German Luftwaffe (Air Force) Transall C160D 50+86, the last of the type operated by Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WTD61, Bundeswehr Technical Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment) at Manching, has made its final flight. After completing one last mission as a trials aircraft, on November 23 it was flown to Altenstadt, where it will be decommissioned and dismantled for use as an exhibit at the German Army’s resident School for Airborne Troops. On arrival, the aircraft was welcomed by a water cannon salute. This was the first time a Transall had landed at the airfield since 1976.
The flight also marked one of the last by a German Transall, as the type was scheduled to be withdrawn from service on December 31, 2021. Retirement of this aircraft leaves just five active Transalls in Luftwaffe service, all based at Hohn with Lufttransportgeschwader 63 (Air Transport Wing 63). At time of print, 50+79 was due to make its final flight and be ferried to Zweibrücken, where a private investor plans to convert it to a hotel called the Trallotel.
