French C160 Transall retirement in 2021 ?

[f4phantom]

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr ... 27757.html

Clermont-Ferrand: why the announced retirement of Transall raises concerns
The information fell on June 3: the famous Transall military aircraft will no longer stop at the Atelier Industrielle de l'Aéronautique (AIA) for its maintenance in Clermont-Ferrand. It has been over 50 years since the aircraft came to AIA. Officers heard the news with great concern.

Tuesday, June 8, at the Clermont-Ferrand industrial aeronautical workshop, a C-160 Transall took off. Officers saw what could be the penultimate specimen of this military transport aircraft from their homes. A heartbreak for those who worked on it. Thomas Chabrier, mechanic, says: “ We all looked at each other a bit, saying that it was the last time we worked together. It's really complicated

After more than 50 years of good and loyal service, the Transall will retire. His departure was scheduled for 2018. Thomas Chabrier continues: “ We were used to the fact that it is postponed every year. We had been told about a last team. We were waiting for all the names of those who were going to be assigned to the Transall and there, nobody expected that. Really nobody ”.

[Worldnis]

Like the M2000C last month, it looks like this is the closure of the heavy maintenance program for the C-160 Transall. From the text, one is still on rework. Yes, more Transall (10 seen in the last 6 months) will retire this year, and military planning logic is not always.... logical. But the few Transall in service will use their hours, including these last two. So in my view, we should still see French Transall next year(s).

This is backed-up by a recent quote from the AdlA on the Air&Cosmos site:
"The Transall (C-160R) must remain in service until 2023 and the C-160G Gabriel until 2025. However, reflections are being carried out for the sake of efficiency which could lead to a withdrawal of the C-160R in 2022 ”, confirmed the spokesperson for the Air and Space Army staff, Colonel Stéphane Spet, on June 9. (C-160R = 9 & C-160G = 2).

[f4phantom]

https://eatc-mil.com/post/farewell-to-t ... -transall- is mentioning the retirement of the French Transalls in 2022.

[f4phantom]

Anybody has seen any Turkish Transalls seen flying recently ?