C-160 Transalls to Australia

[Greg Hyde]

Expect that they are heading for Warnervale on the NSW Central Coast.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

Expect that they are heading for Warnervale on the NSW Central Coast.

Not for a while, need to get firefighting kit etc, believe they are working with McDermott @ MCY

[Greg Hyde]

Originally Posted by MarkR

Not for a while, need to get firefighting kit etc, believe they are working with McDermott @ MCY

For more info & pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting

Certainly an interesting arrival into the Sunshine Coast on Saturday was the ex-Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Transall C-160D transport aircraft registered VH-RPR.

The aircraft was acquired by and ferried from Germany by New South Wales-based Wieland Aviation and is one of three C-160s they hope to bring to Australia. The planes will become part of the country's National Aerial Firefighting Fleet (NAFC).

VH-RPR will be operated from the Sunshine Coast Airport by local operator McDermott Aviation Group.

VH-RPR (msn D-120) (ex 50+83) flew out of Kiel in Germany on August 25 and completed its final part of delivery from Gove on Saturday after flying into Australia via Darwin the previous day.

The other two C-160s are registered VH-RFW (msn D-125) (ex 50+88) and VH-TIT (msn D-077) (ex 50+55) and remain in Germany.

VH-RPR and VH-TIT were manufactured in 1970, while VH-RFW was built in 1971. Rolls-Royce Tyne Mak 22 engines power both engines. It is believed they are the only civilian C-160s anywhere in the world.

The Luftwaffe had used some of the C-160s as firefighters during the 1980s, equipping two with 12,000 litre tanks. It retired the last of the type in 2021. Wieland's three planes, which each have a payload capacity of 16 tonnes, began the conversion process into aerial firefighters in Germany last year.

Based at a Warnervale Aerodrome, around 90 minutes drive north of Sydney, Wieland Aviation has extensive experience supplying helicopter and fixed-wing capacity to government firefighting agencies.

The NAFC contracts approximately 150 aircraft for Australian state and territory governments. The NAFC supplements the fleet by hiring additional state-owned and state-chartered aircraft to meet peak demand across Australia. In total, over 500 aircraft, provided by over 150 operators, are available for firefighting across Australia. The NAFC is currently preparing for the upcoming 2023/24 fire season.

[MarkR]

Currently looking a bit lonely at MCY

https://ibb.co/pfPNSgC

[Sean L]

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...727-adhoc-278p
VH-RFW is on her way

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Sean L

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...727-adhoc-278p
VH-RFW is on her way

RFW got stuck, TIT arrived into TSV Sunday

[Sean L]

Originally Posted by MarkR

RFW got stuck, TIT arrived into TSV Sunday

Apparently for repainting
RPR is expected to fly up to get painted soon apparently

[Greg Hyde]

TIT after repaint

https://scontent.fsyd6-1.fna.fbcdn.n...Eg&oe=655201D0

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Greg Hyde

TIT after repaint

https://scontent.fsyd6-1.fna.fbcdn.n...Eg&oe=655201D0

A bit more info accompanies the Insta post

Our recently delivered C-160 Transall VH-TIT popped out at Townsville Airport on Wednesday looking resplendent in its new livery by Flying Colours Aviation.

The former German Air Force (50+55) aircraft will be operated by McDermott Aviation Group in an aerial firefighting role equipped with a 14,000 litre internal tank.

. https://www.instagram.com/p/CzcB1kXBreU/?img_index=1

[Jason Carruthers]

A crude shot of TIT sitting near the threshold of RWY 01 at YBTL This morning. The best I could manage sitting on an awkward angle.

https://i.ibb.co/Ny6N4VY/IMG-3179.jpg