No - sorry, BB, but I happen to think that, given half a chance, the A400M will be an excellent aeroplane.....
I'm certain that its payload/ range performance will be far better than that of the old C130K - or the C130J. Though not as good as the vastly more expensive C17 - nor, of course, as good as the An225 if we must compare apples and oranges!
It could also make a perfectly good AAR aeroplane - if EADS weren't trying to develop the A330-200 tanker at the same time.
Having done a bit of number-crunching on the Oz tanker-transport requirement described in 'Flight', the required fuel volume would appear to be in the order of 85-90 tonnes minimum. Which rules out A400M and A310MRTT, is probably tight for KC767 but is within the published capability of A330-200. Or of old TriShaws.......
Last edited by BEagle; 12th Nov 2002 at 06:05.