C-160 Transalls to Australia

[Stuart McCarthy]

Appearing on the VH register today was 3 x C-160 Transalls, all ex German Air Force, all registered on 14-9-22 to Wieland Aviation, Jilliby, NSW


VH-TIT [D-77] ex 50+55
VH-RPR [D-120] ex 50+83
VH-RFW [D-125] ex 50+88

[James Smith]

Oh, the mammaries.

[William.O]

Appearing on the VH register today was 3 x C-160 Transalls, all ex German Air Force, all registered on 14-9-22 to Wieland Aviation, Jilliby, NSW


VH-TIT [D-77] ex 50+55
VH-RPR [D-120] ex 50+83
VH-RFW [D-125] ex 50+88

Thanks for that info! Make sure to keep us posted if you find out any more info! :)

[Brenden S]

https://www.infobel.com/en/australia/wieland_aviation_group/jilliby/AU100271518/businessdetails.aspx

[Kent Broadhead]

Appearing on the VH register today was 3 x C-160 Transalls, all ex German Air Force, all registered on 14-9-22 to Wieland Aviation, Jilliby, NSW


VH-TIT [D-77] ex 50+55
VH-RPR [D-120] ex 50+83
VH-RFW [D-125] ex 50+88

I assume Wieland is a broker and these will transfer somewhere else, likely outside Australia?

[Greg Hyde]

In recent times we have seen a number of ex-JA SAAB's passing through the register without touching Oz.

Do we know where these a/c are ?

[Brenden S]

Last photos of them are in Germany

[MarkR]

The only civil registered Transall was previously Australian owned https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/109524-worlds-only-civilian-c-160-transall-destroyed

[Steve S]

Maybe the only NG, but check out Pelita, Air France & Gabon to name a few :)

[Robert.M]

Some photographs have surfaced of them leaving Hohn. Author of the post claims they are heading to Australia.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0ynjPxFjcxsvanyPadFNN5og DSM4j86H8pNS5kMyoKo4oBtXNNBuKzUxcaUFS2LWSl&id=100057134993380&mibextid=qC1gEa

[Sean L]

Some more info on the transalls:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cl87Uc_j941/
A video of VH-RPR leaving Hohn

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9IvSMDe0-/
A small bit of artwork on the nose of the transalls in memorial of Peter Wieland, the owner of Wieland Aviation who recently passed in a helicopter crash

Upon further research I've stumbled upon an article that when translated into English, claims that the 3 transalls will be converted into firebombers. https://www.cavok.com.br/tres-c-160-transall-da-forca-aerea-alema-voarao-em-breve-na-australia

I also found another article, however it is blocked by a paywall. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/wie-drei-transall-der-bundeswehr-als-australier-in-kiel-neu-starten-UJSIAQYR2NZ2V3LXDUOKLG6TDU.html%3FoutputType%3Dval id_amp&ved=2ahUKEwji6cWEqPL7AhXJqVYBHcCcBmgQyM8BKAB6BAgME AI&usg=AOvVaw29x8MNdNa7-C6GA6Ol24i3

I spoke with the author of the afore mentioned instagram posts and he said that the Transalls are currently in Kiel Germany and are expected to fly out sometime during spring of next year.

Based off the info I have currently collected here are my thoughts on what will happen:
The transalls will stay in Europe for the conversion process before making their way to Australia (spring in germany is around autumn time for us) in time for the 2023-24 bushfire season.
Obviously a lot is still unknown and my timeline of events is just an educated guess, however only time will tell as to what will happen to these C-160 Transalls.

P.S. As far as I can tell, there is no reliable way to track the 3 transalls and their journey to Australia, I have tried inputting their VH- regos, their old Luftwaffe regos and their old mode s codes from when they were still in active service into adsbexchange and no results have turned up.

[Sean L]

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=7c6163&lat=54.186&lon=10.470&zoom=9.1&showTrace=2023-07-07

VH-TIT flew a flight of some sort today

[Brenden S]

Getting closer to coming down under.

[Sean L]

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=7c56da

Another flight, this time by VH-RFW

[Sean L]

VH-RPR has made a flight to Malta from Germany
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/id/VHRPR-1692962789-adhoc-5623p

[Stirling D]

vh-rpr has made a flight to malta from germany
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/id/vhrpr-1692962789-adhoc-5623p

edhk-lmml-hegn-ooms-vrmm-wimm-wadd-ypdn-ybsu

[Greg Hyde]

Transall C.160D D 120 VH-RFR Wieland Aviaion Group delivery 25-27aug23 KEL-MLA-HRG-MCT, basic Luftwaffe camo cs ex 50+83

[MarkR]

The transalls are not yet part of the NAFC fleet this year, plenty of blackhawks and a chinook along with the usual suspects, although no BAE146

[Greg Hyde]

heading our way

Transall C.160D D 120 VH-RFR Wieland Aviaion Group delivery 25-30aug23 KEL-MLA-HRG-MCT-MLE-KNO-DPS ex 50+83

[Greg Hyde]

ansall C.160D D 120 VH-RFR Wieland Aviaion Group delivery 25aug-02sep23 KEL-MLA-HRG-MCT-MLE-KNO-DPS-DRW-MCY ex 50+83

[Sean L]

ansall C.160D D 120 VH-RFR Wieland Aviaion Group delivery 25aug-02sep23 KEL-MLA-HRG-MCT-MLE-KNO-DPS-DRW-MCY ex 50+83

confirming this is VH-RPR and not RFR?

