CASA C-212 Aviocar

File:CASA CN 212-200 N497CA 13.JPG

CASA CN 212-200

The EADS CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium transport aircraft designed and built in Spain for civil and military use. C-212s are also produced under licence in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, formerly called IPTN but now known as IAe. The design was initially marketed under the name of Aviocar, but EADS-CASA no longer uses that name in referring to the C-212.

A total of 478 C-212s of all variants had been delivered through the end of 2008 by EADS-CASA. EADS-CASA predicts that an additional 85 aircraft will be delivered in the 2007-2016 time period. EADS-CASA currently builds only the C-212-400, which received Spanish certification in 1998. The C-212-200 is currently built in Indonesia, and IAe is also preparing to begin assembly of -400 models, probably in 2008.Template:Citation needed

Design and development

During the late 1960s, the Spanish Air Force was still operating the already outdated Junkers Ju 52 and Douglas C-47, unpressurized and non-turbocharged piston-powered three- or two-engined craft. CASA developed the C-212 as a more modern alternative using the lighter and more reliable turboprop engine, with the first prototype flying on March 26, 1971. In 1974, the Spanish Air Force decided to acquire the Aviocar to update its fleet.

Airlines took note of the type's success with the military, so CASA developed a commercial version, the first examples of which were delivered in July 1975. In August 2006 a total of 30 CASA C-212 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service around the world.

The C-212 has a high-mounted wing, a boxy fuselage, and a conventional tail. The tricycle undercarriage is non retractable. It has space for 21-28 passengers depending on configuration. Since the C-212 does not have a pressurized fuselage, it is limited to relatively low-flight-level airline usage (below Template:Convert MSL). It is thus ideal for short legs and regional airline service.

Variants

Series 100

C-212A

Original military production version. Also known as C-212-5, C-212-5 series 100M, and by the Spanish Air Force as the T-12B and D-3A (for medevac aircraft), 129 built.

C-212AV

VIP transport version, T-12C.

C-212B

Six pre-production C-212As converted for photo-reconnaissance missions, TR-12A.

C-212C

Original civil version

C-212D

Two pre-production C-212As converted for use as navigational trainers, TE-12B.

NC-212-100

Manufactured under licence in Indonesia since 1976, IPTN producing 28 NC-212-100s before switching to NC-212-200.

Series 200

File:CASA 212 N160FB Northwest Airlink.jpg

CASA C-212-200 of Northwest Airlink operating a scheduled flight at Flint, Michigan, in April 1986

Stretched version with updated engines (Honeywell TPE331-10R-511C or -512C, rated at 900 shp (671 kW) each), introduced in 1979. The CASA C-212-200 is also a popular skydiving aircraft, known for its large capacity, fast climb, and large tailgate exit ramp.

C-212 series 200M

Military version known as T-12D in Spanish service and Tp 89 for the Swedish Air Force. Specialised ASW and maritime patrol aircraft have been built from this version.

NC-212-200

C-212-200 built under licence by IPTN.

NC-212-200 MPA 

C-212-200 built under licence by IPTN, Designed as Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Series 300

Standard production version from 1987 on. Engines were Honeywell TPE331-10R-513C, also rated at Template:Convert continuous (925 shp maximum). The propellers were changed from four-bladed Hartzell composite blade propellers to four-bladed Dowty-Rotol all-metal propellers. Winglets and a larger vertical stabilizer area provide improved performance, and the addition of a nose baggage compartment gives the nose a more streamlined look than the Series 200. Various systems have been incrementally upgraded, including the addition of an integrated autopilot system.

C-212-M series 300 (Series 300M)

Military version.

C-212 series 300 airliner

26 seat regional airliner.

C-212 series 300 utility

23 seat civil utility version.

C-212 series 300P

Civil utility version with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65 engines

Series 400

Updated version first flying in 1997. US military designation is C-41. Engines are Honeywell TPE331-12JR-701C, derated to 925 shp (690 kW) maximum. Airframe dimensions and flight performance are practically identical to those of the Series 300. Compared to the Series 300, many of the various aircraft systems have been refined and improved. Standard instrumentation has been updated to include a four-tube Rockwell-Collins Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), a two-tube Integrated Engine Data System (IEDS), and a Universal UNS-1K Flight Management System (FMS) with integrated Inertial Reference Unit (IRU).

Currently, this version is built only in Spain, and is not certified for civilian use in the United States.

Operators

File:AWS Casa-212 in afghanistan.jpg

Blackwater C-212 over Afghanistan

Civil operators

• Template:ANG
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  • Arctic Transportation Services
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CASA C-212 Safety Card on a Presidential Airways flight over Afghanistan in October 2005

Military operators

Template:Country data Abu Dhabi

• Abu Dhabi Air Force - four delivered 1982

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• Angolan Air Force

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• Argentina Navy - five delivered 1988-1990

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• Bolivian Air Force - one delivered 1989

Template:Country data Bophuthatswana

• Bophutatswana Air Force - one delivered 1985, to South African Air Force.

