The sighting in Scotland of two C295Ws without livery: the USAF's secret aircraft

The Airbus C295 is an aircraft manufactured in Spain and is enjoying good sales thanks to its versatility.

A Spanish-made C295W plane on the rescue mission for two USAF airmen in Iran
A Spanish pilot shows one of the C-295M of the 353 Special Operations Squadron

Most C295 operators are military forces. There are also civilian operators belonging to government entities. These aircraft are usually identified with national markings, along with their corresponding registration numbers and numbers, but there are some exceptions. On Friday, August 21, the YouTube channel Rory’s Airspace posted a video showing two C295Ws, the most modern version of this transport aircraft, with a gray livery and no markings or even registration numbers. The video was filmed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport in Scotland.

These aircraft are familiar to aviation enthusiasts. They belong to the 427th Special Operations Squadron (427th SOS) of the United States Air Force (USAF), which uses them on secret missions around the world. That squadron is part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). These C295Ws typically transport operators from various units of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which includes Tier One groups such as the U.S. Army's Delta Force, the Navy's DEVGRU, and the USAF's 24th Special Tactics Squadron.

In April, one of these C295Ws was seen flying over Iran, coinciding with a rescue mission for two USAF airmen shot down in Iranian territory. SOCOM missions are usually classified, so anything that could be written about the presence of two of its aircraft in Scotland will remain purely speculative. Perhaps a training mission in that area?

The use of these aircraft, manufactured in Seville, Spain, by the USAF is explained by their excellent STOL capability, meaning they can take off and land on short runways, something essential when operating on short or poorly prepared airstrips. Very little is known about these USAF C295Ws. Reportedly, the 427th Special Operations Squadron operates six of these Spanish aircraft, and they operate from the US Army Airfield at Pope Field, North Carolina, located very close to Fort Bragg, where the US Army Special Operations Command, Delta Force, the 1st Special Forces Command, and the 75th Ranger Regiment are based.

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Main image: Rory’s Airspace.