Colossal C-160D Bolting Into The Sky – This Thing Does Not Look Its Age

Lift Off.

The Transall C-160 has proven to be one of Europe’s most reliable transport aircraft. Introduced in 1965, this giant military transport aircraft was a joint creation between Germany and France. After 50 years it is still going strong serving European Air Forces in military conflicts.

The C-160 is capable of supporting 93 passengers and over 35,000 lbs of cargo. Aside from its transport role, it also functions as an electronic intelligence aircraft and an aerial refueler.

General Characteristics

• Crew: Three—two pilots, flight engineer
• Capacity:
• 93 troops or
• 61–88 paratroops or
• 62 stretchers
• Payload: 16,000 kg (35,275 lb)
• Length: 32.40 m (106 ft 3½ in)
• Wingspan: 40.00 m (131 ft 3 in)
• Height: 11.65 m (38 ft 2¾ in)
• Wing area: 160.0 m² (1,722 ft²)
• Empty weight: 29,000 kg (63,935 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 51,000 kg (112,435 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Tyne RTy.20 Mk 22 turboprop, 4,549 kW (6,100 ehp) 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)
• Wing loading: 319 kg/m² (65.3 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.18 kW/kg (0.11 hp/lb

There have been discussions of this plane being replaced by Airbus A400M Atlas but for the time being is has a secure role. The German Luftwaffe operates about 60 units while the French Air Force has 50. In this video you can see that age isn’t holding this C-160 back from being an amazing plane.