{"id":60352,"date":"2025-07-27T21:04:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T19:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=60352"},"modified":"2025-08-03T20:42:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T18:42:30","slug":"the-spanish-casa-c-295m-planes-of-the-13th-squadron-of-the-polish-air-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2025\/07\/27\/the-spanish-casa-c-295m-planes-of-the-13th-squadron-of-the-polish-air-force\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spanish CASA C-295M planes of the 13th Squadron of the Polish Air Force"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I ask who is the largest European operator of the Spanish CASA C-295 transport aircraft, many would answer Spain. No, that's not the case.<\/p>\n

The Spanish military transport aircraft C-295 reaches 300 orders with 41 operators<\/a><\/rel>
\nThis is how a Spanish C-295 military aircraft from the 35th Wing prepares for takeoff<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

The CASA C-295, currently manufactured by Airbus, is the greatest success of the Spanish aeronautical industry<\/strong> (300 aircraft lost with 41 operators<\/a>, as announced by Airbus last year) after the C-212 Aviocar, of which 483 units were sold<\/a>. As expected for a Spanish aircraft, the Spanish Air Force was its first operator, currently operating 13 C-295Ms<\/strong>, the tactical transport version. In addition, the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) operates a C-295W. There are 14 aircraft in total.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Currently, and waiting for Spain to receive the 16 C295W MPA\/MSAs ordered in 2023<\/a> (6 will be the MPA maritime patrol version and 10 MSA maritime surveillance versions), the largest European operator of the C-295 is the Polish Air Force, which was the first export customer of this aircraft<\/strong>. The Polish government decided to acquire 17 C-295Ms in 2001, with the first deliveries in 2003.<\/p>\n

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Poland was also the first operator to lose a C-295 in an accident<\/strong>, specifically on January 23, 2008, when aircraft 019 crashed in a wooded area while approaching Miros\u0142awiec Air Base. Its four crew members and all 16 soldiers on board died.<\/strong> The accident was due to human error. Military experts noted that the C-295 was \"the safest aircraft\" in the Polish Air Force<\/a>. The wreckage of the crashed aircraft is currently in the Miros\u0142awiec Forest, as a memorial to those who died in that accident.<\/p>\n

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The 16 Polish C-295s are operated by the 13 Eskadra Lotnictwa Transportowego<\/strong> (13th Air Transport Squadron), established on 31 December 2000 (this year is its 25th anniversary) and operating out of the Krakow-Balice Military Air Base, located next to Krakow John Paul II Airport. This unit is dedicated to transport, training, and mission support. Polish C-295 pilots are trained to operate these aircraft at night,<\/strong> using night vision goggles. and in addition to the C-295s, it also operates. This squadron also operates Polish-made, STOL-capable PZL M28B\/PT Bryza light transport aircraft<\/strong> (it is the Polish rival of the C-212).<\/p>\n

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On Thursday, July 24th, the YouTube channel Combat Camera DORSZ<\/a> published an excellent video of the C-295Ms and M28B\/PTs of the 13th Squadron in flight<\/strong>. The images are of magnificent quality and show these aircraft (the flight included 3 C-295s, one of them acting as a filming aircraft, and 2 M28B\/PTs) performing a flight to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 8th Air Transport Base in Krakow-Balice:<\/strong><\/p>\n