Transall

Last updated

Transall
Type Consortium
Industry Aerospace
FoundedJanuary 1959 [1]
Area served
Worldwide
Products Aircraft
Owners Nord Aviation, Weser Flugzeugbau (VFW) and Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB)

Transall (Transport Allianz) was a consortium created to design and manufacture the Transall C-160 military transport aircraft.

Contents

Established in 1959, the company was initially a joint venture between Nord Aviation of France and Weser Flugzeugbau (WFB) and Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB) of Germany. It was later operated by French aerospace company Aérospatiale and German aircraft manufacturers Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). Production of its sole product, the C-160, was terminated in 1985. The three later companies merged to form the multinational aerospace company EADS, which subsequently rebranded itself the Airbus Group.

History

During the late 1950s, a requirement arose to replace the piston-engined Nord Noratlas transports operated by the French Air Force and the German Air Force. In the postwar era, many politicians in both countries were keen to encourage industrial co-operation between France and Germany; examples of this had already occurred in the aircraft manufacturing sector, such as a previous arrangement in which Noratlases for the German Air Force had been produced under license by German aircraft manufacturer Weser Flugzeugbau. [2] On 28 November 1957, representatives from both France and Germany signed an agreement calling for the joint development of a successor to the Noratlas. The Italian government also became involved in the project early on to meet their own air force's requirements; however, Italy's participation in the fledgling program was soon terminated in favour of the smaller and locally-built Fiat G.222 instead. [2]

In January 1959, a consortium, named the "Transporter-Allianz" or Transall, was formally established to develop and produce this new transport aircraft; its initial membership comprised the French aircraft manufacturer Nord Aviation and the German companies Weser Flugzeugbau (which became Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) in 1964) and Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB). [2] [3] Each of the production partners was responsible for the construction of a single prototype; the first (built by Nord) performed its maiden flight on 25 May 1963, while the VFW and HFB-built prototypes followed on 25 May 1963 and 19 February 1964 respectively. [4] These prototypes were followed by six pre-production examples, which made their first flights between 1965 and 1966; these aircraft were stretched by 51 centimetres (20 in) compared with the prototypes. [5]

A German Air Force Transall C-160D arriving at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England, on 10 July 2014, for the Royal International Air Tattoo German Air Force Transall C-160D arrives RIAT Fairford 10thJuly2014 (noise corrected) arp.jpg
A German Air Force Transall C-160D arriving at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England, on 10 July 2014, for the Royal International Air Tattoo

Production orders were delayed by the unsuccessful efforts of American defence company Lockheed to sell its C-130 Hercules transport to the German Air Force as an alternative to the C-160. On 24 September 1964, a formal production contract was signed, ordered a combined lot of 160 C-160s (110 for Germany and 50 for France). Workshare on the type's manufacture was divided between Germany and France broadly in line with the number of orders placed. While Nord produced both the wings and engine nacelles, VFW manufactured the centre fuselage and horizontal tail, and HFB constructed the forward and rear fuselage; the aircraft's tail fin was also built by Dornier. Three separate assembly lines were established, where the sections produced by each of the three main partner companies were brought together to form complete aircraft. [3] [5]

During 1967, the first production airframes were delivered to France and Germany. [5] The first batch included 110 C-160Ds for the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), 50 C-160Fs for the French Air Force, and nine C-160Zs for the South African Air Force. Four C-160Fs were subsequently converted to the C-160P air mail transport aircraft configuration, and were operated by the national flag carrier Air France on behalf of the French Postal Service. [6] Production continued until October 1972. [3]

In July 1977, France placed an order for 25 C-160 aircraft, which were built to an improved standard. [7] Production work for this batch was split 50-50 between French aerospace company Aérospatiale (the successor to Nord) and Germany aviation firm Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) (which had absorbed VFW and HFB), while all aircraft were completed at a single assembly line in Toulouse. Changes from earlier aircraft include the cargo loading door on the port side of the fuselage being replaced by provision for additional fuel tanks in the wing centre section, as well as the installation of updated and improved avionics. [8] During 1981, the first of these second generation C-160s made its first flight. [9] Aircraft produced in this batch included 29 for France (an additional four non-standard aircraft were constructed for special missions), and six for Indonesia. [10]

Product

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf</span> Defunct German aircraft manufacturer

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It is one of the predecessor companies of today's Airbus.

Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) was a West German aerospace manufacturer.

Hamburger Flugzeugbau (HFB) was an aircraft manufacturer, located primarily in the Finkenwerder quarter of Hamburg, Germany. Established in 1933 as an offshoot of Blohm & Voss shipbuilders, it later became an operating division within its parent company and was known as Abteilung Flugzeugbau der Schiffswerft Blohm & Voss from 1937 until it ceased operation at the end of World War II. In the postwar period it was revived as an independent company under its original name and subsequently joined several consortia before being merged to form Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB). It participates in the present day Airbus and European aerospace programs.

Weser Flugzeugbau GmbH, known as Weserflug, was an aircraft manufacturing company in Germany.

The Entwicklungsring Nord - abbreviated ERNO - was a 1961 joint venture of Bremen-based Weserflug and Focke-Wulf with Hamburger Flugzeugbau to develop parts for rockets and get involved in space activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFW-Fokker</span>

VFW-Fokker GmbH was a joint venture of Fokker and Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW) started in 1969 that, from then on, controlled the ERNO initiative.

Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) was a West German aerospace manufacturer. It was formed during the late 1960s as the result of efforts to consolidate the West German aerospace industry; aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt AG merged with the civil engineering and aviation firm Bölkow in 1968, while rival aircraft manufacturer Hamburger Flugzeugbau was acquired by the company in the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HFB 320 Hansa Jet</span> Business jet

The HFB 320 Hansa Jet is a twin-engine, ten-seat business jet that was designed and produced by German aircraft manufacturer Hamburger Flugzeugbau between 1964 and 1973. The most recognisable and unconventional feature of the aircraft is its forward-swept wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transall C-160</span> Type of aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nord Aviation</span> Defunct French aircraft manufacturer

Nord-Aviation was a state-owned French aircraft manufacturer. The bulk of its facilities were based on the site of Bourges airport, in the département of Cher, in central France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nord Noratlas</span> 1949 airlifter family by Nord Aviation

The Nord Noratlas was a dedicated military transport aircraft, developed and manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Nord Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFW-Fokker 614</span> German regional airliner with 2 jet engines, 1971

The VFW-Fokker 614 was a twin-engined jetliner designed and constructed by West German aviation company VFW-Fokker. It is the first jet-powered passenger liner to be developed and produced in West Germany, as well as the first German-built civil aircraft to have been manufactured for a decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFW VAK 191B</span> Experimental strike fighter aircraft by VFW

The VFW VAK 191B was an experimental German vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) strike fighter of the early 1970s. VAK was the abbreviation for Vertikalstartendes Aufklärungs- und Kampfflugzeug. Designed and built by the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), it was developed with the purpose of eventually serving as a replacement for the Italian Fiat G.91 then in service with the German Air Force. Operationally, it was intended to have been armed with nuclear weapons as a deterrent against aggression from the Soviet Union and, in the event of a major war breaking out, to survive the first wave of attacks by deploying to dispersed locations, rather than conventional airfields, and to retaliate against targets behind enemy lines.

Pfalz Flugzeugwerke was a World War I German aircraft manufacturer, located at the Speyer airfield in the Palatinate. They are best known for their series of fighters, notably the Pfalz D.III and Pfalz D.XII. The company went bankrupt after the Armistice, when the French occupation forces confiscated all of the equipment, but the factory was re-used by various other companies until re-forming in 1997. Today they are a parts manufacturer referred to as PFW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder</span> Aircraft manufacturing plant and private airport in Germany

Airbus Hamburg-Finkenwerder, also known as Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport, is an aircraft manufacturing plant and associated private airport in the Finkenwerder quarter of southwest Hamburg, Germany. The airport is an integral part of the Airbus-owned plant, and is exclusively used by that company for corporate, freight, test, and delivery flights, including those of the former Airbus A380.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aérospatiale Corvette</span> Type of aircraft

The Aérospatiale SN 601 Corvette is a French business jet of the early 1970s developed and manufactured by aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale. Sales of the type were disappointing, leading to only 40 Corvettes being constructed, including the prototypes, prior to production being terminated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Transport Wing 62</span> Military unit

Air Transport Wing 62 is a wing of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The wing was founded in 1959 and is currently based at Wunstorf Air Base in Lower-Saxony, Germany operating Airbus A400M fixed-wing aircraft. Air Transport Wing 62 is subordinate to Air Force Troop Command which in turn is subordinate to Air Force Command. Operational command rests, however, with European Air Transport Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Transport Wing 61</span> Military unit

Air Transport Wing 61 was a wing of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The wing was founded in 1957 and disbanded on 31 December 2017. At that time it was based at Landsberg-Lech Air Base in Bavaria, Germany operating Transall C-160 fixed-wing aircraft, and was subordinate to Air Force Forces Command. Operational command rested, however, with European Air Transport Command. Although the wing's main task was tactical and strategic air transport, it was also employed in various humanitarian aid missions from 1960 onwards.

References

  1. Gunston, p.461
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson Flight International 25 April 1968, p. 614.
  3. 1 2 3 Pletschacher Air International June 1981, p. 286.
  4. Wilson Flight International 25 April 1968, p. 615.
  5. 1 2 3 Wilson Flight International 25 April 1968, p. 616.
  6. Pletschacher Air International June 1981, p. 289.
  7. Pletschacher Air International June 1981, p. 285.
  8. Pletschacher Air International June 1981, pp. 286–287.
  9. Chant 1987, p. 472.
  10. Blumschein 1999, p. A26-2.
  11. Chillon et al 1980, p. 116

Bibliography

  • Blumschein, P. Transall C-160 Life Extension and Avionics Upgrade Programs. NATO – RTO MP-44, 1999.
  • Chant, Chris. Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware. Routledge, 1987. ISBN   0-7102-0720-4.
  • Chillon, Jacques. Dubois, Jean-Pierre and Wegg, John. French Postwar Transport Aircraft, Air-Britain, 1980, ISBN   0-8513-0078-2.
  • Gunston, Bill (2005). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers, 2nd Edition. Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, England, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited. ISBN   0-7509-3981-8.
  • Pletschacher, Peter. "Transall Resurgent". Air International , Vol. 20 No. 6, June 1981. ISSN   0306-5634. pp. 284–289.
  • Wilson, Michael. ""Transall C-160: An exercise in multi-national transport design". Flight International , Vol. 93, No. 3085, 25 April 1968. pp. 614–620