Transall C 160
- Special tour
Adventure tour - members of the Classic Aviators Association explain the Transall and start the engine
When the Transall landed in Speyer in 2011, nobody would have thought that the machine would ever start again. For a few years the imposing aircraft was only a static exhibit in the museum area. But then two airplane fans had an idea that changed everything. Peter Horsch (Classic Aviators) and Markus Willimek (former Transall on-board technician) really wanted to bring the mighty aircraft back to life. Said and done! The two enthusiasts took care of the "Trall" for several months. The result of their work could be seen, heard and felt live at BRAZZELTAG 2019. “It was an experience for all the senses and a must for every airplane fan. Where else can you get the pleasure of experiencing the start of a Transall engine up close, ”enthuses Peter Horsch. For the anniversary year of the Technik Museum Speyer, the museum fans were back in action in 2021. “People are very interested in this machine. The response was enormous and on all of our appointments, many fans were there to see the plane. So it was quickly decided for us to offer guided tours again in 2022, ”reports Willimek. The tours will take place on March 12, 2022 and October 29, 2022. The engine is started at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. A valid day ticket from the Technik Museum Speyer is required to take part in the guided tours.
About the Transall C 160
At the end of the 1960s the Transall was developed as replacement for the Nord “Noratlas” which was too limited with respect to range and load capacity. The first of altogether 110 units was delivered to the German air force on 30 April 1968. The airplane has room for 93 passengers or 62 stretchers with four support persons. The maximum cargo capacity is 16,000 kg. It is planned to replace this rather old model by the Airbus A400M until 2019.
The museum exhibit was last active at the Air Transport Squadron 61 (LTG 61) in Penzing. After 12,400 flight hours, 9,046 landings and 2,583 missions it was retired in 2011 and donated to the Technik Museum Speyer. On 13 April 2011 the LTG 61 crew with Captain Josef Faut, who had flown the aircraft with the identification number 50+99 for 28 years, and squadron leader Major Markus Knoll took off with the “Good Old Lady” at Penzing for the last time and landed her safely on the airfield Speyer, from where she was transported to the neighboring premises of the museum.
