August 13, 2011:
Ghana has ordered two C-295 air transports from European firm EADS. The C-295 is a 23 ton aircraft that is basically a half size C-130 ("Hercules"), with a payload of nine tons and powered by two turboprop engines. Costing about $30 million each, the C-295 entered service a decade ago. Such aircraft are more suitable for a smaller country, rather than the larger C-130 "Hercules." At least 80 have been built or ordered so far.