Jig P,
You're obviously much closer to this than I am - and I'm sure that the OCCAR / Airbus / Europrop mix is pretty unclear and I'm that there is plenty of bruising to ego all round.
And please don't misunderstand me, I think that the A400M will work very well in time, and that the RAF will be very happy with it when the damn thing arrives. It will also sell well internationally, given a straight fight with the C-130J.
Against this backdrop, and the long-term profitability of the support contracts, I just hope that the good people from OCCAR stick to their guns and that the contract is held to.
And yes, I'll raise a glass to the first flight.
S41