Pages

Showing posts with label Maritime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maritime. Show all posts

Thursday, 28 November 2019

CASA. Part-One.

Spain's Aviation.

Casa has seen much success over the last fifty years in it aviation ventures from the CASA C-101 Aviojet to it cooperation with Indonesia and the CN-235 medium transport, leading to the larger version CN-295.

After developing the initial advanced trainer for the Spanish Airforce in the early 1970's  it moved on small transport aircraft to replace the aging licence built U.S Douglas DC-3 and German Junkers Ju-52/3m, and took a required market with the two, plus twelve seat C-212 Aviocar. This small transport has gradually developed from the 100-400 series and was exported to Jordan, Chile, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.  

But it was not until CASA teamed up with Indonesia that real success paid off with both civil and military orders for the CN-235
Maritime reconnaissance, military and national guard transport and various other configurations has made this aircraft very adaptable for a quick switch round in roles.

Monday, 16 September 2019

PBY Consolidated Catalina

Best flying boat ever Built?

The Catalina was designed in the mid 1930's for the US Navy, but it came to its fore during World-War II (1939-45) when many thousands were built for operations in the maritime role in both the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific! Many were also deployed in the far-east, and Mediterranean in the main role as an anti-submarine hunter and with unrivalled success.

This flying boat was also used to transport special forces, medical evacuation and many needed gaps in aviation during the war years! It is not clear if any were ever used as commercial airliners during or after the war, but they continued mainly in the maritime and later fishery protections role. They were easy to fly and versatile and like by the pilots who flew them and this also applied to around the world?

After the war the over 7000 built found a new role with many nations outside the U.S. and these boats remained in that role right up to the 1990's? The Catalina does not surpass the Antonov An-2/4 in age and operational use, but it is the nearest to that target along with the Douglas DC-3/C-47!

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Spains Long-standing Military Industry! Part-One.

Casa aviation to ground Vehicles.

Not many people know much about Spain and their exhaustive arms industry, the Casa corporation with the famous CN-212 transport an the Avio-Jet are perhaps its most know fame?

But co-operation with Indonesia has been a success in producing the widely exported Casa-Nuranto CN-235 and its larger variant the 265 medium transport and maritime reconnaissance aircraft!

But there is much more to Spain's arms industry with a extensive shipbuilding and both arms and vehicle industries. Spain has always been a European power to be faced with since the 14th Century, with the Spanish Armada and colonial expansion into the Americas!

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Pilatus Britten-Norman Islander/Defender. Part-Two.

Military Versions.

The first military version of this one plus nine passenger aircraft appeared in 1971. Capable of carrying an assortment of bombs and MATRA 68-mm rocket pods along with two 7.62mm guns in the Counter Insurgency role on four wing pods. It was closely followed by the Maritime Defender , which was modified to house a search radar in its nose.

It also carried a parachute dingy rescue pack, loud speakers, flares and alternative weapons points. Both the speed and range of the aircraft remained similar to its civil version, the Islander. Range was increased with the options of two fuel tanks in place of the two inner 750Ib (317.5Kg) bombs to 1,723 miles (2, 772Km's).

Sales and exports were world-wide Angola, Ghana, Guyana, Israel, Jamaica, Malagasy Republic, Malawi, Mauritania, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Thailand and Turkey.