 |
A good profile of CH-113A Voyageur #113315. At the time, this
helicopter had returned from receiving yet another SARCUP* update. Note
that it sports the current FIP markings (Federal Identification Program)
as carried by CAF aircraft.
* SARCUP is a ongoing program to update both the Labrador & Voyageur to ever-changing SAR technology. As part of the SARCUP program, the Voyageur has also been upgraded to Labrador standards (ie. aux. fuel tanks and IFR instrumentation, to name but two items). Photo by: Gord Ireland |
 |
As mentioned in the CH-113 Labrador photos, some apertures, above the
ramp, were covered, but on the Voyageur, they are exposed. Here, then,
are those apertures, on the CH-113A Voyageur. These are situated in
identical positions, on both the port and starboard sides. Note the CPI.
Photo by: Gord Ireland |
 |
This shot illustrates, not only the walkway (identical on both sides
& on the Labrador as well), but the aux. tank braces. A characteristic
of the Voyageur, is the thin 'rod' braces, as opposed to those on the
Labrador which are airfoil cross-section struts. Also note the thin
black stripe, separating the red/yellow colours, on the sponson.
Photo by: Gord Ireland |
 |
At first, this photo of the internal winch installation doesn't seem
different from either the Labrador, nor the Fujimi (or Hobbycraft) kit.
However, take note... the Voyageur has the winch offset to port and not
centrally mounted above the cockpit entrance, as on the Labrador.
Photo by: Gord Ireland |
 |
Although 99% common, the interior of the Labrador does have minor
differences. The most apparent is the floor. The Voyageur, in a
drawback to it's earlier existence with the Canadian Army, does not have
the cargo rollers installed in the floor.
This interior view is typical of a SAR-ready CH-113. Photo by: Scott Hemsley |
 |
While not of #315, it is another of 424 Sqn.'s Voyageur, serial #
113308 to be precise.
This head-on photo shows the additional glazing, characteristic of the Voyageur, the plan-view shape of the nose radome and of the landing lights. I should point out that this is an much earlier shot in time, than the ones involving #315, as evidenced by the DHC Buffalo, in the background (no longer in service with 424 Squadron) and as such, wasn't as current in the SARCUP program as the photos of #315. With this in mind, note that #308 still retains the original dual landing lights, of the CH-113A Voyageur and a single retro-fitted retractable landing light. Photo by: Scott Hemsley |
 |
Another shot of #308, presenting yet another view of the additional
canopy glazing, characteristic of the Voyageur.
Photo by: Scott Hemsley |
 |
A port-side profile of #308. Note the glazing differs slightly, on the port and starboard panels. Also of note, is the profile of the nose radome. Photo by: Scott Hemsley |
 |
We return to #315. While the HF antenna is common to both
airframes, for some reason the CH-113A Voyageur has it mounted at a much
lower position than the CH-113 Labrador. Also note the position of the
tip of the aux. tank. Kawisaki, Japan currently has the only license to
manufacture the tanks and thus, these are made to JSDAF standards -
larger than the original tanks fitted to the CH-113 Labrador. The
additional length amounts to a 10" plug, just forward of the sponson.
For the modeller, 'eyeballing the change', this amounts to the width of
a window.
Not too apparent, is that the windows on either side of the SAR band, are bulged, while the one closest to the aux. tank, is flat. The vertical 'whip' antenna and the white 'pole', apparently atop the fuselage, are not part of the Voyageur, but belong to the hanger, in the background (part of the roof is just visible). Photo by: Gord Ireland |