CASA C-207 Azor
| C-207 Azor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| T.7-6 CASA C-207 'Azor' 405-15 in the Museo del Aire de Cuatro Vientos, Madrid (Spain) | |
| Role | short/medium range troop/cargo transport |
| National origin | Spain |
| Manufacturer | CASA |
| First flight | 28 September 1955 |
| Introduction | 1960 |
| Retired | 1980s |
| Status | Out of service: retired |
| Primary user | Spanish Air Force |
| Produced | 1958-1967 |
| Number built | 20 with 2 Prototypes |
|
| |
The CASA C-207 Azor was a transport aircraft produced by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). It was a scaled-up version of the CASA C-202 Halcón and was designed for the domestic civil market. The C-207 received no civil orders, but the Spanish Air Force ordered 10. The first model, designated T.7A entered service in 1960. Ten more aircraft were ordered and configured for paratroop or cargo transport, designated CASA 207C(T.7B). The CASA 207 was one of the first aircraft to be designed by CASA in order to replace the transports in current service at the time, like the CASA 2111 (Heinkel He-111) and the CASA 352 (Junkers Ju-52).
The two prototypes and 20 production aircraft served in the military until the early 1980s. Additionally, most of the aircraft were delivered to the 35th Transport wing.
Development
The CASA 207 was developed as an airline-suited aircraft, for the short to mid range routes that were common in Spain and Europe. The Azor was deemed to be obsolete and uneconomical for its time and standards, for which better aircraft were available for its role. So, CASA turned its marketing attention to the Spanish Air Force, which had interest in a "modern" transport aircraft. CASA Had previously experimented with transport aircraft to replace types already in service, such as the CASA C-201 and CASA C-202. They were plagued with underpowered engines and were cancelled. CASA decided to make a version of the 207 for the Spanish Air Force that would follow up to the C-201 and 202. The CASA 207A was built for the Air Force with a capacity of 40 passengers plus a crew of 4. A batch of 10 C-207C (or T.7B) were built with large doors and capacity for 37 Paratroopers.
The Hamburger Flugzeugbau and CASA offered a version driven by Turbopropeller engines, but this plan was dropped due to the availability of the CASA 212 Aviocar.
Variants
- C-207A/Prototypes - Used in military service; 2 built.
- C-207B - Capacity for 40 passengers or 400 KG of cargo. 2 of the batch of 10 were fitted experimentally with the Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp engine. 10 built.
- C-207C - Large cargo doors at the rear fuselage and space for 37 paratroopers. 10 built.
Survivors
Nearly all of the aircraft produced survive in one form or another. Except for the loss of one in an accident, the 21 surviving aircraft built remain scattered throughout Spain.
Operators
Specifications (207B)
Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Capacity: 40 passengers or 400 kilograms of cargo.
- Length: 20.85 m (68 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 27.8 m (91 ft 2.5 in)
- Height: 7.75 m (25 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 85.8 m2 (923.5 ft2)
- Empty weight: 10,600 kg (23,370 lb)
- Gross weight: 16,500 kg (35,640 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Hercules 730 radial piston, 1522 kW (2040 hp) each each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 420 km/h (261 mph)
- Cruising speed: 400 km/h (249 mph)
- Range: 2350 km (1460 miles)
- Service ceiling: 8000 m (26250 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.5[2] m/s (1,080 ft/min)
See also
- Related development
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to CASA C-207 Azor. |
- Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. pp. 222–223. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Taylor, J.W.R. (ed.) (1969). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969-70. London: Jane's.
| ||||||||||