Airbus A400M makes debut flight
11 Dec 2009
Seville, Spain: In a watershed development, the badly struggling Airbus A400M military transport programme registered its first flight, taking off in Spanish skies today. The first flight will now set into motion a rigorous flight testing programme, with first deliveries to the French Air Force, the launch customer, not expected before the end of 2012.
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The €20 billion ($29.46 billion) programme, designed to deliver a state-of-the art military airlifter to European air forces and export customers, is running three years behind schedule and is already burdened with massive penalties and cost overruns.
Lead contractor, Airbus parent company European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV, is building the plane at its assembly facility in Seville, Spain through Airbus's military division.
The A400M is a four-engine turboprop aircraft that has the most versatile design amongst any transport aircraft anywhere in the world. Capable of carrying 37 tons of personnel and equipment, the aircraft can land on rough airfields. It can also be used as an air refuelling platform, which can provide in-flight refuelling for all types of military aircraft, including fighters and helicopters.
Amongst its customers, Germany has 60 A400s, France 50, Spain 27, the UK 25, Turkey 10, Belgium seven and Luxembourg one of these aircraft on order. As for export customers, Malaysia has four on order. Another export customer, South Africa, which had ordered eight, has recently cancelled its contract even as it struggles with a spate of scandals.
