On December 14, 2021 the German Air Force retired the Transall C-160. The Franco-German transport took to the air for the first time on February 25, 1963, though it would be another five years before the air arm received its initial example. We take a look back to the early days of the programme with an article from the May 18, 1961 issue of ‘The Aeroplane and Astronautics’
FRANCO-GERMAN TRANSPORT ALLIANCE
A MILITARY transport with a cargo hold identical in size to a Continental railway wagon is being developed jointly by France and Germany. This aircraft, the Transall C-160, is to be powered by Rolls-Royce Tyne engines and will make its first flight in the autumn of next year. It can be used as a freighter, as a transport carrying 80 armed soldiers or 66 wounded on stretchers, or for the dropping of paratroops and supplies. Although twin-engined, the Transall is a large aircraft with a wingspan of more than 130 ft. and an all-up weight above 100,000 lb.
