Transall C-160 | |
|---|---|
| 国 | フランス-ドイツ |
| 役割 | 輸送機 |
| 初飛行 | 1963年2月25日 |
| 構築 | 214 |
ザ トランソール C-160 (多くの場合、C.160または単にTransall)は、フランスとドイツの合弁事業として設計および製造された軍用輸送機です。Transallは、MBB、Aerospatiale、VFW-Fokkerの企業で構成される特別に結成されたコンソーシアムTransporter Allianzの略称です。当初は、フランス空軍とドイツ空軍の近代的な貨物機の要件を満たすために開発されました。また、南アフリカやトルコにも輸出販売が行われ、民間事業者にも少数販売された。
| C-160R Transall | |
|---|---|
| カメラマン | マリンデル・ド・ヴレーズ |
| ローカライズ | 知りません |
| 写真 | 53 |
関連項目:
The European Workhorse
ザ トランザルC-160 (Transport Allianz) was born from a unique post-war collaboration between France and West Germany. Designed specifically to replace the Nord Noratlas, it was built to operate from short, semi-prepared strips in harsh environments—from the Saharan sands to the Alpine snow. While it shares a similar silhouette to the American C-130 Hercules, the Transall is a twin-engine design optimized for European and African logistical requirements, known for its incredible stability at low speeds and its rugged, “unbreakable” landing gear.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (C-160NG) |
|---|---|
| 役割 | Tactical Transport / Multi-role Support |
| 乗組員 | 3 (Two Pilots and one Flight Engineer) |
| First Flight | February 25, 1963 |
| パワープラント | 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne Mk.22 turboprops |
| Horsepower | 6,100 shp (4,549 kW) per engine |
| 最高速度 | 320 mph (513 km/h) |
| Max Payload | 35,275 lbs (16,000 kg) |
| Service Ceiling | 27,000 feet (8,230 m) |
Tactical Design & Versatility
- High-Flotation Landing Gear: The C-160’s landing gear is a marvel of engineering, featuring large, low-pressure tires that retract into prominent “sponsons” on the side of the fuselage. This allows the plane to land on soft mud or deep sand without sinking.
- The “Gabriel” & “Astout” Variants: France developed highly specialized versions, including the C-160G Gabriel for electronic intelligence (ELINT) and the C-160H Astarté, which served as a flying communications relay for the French nuclear submarine fleet.
- Rolls-Royce Tyne Engines: The massive 18-foot (5.5m) four-bladed propellers provide immense low-speed thrust, giving the Transall impressive STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) performance, often outperforming the C-130 on very short strips.
- Air-to-Air Refueling: The second-generation C-160NG (Nouvelle Génération) introduced a prominent refueling probe above the cockpit and the ability to act as a tanker themselves, extending the reach of French operations in Africa.
A Legacy of Service
- African Operations: The Transall was the backbone of French operations in Africa (Operation Serval and Barkhane) for decades, earning the nickname “The Angel” from troops on the ground for its reliability in delivering supplies and evacuating the wounded.
- Humanitarian Hero: During the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia, C-160s from Germany and France flew thousands of “low-level” drops of food and supplies into remote villages where no runways existed.
- The Retirement: After nearly 60 years of service, the C-160 was officially retired by the Luftwaffe in 2021 and the French Air Force in 2022, replaced by the much larger Airbus A400M.
- The “Retro” Farewell: For its retirement, the German Luftwaffe painted a C-160 (50+40) in a stunning “Retro-Brummel” scheme, featuring the various liveries the aircraft wore throughout its history.
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