Quick little update, I finally got around to introducing my flag carrier. As for the MG5, I didn't realise until it was too late that H&K doesn't even offer that weapon without a tan finish. Well, they do now, I guess!
(All joking aside, I don't see why they wouldn't.)
☛
STATUS UPDATE #020
(As usual, please be sure to check out the entire overview. Many thanks!)
- Boeing 717-200 (Transalpine)
- Heckler & Koch MG5 machine gun
- textual updates
Transalpine is the Bavarian flag carrier. Founded in the 1970's in West Germany as a charter airline for holiday makers and guest workers from Yugoslavia, the airline led a shadowy existence with an ageing fleet until the Bavarian secession. Munich's becoming a shareholder has made a rejuvenation plan possible that – though somewhat delayed by the 2020 aviation crisis – will see the replacing of Transalpine's second-hand fleet (7 Boeing 757-200, 3 Boeing 717-200 and 3 DHC-8-400) with 15 brand-new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. All aircraft are named after Bavarian mountains. In 2022, Transalpine served 31 destinations in Central Europe and the Mediterranean region.
The youngest member of the "Mad Dog" family of short-haul airliners, the B717 is a stepchild of Boeing's brought into their marriage by the erstwhile McDonnell Douglas company. The aircraft, which carries 134 passengers over a distance of 2,645 km (1,428 nmi), was a flop at its time and production ceased in 2005. In a twist of irony, however, the B717 quickly became a heavily sought-after commodity, with second-hand and even third-hand models acquired by airlines like Delta and Qantas for near-original prices. The B717 is economical in its market niche and has a perfect safety record. Transalpine acquired its 3 -200's from Spanish airline Volotea.
The MG5 by Heckler & Koch is the standard-issue general purpose machine gun of Bavaria's armed forces, having entered service as Maschinengewehr 20. It can be carried by foot soldiers as a light machine gun or be deployed on a tripod in the sustained fire role for ranges of up to 1,800 m. Additionally, the MG5 arms most AKB vehicles and helicopters. It is a gas-operated weapon chambered in 7.62×51 mm, fires from an open bolt and features ambidextrous controls as well as a loaded chamber indicator. Designed as a replacement of the venerable MG3, it has a slower rate of fire than its predecessor but offers much greater accuracy.
As always great work
!
Thank you!