Photo by Chris Lofting [GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons.
The aircraft, in transport configuration, will enhance the capabilities of the Ivory Coast Air Force with its proven record of excellent performance in hot and harsh conditions, and affordable maintenance and operational costs say Airbus.
The aircraft will replace an aging Soviet Antonov An-26 transport aircraft, so the above claim isn't just a marketing claim.
With this new order Ivory Coast becomes the 28th nation worldwide to operate the C295. Airbus Defence and Space has to date sold 91 aircraft to 17 countries in Africa.
Airbus say that there is a growing fleet of C295s in the North and West Africa region with up to 35 C295s contracted by Egypt, Algeria, Ghana and Mali.
They bought 1! Hahahahahaha But what's not funny is how Spain builds so much more big planes and warships than the UK!
Does it build ships as big as QE or Astute?
Does the size really matter when it's such a small number being built anyway. Look I love what the UK builds I just wish we would built and exported more big ticket items like warships and Aeroplanes maybe even submarines I'm sure we could design and build conventionaly powered submarines for export.
That analogy is perfect! Made me chuckle.
Hopefully this year Ireland will be ordering at least 2 (be great if we got 3) before our 2 235's fall out of the sky.
There is already one Ivorian AF C295M at Seville TU-VMC. The two "ageing AN-26" (TU-VMA,B) were only delivered to Abidjan last Summer!