C-27s For Sale, Cheap….Even the USCG can Afford them (maybe)!
Back when we got involved in Afghanistan, the Army wasnt getting all it could from the USAF in regards to forward air transport inside the theatre. So they went looking for a small twin-engine aircraft, a mini-C130 that could sling gas, beans and bullets from small outpost to small outpost without calling Big Blue.
They chose the C-27J Spartan, at $53-million a pop.
The Army ( I mean Air Force) (I mean Coast Guard?) C-27J
General characteristics
Crew: Minimum two: pilot, co-pilot, (plus loadmaster when needed)
Capacity: 60 troops or 46 paratroops or 36 litters with 6 medical personnel
Payload: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
Length: 22.7 m (74 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 28.7 m (94 ft 2 in)
Height: 9.64 m (31 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 82 m2 (880 sq ft)
Empty weight: 17,000 kg (37,479 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 30,500 kg (67,241 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce AE2100-D2A turboprop, 3,460 kW (4,640 hp) each
Propellers: 6-bladed Dowty Propeller 391/6-132-F/10, 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) diameter
Performance
Maximum speed: 602 km/h (374 mph; 325 kn)
Cruising speed: 583 km/h (362 mph; 315 kn)
Minimum control speed: 194 km/h; 121 mph (105 kn)
Range: 1,852 km (1,151 mi; 1,000 nmi) with 10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb) payload
Range at 6,000 kg payload: 4,260 km (2,650 mi; 2,300 nmi)
Ferry range: 5,926 km (3,682 mi; 3,200 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,144 m (30,000 ft)
Originally the Army wanted as many as 150 of them but settled for 78.
Here’s where the story gets good…..
The Air Force turned around and said that they really should operate the C-27J as it was larger than anything the Army had flown since 1947. So the Joint Chiefs turned around and carried the message from SECDEF to the Army that they had to turn the program over to Big Blue.
Then the USAF promptly limited the order to 38 aircraft…..before finally pulling the plug on these “Joint” planes because they said the Army really didnt need them after all (Even though in August 2011, two C-27J aircraft flown by Air National Guard units began operations at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. From August to December 2011, the C-27Js of the 179th Airlift Wing transported some 400 tons of cargo, and over 6,900 passengers in more than 900 missions. Thats pretty busy for not being needed.)
Now they are up for sale….and the best part is, the USAF is looking at giving them for free to the USCG.
The USCG seems to like their new HC-144, and who can blame them. They are cheaper to operate than the C-27 and actually designed for use by the agency.
The Coast Guard, always getting everyones cast off junk, is in the middle of its own Deepwater equipment renewal program and is buying the cheaper to operate Casa twin-engine turboprop for use alongside the HC-130J model. Its doubtful that the Coasties even need or want the Spartans.
I bet the Army could be talked into taking them back, but now that would make too much sense.
Actually..Coasties prefer to C-27 vs the Casa At end of the day, the Casa ends up costing the CG more vs the C-27. Having a C-27 will standardized the fixed wing community, allowing the Pilot and Crew a seamless transition from HC130 J to the C27J and back. 38 are already build and battle tested, while CASA are still under production and behind schedule. Switching airframes, would save the Coast Guard millions of dollars in training cost. About 99% prefer to end the CASA project and go with the C-27 because it just makes sense mission wise and dollar wise. The CG is seriously looking into this and I hope we end up taking it and getting rid of the Casa.
Do you currently have the C-27J for sale? There’s a request for it urgently.
C-27 looks perfect for civilian transport as well.
But they won’t offer it to the civilians, take out all the military hardware, drop the price 30%, and it would be a very popular transport plane.
There are 5 each, C27A model aircraft, low time for sale. A guy in North Carolina owns them. All are in excellent condition. He has a massive spare parts inventory as well.