ST21 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 The long delayed Airbus A400M airlifter finally made its maiden flight today from Seville, Spain at 10:15 AM local time. The aircraft landed safely at 14:00. Looks good. :unsure: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 More video here: http://www.airbusmilitary.com/Home.aspx Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bdt13 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 The look of this thing is beginning to grow on me. I wonder how long till ROG does a kit? Hopefully they beat Anigrand to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Looks pretty good in the air ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siege bison Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Glad to see it in the air at last, shame about S.Africa pulling out, does show how "right" the Herk was all those years ago though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vesper Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 It actually flies? I'm impressed Still trying to get use to the props though. Ves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Good for them. This is right about what the C-17 was supposed to be. Lets see where this is at in 50 years........ Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GCA333 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Reminds me of the An-70. A pretty cool aircraft, nonetheless. It still beath the 787 into the skies... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nightiemission Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Interesting but, the odd prop set up(not the # of blades- - the rotation) escapes me. One and three,counter-clockwise, two and four, clockwise?????? Terry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastijan Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 my best bet would be to counter the momentum of the props... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Reminds me of the An-70.A pretty cool aircraft, nonetheless. It still beath the 787 into the skies... I believe the A400 program is much older than the 787 program to begin with ... 787 might just fly this coming week with a second one near the end of the month ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Interesting but, the odd prop set up(not the # of blades- - the rotation) escapes me. One and three,counter-clockwise, two and four, clockwise?????? Terry I think it is to straighten the airflow past the fuselage - for paradropping. The two props on each wing counter rotate. Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Koen L Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Nice shots ST21. Did you take them yourself or did you forget to credit the original source? Koen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nightiemission Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I think it is to straighten the airflow past the fuselage - for paradropping.The two props on each wing counter rotate. Ken That makes sense. Thanks. Terry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GCA333 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I believe the A400 program is much older than the 787 program to begin with ... 787 might just fly this coming week with a second one near the end of the month ... Gregg Indeed it is, but time between roll out and first flight was much less with the A400M than the 787. The A380 was even less. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cloggy Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I remember seeing the 'mock-up' when it was called the FLA (Future Large Aircraft). That was at the Farnborough airshow in 1994. Fifteen years it's taken to get this thing built and up in the air! A genuine question however; what does this aircraft have that the C-130J, C-17, An-70, A-300-600 Beluga etc don't have? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Indeed it is, but time between roll out and first flight was much less with the A400M than the 787.The A380 was even less. And the point of that is? The real question will be which aircraft will be the first to pay off it's R&D costs and break even. Despite the fiascos on the Dreamliner program, there is little doubt that this aircraft will be very profitable for Boeing. Some are saying that the A380 will never reach that milestone. Have no idea on what the costs are for the A400M. I'd really be interested in how the A400 matches up against the C-17. Don't know that much about the Airbus product, I'm assuming it is geared more towards the heavy airlift role like the Globemaster and less towards the tactical side of things. I think it may prove shortsighted to be terminating the C-17 production line. We are leaving the heavy airlifter market pretty much wide open for Airbus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Indeed it is, but time between roll out and first flight was much less with the A400M than the 787.The A380 was even less. Yeah, why turn this into a _____ VS _____ thread anyway ? Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FAR148 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I don't get it? Why would you want A400 when the C-17 as well as the C-130J are already in production? Steven L :unsure: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C-130CrewChief Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I don't get it? Why would you want A400 when the C-17 as well as the C-130J are already in production?Steven L :unsure: From what I understand..... The A400 is supposed to be an uprated alternative to the C-130. Imagine a C-130 that can haul tanks...etc. It fits a roll of the larger medium transport. between the C-17 and the Herk Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST21 Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 I'd really be interested in how the A400 matches up against the C-17. Don't know that much about the Airbus product, I'm assuming it is geared more towards the heavy airlift role like the Globemaster and less towards the tactical side of things. I think it may prove shortsighted to be terminating the C-17 production line. We are leaving the heavy airlifter market pretty much wide open for Airbus. Actually the A400M is in a class of its own. It will be capable of providing both tactical and strategic airlift capability. It will carry less than a Globemaster but much more than a Herk. The A400M will fill a niche in the market between the C-130J and C-17. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GCA333 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I wasn't turning it into a A v B debate, I only pointed out that the A400M time was shorter. The A400M a step in between the C-17 and C-130J and fills the gap. I believe that the A400M is for C-17-like versatility and speed but with better efficiency and medium loads. I have no doubt the 787 will be massive aircraft (sales-wise). It has more launch orders than any other aircraft, and for good reason. Back to A400M, C-130J and C-17. A400M MTOW: 141,000kg C-17 MTOW: 265,350kg C-130J MTOW: 79,378kg A400M Range: 3,298km C-17 Range: 4,482km C-130J Range: 5,250km A400M Takeoff distance: 980M C-17: N/A C-130J: 953M A400M Cruise speed: 780 km/h C-17 Cruise speed: 830 km/h C-130J Cruise speed: 671 km/h It looks like there is quite a gap between the C-17 and C-130J that the A400M can fill, if needed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 GCA333, Thanks for taking the time to supply those specs. Interesting approach by Airbus. I wonder if it will be successful? Might be a case of too big and expensive for the tactical role, too small for the heavy lifter. Then again, maybe it will work out fine. Time will tell. It does seem to have pretty short legs though.... Any idea what the typical costs are for each of those aircraft? Regards, John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GCA333 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 As of February 2009, they are €145,000,000, [~$212,000,000] but there is going to possibly be a price hike. The A400M is at risk of losing many more customers with cost overruns and delays. South Africa have already pulled out, and the UK defence budget could require the A400M to be cut. 184 have been sold to date, and it does not seem like there will be any new orders soon. Never can tell though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 As of February 2009, they are €145,000,000, [~$212,000,000] but there is going to possibly be a price hike.The A400M is at risk of losing many more customers with cost overruns and delays. South Africa have already pulled out, and the UK defence budget could require the A400M to be cut. 184 have been sold to date, and it does not seem like there will be any new orders soon. Never can tell though! Seems a bit on the high side. I believe that the C-17 goes for around $235 million give or take. For a bit more money, you get a significant increase in capability. I guess that assumes that the C-17 production line isn't shut down in the next year or so. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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