https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transall_C-160
The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft, produced as a joint venture
between France and Germany. "Transall" is an abbreviation of the manufacturing
consortium Transporter Allianz, comprising the companies of MBB, Aerospatiale
and VFW-Fokker. It was initially developed to meet the requirements for a modern
transport aircraft for the French and German Air Forces; export sales were also
made to South Africa and to Turkey, as well as a small number to civilian
operators.
The C-160 remained in service more than 50 years after the type's first flight
in 1963. It has provided logistical support to overseas operations and has
served in specialist roles such as an aerial refueling tanker, electronic
intelligence gathering and as a communications platform.
The C-160 is expected to be replaced in French and German service by the Airbus
A400M Atlas.
The Transall C-160 is a twin-engine tactical transport featuring a cargo hold, a
rear-access ramp beneath an upswept tail, a high-mounted wing and turboprop
engines. The C-160 is designed to perform cargo and troop transport duties,
aerial delivery of supplies and equis designed to be compatible with
international railway loading gauges to simplify cargo logistics and loading. in
flight the cargo area is pressurised and kept at a constant temperature by
integrated air conditioning systems.
Production orders were delayed by attempts by Lockheed to sell its C-130
Hercules transport to Germany; these attempts were rebuffed, and a contract was
signed for 160 C-160s (110 for Germany and 50 for France) on 24 September 1964.
Manufacturing work was split between Germany and France in line with the number
of orders placed; Nord built the wings and engine nacelles, VFW the centre
fuselage and horizontal tail, and HFB the forward and rear fuselage. The
aircraft's tail fin was to be built by Dornier. Three production lines were set
up to assemble these components at each of the three main partners.
One aspect of the C-160 that made the type well suited to tactical operations
was the type's short airfield performance; including the ability to perform
steep descents of up to 20 degrees and perform landings on airstrips as short as
400 meters. In the airlift role, a later production C-160 could carry up to 8.5
tons across a distance of 5,000 kilometers, and take off from airstrips as short
as 700 meters. Dependent upon aircraft configuration, a single aircraft could
airdrop as many as 88 paratroopers or transport up to 93 equipped troops.
Role
Military transport aircraft
National origin
France/Germany
Manufacturer
Transall
First flight
25 February 1963
Introduction
1967
Retired
South Africa 1997
Status
Active service
Primary users
German Air Force
French Air Force
Turkish Air Force
Produced
Number built
214
In April 1976, the French Air Force used 12 C-160s in support of Operation
conflict with Angola. In May 1978, several C-160s dropped paratroopers of the
French Foreign Legion during the Battle of Kolwezi.
C-160s were in continuous use to support French bases in sub-Saharan Africa; the
tanker variants also proved valuable in supporting African operations. The C-160
fleet was the staple of the French military airlift capability for many years,
supplemented by small numbers of McDonnell Douglas DC-8s, CASA/IPTN CN-235 and
Lockheed C-130 Hercules as of 1990.
During the South African Border War during the late 1980s, the South African Air
Force's C-160s were vital for deploying and supplying troops in the border
region and into positions in southern Angola due to the otherwise-impassable
terrain. The importance of air power in the war led to a great deal of the
fighting being centered upon remote airstrips, both sides trying to gain or deny
the same advantageous positions and place stress upon the opposing force's
logistical efforts.
In 2015, it was announced that the retirement of Germany's Transall fleet had
been pushed back from 2018 to 2021 due to delays with the Airbus A400M; until
2021, a decreasing number of aircraft shall remain in service to perform
missions that require the Transall's self-protection suite.
Specifications (C-160)
General characteristics
Capacity:
93 troops or
62 stretchers
cargo compartment: length 17.20 m (56.43 ft); width 3.15 m (10.33 ft); height
2.98 m (9.78 ft)
Payload: 16,000 kg (35,275 lb)
Wingspan: 40.00 m (131 ft 3 in)
Empty weight: 29,000 kg (63,935 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 51,000 kg (112,435 lb)
each
Performance
Never exceed speed: 593 km/h (320 knots, 368 mph)
Maximum speed: 513 km/h (277 knots, 319 mph) at 4,875 m (16,000 ft)
Stall speed: 177 km/h (95 knots, 110 mph) flaps down
Range: 1,853 km (1,000 nmi, 1,151 mi) with 16,000 kg (35,274 lb) payload, 30 min
reserves
Ferry range: 8,858 km (4,780 nmi, 5,504 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,230 m (27,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 6.6 m/s (1,300 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.18 kW/kg (0.11 hp/lb)
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