The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

First Flight of the first C-27J for the Force Aérienne Tchadienne

On December 12, 2013, the first C-27J Spartan ordered by the Chad Air Force undertook its maiden test flight from Turin/Caselle airport, site of the Alenia Aermacchi Flight Test Center.

It is said that the (unannounced) Chadian order includes two Spartans plus pilot and personnel training and logistic support for the tactical transport aircraft which is designed and produced by Alenia Aeronautica.

At the moment, the transport component of the “Force Aérienne Tchadienne” - established in 1961 as the “Escadrille Nationale Tchadienne” (Chadian National Flight/Squadron) - is reported to consist of one Antonov An-26 and one Lockheed Martin C-130H, the latter having been captured from the Libyan Air Force during the war in 1983.

On November 25, 2013, Alenia Aermacchi was selected to supply the Peruvian Ministry of Defense with two Spartans. The contract, to be signed as soon as the administrative procedures have been completed, has a value of some 100 million Euro and includes substantial logistic support.

Meanwhile, the first of ten C-27J Spartans for the Royal Australian Air Force is being prepared for its maiden flight. Production of C-27J for the USAF is continuing, and the 19^th JCA series aircraft has been recently delivered.

In the picture: Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan 1401/TT-PAG (C.S.X62292), first item for the Chad Air Force, takes off from Turin/Caselle airport, on December 12, 2013. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, December 2013)