Country of origin:

Spain

Description:

Commuter airliner and utility transport

Power Plant:

Two 634 kw (850 shp) Garrett AiResearch TPE331-10-501C turboprops

Specifications:

History:

The C-212 Aviocar was a development of the CASA Aviocar STOL military aircraft designed to replace the Junkers Ju-52 and the Douglas C-47 in Spanish Air Force service. About 150 Aviocars had been built and sold to a number of countries, including Indonesia, when it was decided to produce a new variant for commuter operations. The old variant then became known as the C-212-100 and the new commuter model as the C-212-200.

Two prototypes of the Aviocar made their first flights on 26 March and 23 October 1971 powered by 579 kw (776 shp) Garrett AiResearch TPE 331 turboprops. The prototype of the model C-212-200, which was the 138th production Aviocar, first flew in April 1978 and delivery of production aircraft began in 1979. This new model had up-rated engines, structural strengthening of the main frames and centre wing skin, a stronger undercarriage, and increased tailplane area.

With accommodation for a flight crew of two and eighteen passengers, or up to 2,770 kg (6,107 lb) in payload, the type proved quite popular, a small number being imported to this region. Entry was through two doors, one at the front and the other at the rear. The Aviocar could also be quickly changed to the freight role by the removal of seating. Cargo space was 22 m³ (777 cub ft) and a 747-type container could be carried. In a high-density layout up to 25 passengers could be carried.

Aviocars registered in this region have included VH-KDV (c/n 138) in 1981, which went to New Guinea as P2-CNP and which later became VH-TEM, and VH-ICJ (c/n 193), both operated by Transexecutive Airlines of Essendon, VIC, the former later operating with Fugro Airborne Surveys of Wembley, WA. A third, a C-212CD, became VH-SMO (c/n 294) for a short period in 1986. This was later to go to Tonga where it took up the registration ZK-THV with Friendly Island Airways, later becoming ZK-SJA.

Longest serving example was VH-TEM, which was fitted with a magnetometer loop around the aircraft and was modified to a major extent for mineral exploration. This aircraft was used right throughout this region and has even been noted in Europe. Another (T3-ATC) spent some time with Air Tongaru on the Pacific Island of Kiribati.

Two further examples arrived in Australia in 2004, being Model C-212-EE Aviocar 200 and Model C-212-EE Aviocar 400, becoming VH-VHA (c/n C212-EE-1-474 – ‘Ginger’) and VH-VHB (c/n C212-EE-1-475 – ‘Gadget’), these being heavily modified aircraft imported by Sydney, NSW company Skytraders which operated them in the Antarctic in support of operations there, both aircraft being fitted with skis and operating from Casey Station as part of the Australian Antarctic Program. The aircraft were flown to and from the Antarctic by their crews via Hobart, TAS.

One, after taking on board equipment from a US weather station, sustained damage on 5 January 2006 to the starboard undercarriage ski hydraulics during a take-off at Tiger Ridge, some 740 km (460 miles) inland from Davis Station near the Amery Ice Shelf. The take-off was aborted and on 13 January engineers and equipment were flown in by two Aerospaatiale AS-350 helicopters. Following repairs, the aircraft was ferried to Beaver Lake on 15 January and Davis Station on 16 January.

The military variant of the Aviocar has been sold to a number of air forces around the world and at one stage was offered to the RAAF as a replacement for the aging de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou but was not considered to be a front runner.

On 7 February 2007 a further example arrived, a C-212-CD which became VH-MQE (c/n C212-CD51-6-318 – ex N7241E, FAC1155, ECT-128 – Colombian Air Force) with Military Support Services Pty Ltd of Cotton Tree, QLD.

A sister aircraft VH-MQD (c/n C212-CC50-7-272 – ex N433CA, TV-AVV, N433CA) arrived in February 2007 and also was registered to Military Support Services Pty Ltd.  These aircraft were based at Nowra, NSW. They had “Army” on the fuselage and “Australian Army Parachute Display Team” painted over the starboard forward door. They were overall light grey.  After a period operating with the military services at ‘HMAS Albatross’ at Nowra, the contract concluded in 2013. VH-MQE was flown to and placed in storage at Archerfield, QLD from July 2013 until 23 December 2015 when it was sold to Bighorn Airways of Sheridan, Wyoming, USA and became N217BH. VH-MQD² was exported in April 2015, becoming N478XP.

Development of the design led to the Series 300 which featured a lengthened nose, semi-winglets on a longer span wing, structural modifications, upgraded avionics, an aerodynamic rear fuselage in lieu of the freight doors, and 671 kw (900 shp) Garrett TPE 331-1OR-513C turboprops, the military variant of this model being known as the C-212-M.

At least one other CASA C-212 N461CA (c/n 164 – ex HP-1151, N450AM, N37831) came to this region. At about the time of the Sandline event in 1997 and the attempted importation of Soviet-built helicopters to New Guinea, a CASA C-212 belonging to that firm arrived in Port Moresby. However, it seems this aircraft, along with two Cessna O-2s and a Hughes 500 helicopter, arrived in containers but were never assembled. The containers remained on the parade ground at the Police Barracks at Rove and were eventually vandalised. The containers were at some stage moved to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The identities of the Cessna O-2s and the Hughes 500 are not known and their ultimate fates are not known.

The CASA C-212 mentioned above was registered to Sandair Air Services of Middleton, Delaware on 7 February 1997 but the registration was cancelled in September 2002. Little is known about the aircraft in New Guinea but it was noted on a number of occasions in a hangar and in open parking storage at the PNG Defence Force Jacksons Field.  Later reports stated the aircraft was damaged beyond repair in an accident but the date and place where this occurred is not known and it is believed it has been scrapped.