Airbus A400M to fly this week

[sn26567]

AIRBUS MILITARY says that the maiden flight of its long-delayed A400M airlifter will take place “sometime this week” from the EADS Seville plant. That is weather permitting and assuming no more technical problems get in the way.

The A400M is Europe's biggest ever defence contract, and the flight will be keenly awaited by the eight nations buying the plane: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom.

Source: www.airbusmilitary.com and AERBT

[C-46commando]

Apparently, the first flight could be seen here. I don't know if it will be live or delayed. Anyways there are some other videos concerning the A400M.

http://www.airbusmilitary.com/FirstFlightChannel.aspx

[regi]

missed that ! Thank you so much. You are great memeber.

Am I getting Parkinson disease or was that plane really wobly?

[NCB]

Finally we get to see some action these weeks.
The A400M and the Dreamliner... a nice end to this rather dark year.

[RoMax]

And don't forget SN, that will join Star tomorrow. I hope for some BIG announcements.

It's good news for Airbus, but actually I hope the 787 will fly before the A400M

[regi]

Boeing will have to hurry because the A400 flight has been announced for this week Friday.

[RoMax]

Indeed. Most sources saying that Boeing planned their flight for 14/17 december.

[smokejumper]

Finally we get to see some action these weeks.
The A400M and the Dreamliner... a nice end to this rather dark year.

Let's all hope both first flights come off well and are successful!

[earthman]

The A400M is in the air as we speak. Expected first flight for the 787 is Tuesday December 15th.

[Homo Aeroportus]

10 miles out for landing !

[Homo Aeroportus]

Abstract from Airbus Press Release :

=======================================================
A400M, Airbus Military's new airlifter, takes to the skies
11 December 2009


This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).

At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.

Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.

The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast ....

=======================================================

Flight duration was around 3h45 !

Well, they have been waiting for such a long time ....

Note the South African flag on the fuselage.
No time to remove it, or .... ?

Wish you all the best mighty beast.

[regi]

eat that, Boeing.

[smokejumper]

Congratulations to EADs.

[RoMax]

eat that, Boeing.

Do you really think Boeing cares about this. Thit will make really no difference for them, the A400M is a military aircraft the Boeing 787 a civil. Where is the connection!

[simulator]

yep it's flying....

movie : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8407825.stm

enjoy...

[regi]

eat that, Boeing.

Do you really think Boeing cares about this. Thit will make really no difference for them, the A400M is a military aircraft the Boeing 787 a civil. Where is the connection!

Both companies do care about it because both are involved as deep as the other in civilian and military projects at the same time.

[RC20]

C17 is the one that is affected if the A400 ever gets into production.

If not, Boeing will sell a lot more C17s.

[jameshop7]

A ducted fan-jet engine such as those used on airliners is more efficient than a turboprop. Because the fan turns at the same speed as the power turbine, the thrust produced is a function of the engine speed. A turboprop, on the other hand, allows the engine speed to be maintained at high speed while the props can be trimmed to match the aircraft speed. This is known as a constant speed prop. A major advantage is during takeoff and landing from short runways. The engine can be revved up to near maximum rpm while the prop remains neutrally trimmed. Then, upon releasing the brakes, maximum thrust can be immediately applied.
on landing, the same applies. the plane can make a final approach with the engines revved up and trimmed, but can produce maximum thrust if the landing is aborted.
Finally, this is useful when making an airdrop.

Thanks

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[Desert Rat]

You can as well accelerate a high bypass turbofan till TO power and then release the brake,but then,the problem is more with the distance between the Fan cowl and the ground in case you are operating on contaminated runway...whereas with the turboprop you are not exposed that much to FOD's

[sn26567]

The seven partner nations (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Turkey) have agreed with EADS to share the increase in costs for the development of the Airbus A400M. This was announced today by the Spanish minister of Defence, Carme Chacon.

These nations have ordered a total of 180 aircraft for 20 billion euros.

From the 5,2 billion euros of overcosts, the client nations have agreed to pay 2 billion by the increase of the sales price coupled with a reduction in the n umber of aircraft ordered.