Adds To Fleet Of Eight Delivered Last Year

Aero-News has learned representatives with the Polish military signed a contract Friday with EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division for the purchase of two additional C-295 transport aircraft. The new planes will supplement the country's current fleet of eight of the twin turboprop transports.

The contract was signed in the presence of Polish Secretary of State of Defence, Marek Zajakala, Chief of Staff Polish Air Force, Lt. Gen. Stanislaw Targosz and Polish Air Force Lt. Gen. Magensky, on the Polish side; and Antonio R. Barberan, Vice President Sales at EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division, in the presence of Spanish Ambassador in Warsaw, Rafael Mendivil Peydro.

"We would like to thank and congratulate Polish Air Force for its professionality, and to specially mention the 6,000 flight hours in different missions under the most demanding and hard conditions performed with the C-295 in areas that extend from the Middle East to the Far East," said Barberan.

Poland is the first recurring export customer for the C-295.

EADS CASA is a leader in light and medium weight aircraft. The CN-235 and C-295 have accumulated one million flights with more than 900,000 flight hours in five continents. The C-295 is in operation with air forces from Poland, Jordan, Algeria, Finland and Spain, and orders from Brazil and Portugal will soon start being delivered.

EADS notes the C-295 is the only aircraft in its category that has been operated in real war scenarios like in the Balkans, Iraq, or Afghanistan. The plane is also a contender in the US Army and US Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) competition.

The C-295 is a last generation medium military transport aircraft, powered by two turboprop engines from Pratt and Whitney of Canada and sporting rear ramp access, and a payload of more than 19,000 lbs.

FMI: www.casa.eads.net