EADS CASA delivers the new CASA C-295 military transport aircraft to the Spanish Air Force.
Madrid, 15 November 2001
The Minister of Defense, Federico Trillo-Figueroa presided over the delivery of the first CASA C-295 aircraft to Wing 35 of the Air Force at the air base in Getafe.
Alberto Férnandez, chairman of EADS CASA, made the delivery of the first aircraft, out of a total of 9 units under a general purchase plan of the Ministry of Defense, to the State Commander of the Air Force.
The planned performances of the ceremony included a flight exhibition of the CASA C-295 aircraft where it showed, once again, its brilliant performance with the execution of a series of what where spectacular maneuvers for an aircraft of these characteristics. The aircrew was composed of a mixture of pilots from the Air Force and EADS CASA.
Once on the ground after the flight exhibition the aircraft could be visited along with a CASA CN-235 aircraft.
At the same ceremony there was a celebration of 75.000 hours of flight by Wing 35 of the CASA CN-235. These 15 years of accident-free operation demonstrates the aircraft's robustness and reliability. These aircraft have constituted the backbone of the Spanish Air Force's Wing 35; their great versatility and simple operation have contributed to make them aircraft very much appreciated by the armed forces of more than 25 countries, where currently 230 units are flown, and have accumulated more than 600,000 flight hours.
The new CASA C-295 aircraft with greater capacity and range than its precursor, the CASA CN-235, completes the EADS family of aircraft of medium and light military transport aircraft that includes the CASA CN-235 and the CASA C-212. In a near future the heavy transport A400M will be incorporated.
The CASA C-295 transports 50% more load than the CN-235 with similar range. The longitude of the cargo cabin has been increased by three meters for a total length of 12.70 meters. The aircraft can transport up to 73 soldiers, five standard platforms of 88 '' x 108'' or 27 stretchers for the evacuation of wounded. The aircraft also has excellent low-level flight characteristics. It is a medium transport turboprop aircraft powered by two 2,645 Hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G engines with a wingspan of 25.81 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 21 tons able to transport nine tons of payload at a maximum cruise speed of 480 Km/h.
The Spanish Air Force is the launch client for the new C-295 with an initial order of nine aircraft. These will carry out some of the missions currently assigned to the C-130 Hercules, but at a very reduced cost. These are mainly humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. Military transport systems are often an instrument at the service of society in international aid operations and pacification in countries enveloped in conflict. Among all of the available means of transport, air transport is the best available means to respond quickly and effectively to the new challenges that are presented by the current world situation.
In addition to the Spanish Air Force incorporating the aircraft into their military transport fleet, the CASA C-295 thus far has also been acquired by Poland (eight units) and has been selected by the United Arab Emirates in its Maritime Patrol version.
With revenues amounting to EUR 24.2 billion and a workforce of 100,000, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the largest European aerospace company and the No 2 worldwide. It is active in the sectors of comercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft as well as defence technology and services. Among others, EADS holds 80 percent of Airbus, 75 procent of the space company Astrium, 100 percent of the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, 43 percent in the Eurofighter programme and 37,5 percent in the missile company MBDA (in formation).
For more information contact:
Eduardo Galicia
Tel.: (+34) 91-585 7789
