A400M update

[Bubbles]

I already have it.

[Saracenman]

you know EXACTLY what I'm going to say next don't you?

[Bubbles]

Errrr......nope, not a clue.

[Saracenman]

not a very long sentence - one that includes the word "use"

[Xplumberlives]

Does your little light still flash XP?

I had a FUJI FINEPIX S9500, which is now used by Michael


I now have a CANON 40D

[Bubbles]

I meant the one on your shelf.

[Xplumberlives]

Oh, PULSE, no, I never replaced the battery!

[RLN]

No, neither did I. By the time, I got round to it, it was yukky.

[Bubbles]

I didn't either, one of the sprogs ate it.

[RLN]

No, neither did I. By the time, I got round to it, it was yukky.

Bloody Hell.

[Stevieboy]

More bad news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8344722.stm

[Mackrick]

Not surprised really... I expect more cancelations to come ...

[Mayfly]

It astonishes me how avaition manufactures stay in business - it can only be that without a/c life as we know it couldn't survive, every a/c of modern times takes years longer to build than expected & always run billions over budget

[Mackrick]

This article courtesy of Flight Global http://www.flightglobal.com/home/default.aspx

Airbus Military's A400M transport has undergone its first low-speed taxi trial, with the milestone having taken place near Seville, Spain on 23 November. "The Airbus Military A400M airlifter has moved under its own power for the first time", the company says.
In a series of tests spanning 90min, aircraft MSN001 was moved at speeds of up to 20kt (37km/h), with its pilots having "tested the normal, alternate and emergency braking systems, the anti-skid system, the nose wheel steering and reverse power," Airbus says. The transport also made 180° turns and was taxied in reverse, it adds.



© Airbus Military

"We were impressed with the ease with which we could taxi the aircraft in terms of the precision and ease of use of the nose wheel steering, and the effectiveness of the braking systems," says chief test pilot military Ed Strongman.
Airbus - which only ran MSN001's four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop engines together for the first time on 18 November - says further taxi tests will be conducted "at increasingly high speeds" over the next few days. It expects the A400M to make its delayed flight debut before year-end.

[Saracenman]

it does look to be a mighty impressive bit of kit

but.............

aircraft MSN001

no wonder it's had problems

sm

[Mackrick]

hadn't looked at it that way SM

[Saracenman]

quite a few clips on YooToob actually..............









sm

[Dan4th]

I knew it was slightly larger than the
Herc, but 50% larger?

What about payload?

Danf.

[Saracenman]

Wiki has details apparently taken from Airbus Military.........

General characteristics

Crew: 3 or 4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster)
Capacity: 37,000 kg (82,000 lb)
116 fully equipped troops / paratroops,
up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel
Length: 45.1 m (148 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in)
Height: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
Empty weight: 69,853 kg (154,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 141,000 kg (310,852 lb)
Max. Landing Weight: 114 tonnes (251,000 lb)
Total Internal Fuel: 50.5 tonnes (111,333 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × EuroProp International TP400-D6[35] turboprop, 8,250 kW (11,060 hp) each
Propellers: 8-bladed, 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) diameter


Performance

Cruising speed: 780 km/h (480 mph; 420 kn) (Mach 0.68 - 0.72)
Initial Cruise Altitude: at MTOW: 9,000 m (29,000 ft)
Range: 3,298 km (2,049 mi; 1,781 nmi) at max payload (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A)

Range at 30-tonne payload: 4,540 km (2,450 nmi)
Range at 20-tonne payload: 6,390 km (3,450 nmi)
Ferry range: 8,710 km (5,412 mi; 4,703 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,300 m (37,073 ft)

Maximum Operating Altitude: 12,000 m (40,000 ft)
Tactical Takeoff Distance: 980 m (3,215 ft) (aircraft weight 100 tonnes, soft field, ISA, sea level)
Tactical Landing Distance: 770 m (2,526 ft) (as above)
Turning Radius (Ground): 28.6 m

whilst the Herc is.........

General characteristics

Crew: 3 (two pilots, and one loadmaster are minimum crew)
Capacity:

92 passengers (128 for C-130J-30) or
64 airborne troops (92 for C-130J-30) or
6 pallets (8 pallets for C-130J-30) or
74 litter patients with 2 medical personnel (97 litters for C-130J-30)
2–3 HMMWVs or an M113 armored personnel carrier
Payload: 42,000 lb (19,090 kg) ; for C-130J-30: 44,000 lb/ 19,900 kg
Length: 97 ft 9 in, 29.79 m (for C-130J-30: 112 ft, 9 in, 34.69 m)
Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.41 m)
Height: 38 ft 10 in (11.84 m)
Wing area: 1,745 ft² (162.1 m²)
Empty weight: 75,562 lb (34,274 kg)
Useful load: 72,000 lb (33,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: up to 175,000 lb (79,378 kg); normal 155,000 lb (70,305 kg)
Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop, 4,637 shp (3,458 kW)) each
Propellers: Dowty R391 6-blade composite propeller, 1 per engine


Performance

Maximum speed: 362 knots (417 mph, 671 km/h)
Cruise speed: 348 kn (400 mph, 643 km/h)
Range: 2,835 nmi (3,262 mi, 5,250 km)
Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,615 m) with 42,000 pounds (19,090 kilograms) payload
Takeoff distance: 3,127 ft (953 m) at 155,000 lb (70,300 kg) gross weight

so nearly twice the payload it seems

[Stevieboy]

50% bigger than a Hercules.

Hmmm. Let me think now.

Didn't we used to have something like that?

Perhaps we did.

[Saracenman]

now don't be silly SB

it's not as if we sold five Belslows to Heavylift in the late 1970s, only to lease them back for use in the Falklands War, is it?

that would be a silly thing to do!

sm

[Mayfly]

now don't be silly SB

it's not as if we sold five Belslows to Heavylift in the late 1970s, only to lease them back for use in the Falklands War, is it?

that would be a silly thing to do!

sm

ermmmm

[Za150]

now don't be silly SB

it's not as if we sold five Belslows to Heavylift in the late 1970s, only to lease them back for use in the Falklands War, is it?

that would be a silly thing to do!

sm

ermmmm

The MOD have never done anything silly before.........

[Mackrick]

now don't be silly SB

it's not as if we sold five Belslows to Heavylift in the late 1970s, only to lease them back for use in the Falklands War, is it?

that would be a silly thing to do!

sm

ermmmm

The MOD have never done anything silly before.........

[Gully]

Understand a test flight may be imminent?

Gully