Retro Burnmel

Last special colored Transall C-160 50+40 of German Air Force “Retro Burnmel“ flew till retirement in this paint scheme. Transall C-160 have been flying in the German Air Force for a 53 years, will be retired at the end of the 2021 and their tasks will be taken over by the A400M and, in the future, the C-130J Hercules. The last remaining Transall unit, Lufttransportgeschwader 63 in Hohn near Rendsburg, were disbanded.

Before disbanding, Lufttransportgeschwader 63 conduct the farewell tour with the specially painted aircraft – the “Retrobrummel” with the registration 50+40, to give the numerous supporters of the Transall the opportunity to say goodbye to the aircraft. The Transall C-160 is a military transport aircraft, produced as joint venture between France and Germany. “Transall” is an abbreviation of the manufacturing consortium “Transporter Allianz”, comprising the companies of MBB, Aerospatiale, VFW-Fokker. Initially developed to meet the requirements for a transport aircraft for the French and German Air Forces. In German service i replaced Noratlas.

For five decades, the C-160 Transall was the German main military tactical air transport aircraft and it was also one of the main air transport capabilities at EATC. Since September 2010, Germany transferred the authority of 74 C-160 assets to EATC. The first historical mission under EATC authority was executed with the C-160 Transall on 11 October 2021. From that moment EATC managed nearly 21000 German C-160 Transall missions, totaling about 92000 flying hours. Starting from 2014, Germany gradually replaced the Transall with the new transport, the A400M and the C-130J Hercules.

During its service Transall C-160 used RAL 6014. RAL 7012, RAL 9006 for first camouflage pattern and later used RAL 7021, FS 34079, RAL 6003 for camouflage. Retro Burnmel used combinations of camouflage colors used in Luftwaffe.

Malta Air Show has is the place where last Transall C-160 50+40 participate before retirement. Transall C-160 50+40 is at the Air Force school in Roth, Bavaria converted into a classroom.

Srećko Bradić