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View Full Version : Are there any A400M's currently flying around UK airspace?


Wee Weasley Welshman
24th Aug 2016, 09:44
Very large 4 engine prop with a high pitch tone is orbiting around my home in North Herefordshire at a few thousand feet - could it be an A400M? Didn't know we were operating them yet...?

Any ideas?

WWW

chopper2004
24th Aug 2016, 10:07
Since 2014 , and if you been to RIAT, last year and this year - it has been on display at the RAF Village,

cheers

Alber Ratman
24th Aug 2016, 11:06
In service trials ongoing? Definitely flying in UK airspace and has been doing so for quite a few months.

TEEEJ
24th Aug 2016, 11:55
Turkish Air Force A400Ms are also regular visitors to RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.

emitex
24th Aug 2016, 13:05
One spotted over Blackpool last week;

Flying high over Blackpool RAF Airbus A400M (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=74425)

Whenurhappy
24th Aug 2016, 13:11
Very large 4 engine prop with a high pitch tone is orbiting around my home in North Herefordshire at a few thousand feet - could it be an A400M? Didn't know we were operating them yet...?

Any ideas?

WWW

Bristol Brabazon?

Whenurhappy
24th Aug 2016, 13:12
Turkish Air Force A400Ms are also regular visitors to RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.

They were...

safetypee
24th Aug 2016, 13:53
There it goes again, 1430, over the lost lands behind the Malvern Hills.
Atlas, climbing NW following a similar track used by C130 and A330s during climb out.
Atlas not seen as often as 2-3 months ago when the local manoeuvres appeared to be test or training flights; lots of slow flying and with wheels down.
This green and pleasant land is normally an aerodynamically quite zone, occasionally interrupted by Hawk, Tornado, and Typhoon; possibly as a Boscombe play area.

SPIT
24th Aug 2016, 14:03
Saw ONE twice at approx 2000ft over Liverpool last week.

sycamore
24th Aug 2016, 15:21
When..., Brabazon had eight engines....

wub
24th Aug 2016, 15:27
RAF A400Ms are seen at Edinburgh Airport now and again.

Lyneham Lad
24th Aug 2016, 15:27
The have been occasionally sighted passing over LL-Mansions (Royal Wootton Bassett). Indeed, one came over heading south noon(ish) today.

I feel sure you are all delighted to be informed of such things... :cool:

Jackw106
24th Aug 2016, 16:30
last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOXe3eV-whg

Herod
24th Aug 2016, 17:54
Brabazon had eight engines.

Yes, but only four propellers.

TEEEJ
24th Aug 2016, 19:20
They were...
Still using Mildenhall. See image of Turkish Air Force A400M landing on the 22nd August 2016.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/leeadc/28556935793/

chopper2004
24th Aug 2016, 20:16
Turkish Air Force A400Ms are also regular visitors to RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
Heres my pic of one arriving at the 'Hall on Monday :)

cheers

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g209/longranger/longranger153/IMG_7865_zpsal9xytvg.jpg

Wee Weasley Welshman
24th Aug 2016, 22:15
Thanks for the gen. After the Seville disaster I had assumed they'd be long delayed and had stopped paying attention until one flew over whilst trampolining in the garden this afternoon. They were hooning it about like a good 'un. Quite a distinctive noise I thought.


WWW

Treble one
24th Aug 2016, 22:20
Rough field landing trials today in East Anglia I believe?

On_The_Top_Bunk
24th Aug 2016, 22:58
Some strip landing trials at Woodbridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=0s_LMUpJT6w
Take Off

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynW0kD9MJlI
Landing

Chris Kebab
25th Aug 2016, 06:39
They do seem to have quite a unique slightly whining sound at certain pitch settings. It's distinctive enough that folks regularly exposed are probably going to soon be able to identify the aircraft from the noise before they actually see it.

Party Animal
25th Aug 2016, 06:51
Saw one once with a bloke dangling on the side. Looked at bit like Tom Cruise from where I was standing!

Davef68
25th Aug 2016, 09:07
I think the RAF have 8 or 9 of them now, certainly not uncommon to see them around the UK. I'm sure someone posted that the RAF Atlas' have the highest fleet hours of any operator so far.

dead_pan
25th Aug 2016, 10:36
They do seem to have quite a unique slightly whining sound at certain pitch settings. It's distinctive enough that folks regularly exposed are probably going to soon be able to identify the aircraft from the noise before they actually see it.

Yup, it does and we can. Its sort of a blue note.

DON T
25th Aug 2016, 15:09
16.05 One just flown past N Swindon heading in direction of BZN.

Bollotom
25th Aug 2016, 16:15
2 x A400 to the west of Oxford in a hold, ZM402 and ZM406, C17 close behind 1000 feet separation. On

http://global.adsbexchange.com/VirtualRadar/desktop.html

DON T
25th Aug 2016, 16:23
1722 Another just flew past N Swindon heading from BZN.

treadigraph
26th Aug 2016, 07:21
Heard one fly over climbing eastbound over south London towards Dover a few weeks ago (probably about 25-30000 or so), seemed to be a bit of resonance which was almost painful. Friend saw one climbing out over Worthing, thought much the same.

Saw one inbound to Brize Wednesday evening, much quieter but certainly quite a distinctive note!

ancientaviator62
26th Aug 2016, 07:29
I wonder what the noise level is like inside the A400M, especially in the cargo compartment.

tmmorris
26th Aug 2016, 07:53
Definitely one at the Benson families' day yesterday.

No Reds, though; despite their exceptionally busy programme of civilian airshows over the next couple of days (see NOTAMs various), it seems Benson wasn't worthy of a even a flypast. Just as well the 8-ship Tiger Moth display was so awesome (sadly the 9th was a no-show).

Ian Corrigible
26th Aug 2016, 11:58
Further to the vids posted by On_The_Top_Bunk (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/583409-there-any-a400m-s-currently-flying-around-uk-airspace.html#post9484839):

BBC News: RAF Airbus A400M testing under way in Suffolk (video) (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-37189712)

Lyneham Lad
26th Aug 2016, 13:53
Further to the vids posted by On_The_Top_Bunk (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/583409-there-any-a400m-s-currently-flying-around-uk-airspace.html#post9484839):

BBC News: RAF Airbus A400M testing under way in Suffolk (video) (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-37189712)
Also featured on Flight Global and posted here (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/440739-a400m-flight-testing-progress-16.html#post9484548) on the 24th...

Minervan55
26th Aug 2016, 21:26
Fairly frequent overfly at 7-8000 ft (I never could estimate height) with distinctive engine sound as has been described. Hercules, are very frequent visitors over or near our village at low level :D but are relatively quiet so that by the time I have found my camera they are away. I look forward to Atlas paying us the same visits.:D

ValMORNA
27th Aug 2016, 20:09
Herod: Re your post #14 . . . .


I seem to remember that the Brabazon had 2xcontra-rotating props, each with three blades, on the four 'engine nacelles'.