Transall C-160
The Transall C-160 is a twin-turboprop military transport jointly developed by France and West Germany, designed to replace older piston-engine transports with a shared, modern airlifter for both nations' air forces. Its high wing and rear loading ramp let it carry troops, vehicles, and paratroopers, and drop supplies by parachute in flight. For decades it served as the backbone of French and German tactical airlift, a role later taken over by the larger Airbus A400M. A small number remain in active service today, over sixty years after its first flight.
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Did you know?
Unlike the four-engined Hercules it resembles in shape, the Transall flies on just two turboprops, the easiest way to tell the two apart.
Specifications
| Length | 32.4 m (106 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 40 m (131 ft) |
| Height | 11.7 m (38 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 93 |
| Persons on board | 100 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 51 t |
| Range | 2,100 NM (3,889 km) |
| Maximum speed | 287 kt (532 km/h) |
| Stall speed | 95 kt (176 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 28,000 ft (8,534 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 27,000 ft (8,230 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 950 m (3,117 ft) |
| Landing distance | 550 m (1,804 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 19,000 l |
| Engines | 2x Rolls-Royce Tyne |
| Units built | 214 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Transall C-160 starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
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