"The project began as the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group, set up in 1982 by
Aerospatiale,
British Aerospace,
Lockheed, and
MBB to develop a replacement for the
C-130 Hercules and
C-160 Transall. Varying requirements and the complications of international politics caused slow progress. In 1989 Lockheed left the grouping and went on to develop a second generation Hercules, the C-130J. With the addition of
Alenia and
CASA the FIMA group became
Euroflag."
But not quite as long as the 13 years mentioned by you for the new helicopter?
As regards 71% of the lift capacity of a C17 Wiki tells me A400 will have a max frt wt of 82,000lbs or 37 tons whilst C17 has a max frt wt of 170,900lbs or 77.5 tons. Now I am more than happy to be corrected on these facts but as they stand your 71% does not look quite right to me
