A400M update

[Mackrick]

Airbus Military is looking for a commitment from its seven European customers before next month's Paris air show to continue their involvement in the A400M project.

Now in a three-month moratorium period agreed between the EADS-led company and its partner nations, the 180-aircraft programme is expected to achieve a delayed first flight later this year.

[Saracenman]

what has the delay all been about Mackrick?

i know that most defence projects' schedules have a habit of moving to the right, but the A400M seems to have suffered more than most

sm

[Mackrick]

More stormy waters for the project

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/15/327274/paris-air-show-a400m-seeks-list.html

[Saracenman]

...and they've already lost some proposed customers who've ordered Herc Js instead

it'll come good eventually though - looks to be a cracking bit of kit

sm

[Mackrick]

Hope it doesn't come that could mean more C17s

[Saracenman]

if that happens, you might have to restock your stores at work Mackrick........

[Wedgy]

Its inevitable people!

[Mackrick]

France and Germany have failed in their attempt to broker a six-month extension to a moratorium period to resolve issues on Europe's delayed Airbus Military A400M transport programme, with a deadline of late July having been agreed on 22 June.

Defence ministers from the seven launch A400M nations - Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK - met in Seville, Spain to discuss programme issues with EADS-led Airbus Military.

The UK Ministry of Defence says that it "can confirm that agreement has been reached between the partner nations for a one-month extension to the previous three-month standstill period to resolve outstanding issues with this important programme".

First flight of the A400M is notionally scheduled for late this year or during the first few weeks of 2010. Deliveries of the launch nations' 180 aircraft were contractually scheduled to begin this October, and the effort has been under the threat of possible cancellation since missing a planned flight test milestone in late April.

[Mayfly]

just what is it about aviation projects that always make them over run?

are the time scales set too unrealistic or is it that once a company has the contract they pay it no urgency?
it appears to happen all the time, with todays technology why? - the Vulcan only took 6 six years 60 years ago - could it be that the technological needs incorporated in todays designs are to complicated & cause conflicts with other systems?

[Nickolas]

just what is it about aviation projects that always make them over run?

are the time scales set too unrealistic or is it that once a company has the contract they pay it no urgency?
it appears to happen all the time, with todays technology why? - the Vulcan only took 6 six years 60 years ago - could it be that the technological needs incorporated in todays designs are to complicated & cause conflicts with other systems?

IMHO the seven launch A400M nations - Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK form a motley crew so simple agreement is highly unlikely.
Biggest bunch of fence sitters in all time. Piss up and brewery spring to mind.

It does look the biz though.

Love those props, they are sooooooooooooo sweet.

[Gully]

just what is it about aviation projects that always make them over run?

are the time scales set too unrealistic or is it that once a company has the contract they pay it no urgency?
it appears to happen all the time, with todays technology why? - the Vulcan only took 6 six years 60 years ago - could it be that the technological needs incorporated in todays designs are to complicated & cause conflicts with other systems?

If it's anything like construction (where projects nearly always overrun), it's companies not being honest in the first instance about how long a project will likely take and relying upon the inevitable Client changes to cover the slippage that would have occurred anyway. Initially underestimating the time for a project conveys a competitive advantage on two fronts: completion date and time-based resource costs.

Add in the government and other nations and chaos is (almost) inevitable IMHO - too many cooks etc.

Gully

[Saracenman]

i imagine that with any multi-national programme, there are always differences of opinion about the specification, role and performance of the machine. not being able to keep all parties happy all of the time means compromise - which nation's requirements get compromised the most inevitably leads to further discussion and delay

this is certainly true with my other passion - TANKS

the number of times we have tried to co-operate with other NATO nations to build a joint-venture tank, but none of the partners have EVER been able to agree on the three main factors:

we Brits put them in this order - armour, firepower, mobility

Murkins: mobility, firepower, armour

Krauts and Frogs: firepower, mobility, armour

at any point, a partner may feel that their requirements have been compromised too far and decide to go it alone - it happened with MBT80 which ultimately never happened, leaving the Krauts with Leopard 2, the Frogs with Leclerc (both indigenous designs) and us with Challenger 1, designed for the Iranians before the Shah was deposed

Eurofighter - the Frogs left early on to develop their own Rafale

conversely, the Vulcan only ever had one intended customer - the RAF

sm

[Rufftymuffty]

Pretty props.....designed by Kylie Fhwooooooor!

[Mackrick]

The following article is courtesy of Flight Global

Airbus Military has released this image of the first A400M fitted with four flightworthy engines and propellers. This marks another step forward in the development of the long-awaited transport aircraft, which had its formal roll-out in June 2008.



Louis Gallois, chief executive of EADS, Airbus’ parent company, said yesterday that it was looking increasingly likely that the A400M would make its debut flight in December. He also expressed confidence that the countries involved in the project will all commit to continuing it when they meet for negotiations in October. “Our hope is to fully convince them" by the end of this year, he said.

[Saracenman]

......Louis Gallois, chief executive of EADS, Airbus’ parent company, said yesterday ........

didn't he used to make cigarettes?

must say, the A400M is beginning to look like a real beastie! question is, will they be in service before RAF replaces ALL its Hercs with J models?

any gossip on what NAME the RAF will give A400M?

sm

[RLN]

René?

[Za150]

......Louis Gallois, chief executive of EADS, Airbus’ parent company, said yesterday ........

any gossip on what NAME the RAF will give A400M?

sm

Not sure, Depends if they ever get any!

[Saracenman]

well quite! one would've thought that, as a major player in the development of the "René" ( ) ...........

but then what has Whitehall ever done that makes any sense?

on PAPER, the René seems to outclass the Herc, but it ain't just about the aeroplanes themselves ultimately is it?

best guess ZA150/Mackrick? will we get them?

sm

[Dan4th]

Well, EYE think it would be interesting to know
which one, Herc or "Rene", the people who will
actually have to FLY them and MAINTAIN them
would rather have -- and why!

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

Well, EYE think it would be interesting to know
which one, Herc or "Rene", the people who will
actually have to FLY them and MAINTAIN them
would rather have -- and why!
Danf.

Why change the Defence Procurement existing habits, they don't usually involve the end users in the ordering of equipment

[Spitfire]

Those props look like massive food processors - or egg whisks

If you put a shroud round them they'd be more like jets

[Dan4th]

They always make me think of These:



Danf.

[Za150]

best guess ZA150/Mackrick? will we get them?

sm

Personally i think not.

More J's and C17's i think

[Mackrick]

Same here ..

[Iggie]

......Louis Gallois, chief executive of EADS, Airbus’ parent company, said yesterday ........

didn't he used to make cigarettes?

must say, the A400M is beginning to look like a real beastie! question is, will they be in service before RAF replaces ALL its Hercs with J models?

any gossip on what NAME the RAF will give A400M?

sm

According to this month's Flypast, it is called the A400 Tottenham Court Rd.......