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• Botswana Defence Force

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• Chadian Air Force - two delivered in 1988

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• Chilean Air Force - six delivered 1978
• Chilean Army - former Spanish Air Force aircraft
• Chilean Navy - four delivered 1978

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• Colombian Air Force
• Colombian Navy
• SATENA - nine delivered 1984-1989

Template:ECU

• Ecuadorian Army

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• Dominican Republic Air Force

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• French Air Force - five delivered 1988

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• Indonesian Air Force
• Indonesian Army
• Indonesian Navy

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• Royal Jordanian Air Force - four delivered 1975-1976

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• Lesotho Defence Force - one delivered 1989

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• Mexican Navy - ten delivered 1986

Template:MLT - on loan, delivered 2009Template:Citation needed

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• Nicaraguan Air Force - four delivered 1977-1978

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• Panamanian Air Force - six delivered 1982-1988

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• Paraguayan Air Force - four C.212-200 delivered 1984 and one C.212-400 delivered in 2003

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• Portuguese Air Force - 24 delivered 1974-1976

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• South African Air Force

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• Spanish Air Force - 80 delivered 1974-1984
• Spanish Customs Service

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• Surinam Air Force

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• Swedish Navy - one delivered in 1986

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• Thailand Army

Template:Country data Transkei

• Transkei Defence Force - two delivered 1986

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• Uruguayan Air Force - five delivered 1981-1982

Template:USA

• United States Army - as C-41

Template:Country data Venda

• Venda Defence Force

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• Venuezelan Navy

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• Vietnamese People's Air Force - 3 C.212-400

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• Zaire Air Force

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• Air Force of Zimbabwe - 10 delivered 1983-1986

Incidents and Accidents

The CASA C-212 has been involved in 71 hull-loss incidents with a total of 499 fatalities. This is a high occurrence, however the aircraft is generally not considered accident-prone as the cause of most crashes have been attributed to its being used in high-risk operations at low altitudes.Template:Citation needed

• June 7, 1992: An Executive Air (for American Eagle) CASA 212 flying from Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico crashed short of the runway in Mayagüez, killing both crew members and all three passengers.

• November 27, 2004: Presidential Airways CASA C-212-200 (registration: N960BW / serial nr: 231) was contracted by the US Department of Defense to supply American forces deployed in remote areas of Afghanistan. The airplane entered a box canyon and struck the Template:Convert level of Baba Mountain, which has a peak elevation of Template:Convert. The flight was about 25 nm north of the typical route between Bagram and Farah.

• October 26, 2006: Swedish Coast Guard CASA C-212-200 (registration: SE-IVF/serial nr: KBV 585) crashed in the Falsterbo Canal during a surveillance mission, killing all four onboard. Eye-witness accounts suggest that the accident was caused by one of the wings of the aircraft somehow detaching from the plane. The preliminary report from the Swedish Accident Investigation Board suggests that the right wing detached due to a fatigue crack which had developed in the load-bearing structure in the wing .

• November 15, 2006: Mexican Navy CASA 212-200 Maritime Patrol (serial AMP-114) crashed in the sea in Campeche coast over the Mexican Gulf during a surveillance mission, all crew managed to survive, due to a smooth maneuver, reasons of the accident still unknown.

• June 26, 2008: Indonesian Military CASA C-212 was flying from the capital to Bogor, carrying 12 military personnel and six civilians, and was due to test a digital mapping camera, but it disappeared in the Salak Mountain region, about 90 km (60 miles south) of Jakarta. An air force spokesman said it was assumed it had crashed..

Specifications (Series 300M)

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General characteristics

• Crew: Two (pilot and co-pilot)
• Capacity: Up to 20 troops, 12 litters, or 2,820 kg (6,217 lb) of cargo
• Length: 16.15 m (53 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 20.28 m (66 ft 7 in)
• Height: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 41 m² (441 ft²)
• Empty weight: 4,400 kg (9,680 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 8,000 kg (17,600 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-10R-513C turboprop engines, 690 kW (925 shp) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 200 kts
• Maximum speed: 370 km/h (200 kts, 230 mph)
• Cruise speed: 170 kts
• Range: 1,433 km (774 nm, 895 miles)
• Service ceiling: 7,925 m (26,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 497 m/min (1,630 ft/min)

Armament

• Up to 500 kg (1,100 lb) of weapons on two hardpoints. Typically, machine gun pods or rocket launchers.

See also

See also

• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Eastwood, Tony; John Roach (1990). Turbo Prop Airliner Production List. The Aviation Hobby Shop. ISBN 0 907178 32 4. 

External links

• EADS CASA C-212 official site

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "CASA C-212 Aviocar".