[MarkR]

Did it arrive, not seeing any evidence

[Greg Hyde]

confirming this is VH-RPR and not RFR?

Correct Sean, typo from Skyliners

The three are:

RFW WORKING GROUP TRANSALL TRANSALL C-160 D-125
RPR WORKING GROUP TRANSALL TRANSALL C-160 D 120
TIT WORKING GROUP TRANSALL TRANSALL C-160 D 77

[Greg Hyde]

https://www.facebook.com/cqplanespotting/posts/pfbid02meUVgTY7bcAeyDW7FfnmUfe7vXTA9GV78wBrRdQgpaa pUSNRmYi5sJo6U3xSoAAzl

[Sean L]

Did it arrive, not seeing any evidence

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/VHRPR

as far as we know, it has not made it past Hurghada (its next stop after Malta)
I have not been able to find any recent photos of it anywhere other than Malta. I suspect they broke down in Egypt

[MarkR]

Looks like they solved the issues, leaving Bali for Darwin shortly

[Brenden S]

Arrived in Darwin safely

[MarkR]

Arrived in Darwin safely

There is a plan to head to Gove this afternoon, if I was the crew I would be finding an excuse to do the overnight in Darwin

[MarkR]

Due into MCY around 3PM this afternoon, which is a good time as I will be in the area so might go take a look.

[Sean L]

Due into MCY around 3PM this afternoon, which is a good time as I will be in the area so might go take a look.

looks to be delayed unfortunately

[Greg Hyde]

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

[MarkR]

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]

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 MCYhttps://ibb.co/pfPNSgC

https://ibb.co/pfPNSgC

[Sean L]

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/id/VHRFW-1695533727-adhoc-278p
VH-RFW is on her way

[MarkR]

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/id/VHRFW-1695533727-adhoc-278p
VH-RFW is on her way

RFW got stuck, TIT arrived into TSV Sunday

[Sean L]

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.net/v/t39.30808-6/400093932_768068035332706_2851042398610353763_n.jp g?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=-z9ct8dp_A8AX841uKy&_nc_ht=scontent.fsyd6-1.fna&oh=00_AfDwi-lVJgHGf2yQemCaboGC8kuR2S74mf2bcaePHKhhEg&oe=655201D0

[MarkR]

TIT after repaint

https://scontent.fsyd6-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/400093932_768068035332706_2851042398610353763_n.jp g?stp=cp6_dst-jpg&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=-z9ct8dp_A8AX841uKy&_nc_ht=scontent.fsyd6-1.fna&oh=00_AfDwi-lVJgHGf2yQemCaboGC8kuR2S74mf2bcaePHKhhEg&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

[Greg Hyde]

VH-RPR will be replacing VH-TIT in the paintshop

[Adrian B]

Can't make the rego out but am sitting at bay 12 at MCY and can see one at the southern apron

[MarkR]

Can't make the rego out but am sitting at bay 12 at MCY and can see one at the southern apron

That would be RPR who hasn’t moved since arriving.

[Greg Hyde]

VH-RFW flew into Townsville yesterday from Darwin.

[MarkR]

https://ibb.co/tHVqpYdThat would be RPR who hasn’t moved since arriving.

Have to correct myself, it’s VH-TIT, RPR was in TSV and flew to OSN last week.
https://ibb.co/tHVqpYd

https://ibb.co/tHVqpYd

[David Knudsen]

VH-RPR is currently en route Old Station/Raglan to Scone , ETA 1330

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/VHRPR

[Brenden S]

All 3 C-160's are now located at Scone.

[Greg Hyde]

https://scontent.fsyd5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/492277010_659171483572298_7387328222192810896_n.jp g?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=4p8MVi8OFAEQ7kNvwH2LVdw&_nc_oc=AdnpyUk2D5CLYIxyXcyN3vkJU0NqlrQeHqF-HhCM8YFKgoyhzu7Tki7D8rEoomfsiGMHtgwFE_ncOTFxp9rAbY 9n&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsyd5-1.fna&_nc_gid=Zakf9h_f6X5HMtSrWnD79g&oh=00_AfEUgfUBnUk-okF9E-4vqJz7CqGe4pYqSlTUMWZqX2iz1A&oe=680F6F39

[Tristan S]

Interesting rego....

[Greg Hyde]

Appropriate for a plane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tit_(bird)