CASA C.207C Azor Freighter Aircraft (Madrid)

This aircraft was developed by the Spanish aircraft manufacturer for short-and medium-range passenger airlines and made its first test flight on September 28, 1955. However, there were no buyers in civil aviation, as the C.207 could not compete with the post-war passenger aircraft of the world's leading manufacturers.

CASA C.207C Azor transport plane, Madrid, Madrid

In 1962, the aircraft was offered to the Spanish Air Force, which needed to replace a completely outdated fleet of transport aircraft, consisting of CASA 2.111 (Heinkel He 111) and CASA 352 (Junkers Ju 52) developed before the end of the thirties. A total of 22 aircraft were built, 10 of them in the transport-amphibious version, which received the C.207C index, and the army name T.7B. From other aircraft, this modification was distinguished by wide double-leaf doors at the rear of the fuselage. The prototype was presented to customers in 1967, and a year later the first copies were put into operation.

CASA C.207C Azor transport plane, Madrid, Madrid

The aircraft has a wingspan of 27.8 m, a length of 20.85 m, and a height of 7.75 m with the landing gear extended. The empty weight is 9829 kg, the maximum take-off weight is 16500 kg, while the aircraft took on board 4000 kg of cargo or 37 parachutists with combat equipment. The crew consisted of 4 people: a commander, a co-pilot, a mechanic and a radio navigator.

CASA C.207C Azor transport plane, Madrid, Madrid

The powerplant consists of two 14-cylinder Bristol Hercules 730 radial engines with a capacity of 2,040 hp, equipped with four-bladed propellers. Maximum speed 458 km / h, ceiling 9300 m. At a cruising speed of 363 km / h, the aircraft had a range of 2,600 km.

CASA C.207C Azor transport plane, Madrid, Madrid

CASA C.207C was based at Getafe Air Base near Madrid and was used until 1980. The Museum of Aeronautics presents a copy with the tactical number 405-17, built in 1968 and transferred to the museum in 1981.

CASA C.207C Azor transport plane, Madrid, Madrid