From what I understand the 4th proto is flying.
Soon they will start soft runway testing and inflight refuelling.
Flight performance seems ok, the envelope has been validated during the past year.
Any idea if the A400M is meeting range and payload requirements?
Some videos of tests completed late last year:
Test preparing for soft runway tests:
YouTube - a400m unprepared
A400M Ground Loads Trials:
YouTube - A400M Ground Loads Trials
Late november medium size bird ingestion test were passed. Around that time EADS said "
Now there are no more technical tests left before certification. It is just a matter of paperwork."
- A certification tests with simulated icing shapes attached to the wings and tail completed.
- Preliminary tests of protective kits for rough-field operations completed in preparation for next year´s trials.
- Flight and ground load testing is complete
- Measurement of cruise performance is completed
- All major aircraft systems have been tested
- Flutter tests throughout the flight envelope are close to completion.
- TP400 in-flight relight capability has been successfully demonstrated
- Ground starts following an overnight cold-soak recently performed.
- APU performance so far excellent, it has been started at 40,000ft.
Fourth Airbus Military A400M makes first flight | Shephard Group