded direct from vechicle tailgates. It is capable of air dropping heavy loads such as a Ferret Scout car and Landrover, or three Landrovers, and a variety of stores. Forty four fully equipped troops or 29 parachutists can be carried – single stick port door jumping only. Range with 8530 lb payload is 1158 miles at a cruising speed of 265 mph.
See also:Ferret Armoured Vehicle
I remember parachuting from this aircraft in the 1970s. I found the exit and slipstream to be very smooth, unlike the the C130 where I always ended up with twists in my rigging lines (though that might have been my bad exits!).
Bert Lawrence
ex-15 PARA