A-400M Thread

Many good pics on that site.

Well, I got myself a new wallpaper ;-)

didn't know the A400 could fuel ressupply , it was a bit logical but didn't know . they have huge financial problems because of the A400 but i think they'll be able to solve the problem because they are going to sell a lot

Now, finaly they've crossed the river...congratulations!

Why William H. Macy is the pilot?

Expendable?

Why William H. Macy is the pilot?

@ amalahama : where are you

lol it does look a bit like him in that pic :)

more of the crew:

a C-17 costs twice the price of an A400

and half as much as the Test Pilots salaries ;)

It's actually insanely cool this thing. Imagine you work for a company that's been planning a thing like this for years, then finally you get to sit in the freshly made cockpit in an orange suit and finally take it for a ride - and it works!

Looks really nice.

Question: Cool that it is so "cheap" in comparison to Globemaster etc, but will it actually replace those models? I think I read somewhere that it is going to replace Hercules and Transall ?

It's actually insanely cool this thing. Imagine you work for a company that's been planning a thing like this for years, then finally you get to sit in the freshly made cockpit in an orange suit and finally take it for a ride - and it works!

Looks really nice...

i don't think they do the pilot job with the idea of becoming test pilots one day , i think they more likely aspire to be pilots and one day because of their skills they are choosen for such job

...Question: Cool that it is so "cheap" in comparison to Globemaster etc, but will it actually replace those models? I think I read somewhere that it is going to replace Hercules and Transall ?

the C-17 has only one advantage it can carry heavy tanks which seems not to be a priority for european armies right now , but the C-17 needs much longer runway to operate from and use much more fuel . however Airbus did the right move to first start by a propeller (when you don't master the technology you'd better do it step by step) .

i don't think they do the pilot job with the idea of becoming test pilots one day , i think they more likely aspire to be pilots and one day because of their skills they are choosen for such job.

Sorry that was not at all what I meant, but of course that is the most likely course. I just meant that it must be quite a feeling to sit down behind the controls of that newly built bird and take it for its first flight. All the buttons shiny new and no worn off paint on the controls and crispy clear new MFDs with a crystal clear window without scratches to look out through etc... :thumbup:

Sorry that was not at all what I meant, but of course that is the most likely course. I just meant that it must be quite a feeling to sit down behind the controls of that newly built bird and take it for its first flight. All the buttons shiny new and no worn off paint on the controls and crispy clear new MFDs with a crystal clear window without scratches to look out through etc... :thumbup:

don't know if the A400 cockpit is more modern than the C-17's

don't know if the A400 cockpit is more modern than the C-17's

Man, you're a tough one :D

I still think the cockpit looks very nice and without knowing what other cockpits look like (they where all hopefully brand new one day long ago) I'd still say it seems like it's awfully nice to get the opportunity to fly this pretty thing.

Man, you're a tough one :D

I still think the cockpit looks very nice and without knowing what other cockpits look like (they where all hopefully brand new one day long ago) I'd still say it seems like it's awfully nice to get the opportunity to fly this pretty thing.

as far as i know it's not forbidden to continue the conversation :smilewink:

the british that always have been pragmatic from a defence point of view view the A400M in a favourable light

http://bruxelles2.over-blog.com/article-la-le-on-britannique-de-l-airbus-a400m--41119313.html (french)

Latest news of the A-400M, enjoy:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/23/336595/a400m-clears-normal-flight-envelope-on-2nd-flight-airbus.html

And now they're thinking of scrapping it...

And now they're thinking of scrapping it...

Source? And who are "they"? Are you alluding to UK SDR?

EDIT: found one source already: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/awx/2010/01/05/awx_01_05_2010_p0-194004.xml&headline=A400M Talks Concern Airbus&channel=defense

"A400M Talks concern Airbus"

The U.K. appears willing to compromise, keeping its spending at predefined levels, but reducing the number of A400Ms it would receive in return.

Based on prior experience, that is almost definately true.

I'm surprised we'll be getting some due to the budget cut we'll get this year.

Chill above the A400

http://www.challenges.fr/actualites/entreprises/20100111.CHA0463/labandon_de_la400m_serait_socialement_catastrophique.html (french)

http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2010/01/06/l-avenir-de-l-a400m-est-de-plus-en-plus-nebuleux_1288082_3234.html (french)

a rare catastrophic scenario and no guilty one . i would like to know the name of the one who messed up that way with our taxes not much to blame her/him but just to know how such mess can happen

We will know more after January 14th. A-400M is not the only program with delays, but here it amounts to about 25% of projected cost, and no one seems to be willing to take the burden.

On the other hand I do believe this is a very useful program and every euro you put in true airlift capability is a good one. While UK could opt for more C-130J-30's and C-17, I fail to see how other partner nations could really satisfy their needs with such a mix.

Although Belgium, which currently operates C-130H, could consider C-130J. Anyway what a big, big failure this would be for Europe and more in particular for engineering in Europe.