C-212 Aviocar, the new life of a historic Spanish military aircraft in Southeast Asia

Thursday, March 26th marked the 55th anniversary of the greatest success in the Spanish aeronautical industry: the CASA C-212 Aviocar.

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That first flight took place in Getafe (Madrid). Yesterday, the always recommendable channel Fly By Wire Aviation published a video full of nostalgia showing old images of the C-212, specifically of one of the prototypes, the EC-CRV, and recent images of one of the eight that are still in service with the Spanish Air Force, the T.12B-69 (72-69), with its current gray scheme:

A total of 477 C-212 Aviocars were built between 1971 and 2013, and sold to 92 different operators. The last aircraft manufactured in Spain rolled off the assembly line at the Airbus factory in Seville in 2013, a C-212-400 destined for the Vietnam Coast Guard. That delivery brought an end to 42 years of Aviocar production in Spain.

However, that was not the end of the C-212. In 1975, the Aviocar began a new life in Asia with the Indonesian company Nurtario (IPTN), named after Nurtanio Pringgoadisuryo, one of the pioneers of aviation in that Southeast Asian country. The company, now called Indonesian Aerospace (IAe), acquired a license to manufacture this Spanish aircraft, producing more than a hundred units, primarily for Asian customers.

Between 2004 and 2008, Airbus transferred all the necessary resources for manufacturing the C-212 to Indonesian Aerospace, which, since 2013, has continued manufacturing this historic Spanish aircraft independently in Bandung, West Java, under the designation NC212. This aircraft is especially valuable in that Asian country thanks to its STOL (short take-off and landing) capability, as Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, with more than 17,500 islands, and a suitable runway is not always available.

In 2014, IAe ceased production of the NC212-200 and NC212-400, the Indonesian versions of the CASA C-212-200 and CASA C-212-400. However, that wasn't the end of the Aviocar either. IAe currently manufactures the NC212i, an improved version of the NC212-400, with more advanced avionics, wing extensions, and a larger cargo compartment (capable of carrying 28 passengers or 3 tons of cargo). In addition to the Aviocar, IAe also continues to produce the CN-235, a tactical transport aircraft launched by CASA and Nurtario in 1979 and which first flew in 1983.

Currently, the Indonesian Air Force has 16 NC212s, 7 of which are the NC212i version, and has ordered two additional aircraft. Of the aircraft in service, 13 are used for transport, 1 for training, and 2 for cloud seeding. In addition, the Indonesian Navy has 11 NC212-200s, 3 of which are the maritime patrol version and the remaining 8 for tactical transport. Likewise, the Indonesian Army has 6 NC212s of the NC212-100 and NC212-220M versions for tactical transport missions.

Since 2022, the NC212i has been equipped with MTV-27 propellers, manufactured by the German company MT Propeller. The Philippine Air Force operates two NC212i aircraft, ordered in 2014 and delivered in 2018. In 2023, it ordered six more units, which are currently pending delivery. Similarly, the Vietnamese Air Force has had three NC212i aircraft since December 2021. The Vietnamese Coast Guard continues to operate its C-212-400s in search and rescue (SAR) missions, including the latest Aviocar manufactured in Spain. In addition, Thailand operates two NC212i aircraft, and Senegal has purchased one of this model.

Indonesian Aerospace has designed a new aircraft clearly inspired by the C-212 Aviocar: the N219. It made its first flight on August 16, 2017, becoming the first aircraft designed entirely in Indonesia, thanks to IAe's experience with the C-212. It uses the same five-bladed MTV-27 propellers as the NC212i. Currently, there are only two prototypes of the N219, a STOL aircraft capable of carrying passengers and cargo, but without a rear ramp. IAe also offers an amphibious version with two floats. The Indonesian Air Force has ordered 5 units, 2 of them the amphibious version, scheduled for delivery in 2027, and the Indonesian Maritime Safety Agency has ordered another 4 units.

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Main photo: Pen Lanud Husein S. / Indonesian Aerospace. Three NC212i and three NC212-200 of the Indonesian Air Force.