View Full Version : A-400M
Lower Hangar
6th Mar 2015, 10:50
Just saw an A-400M overhead here at Cardiff inbound to Rhoose - is that ours ??
TOWTEAMBASE
6th Mar 2015, 12:06
There is one a BZZ now so maybe
Two at BZZ now, how long before they are operational, or do they have to go to Boscombe for two years of testing.
melmothtw
6th Mar 2015, 13:01
Operational from September, by which time the first seven should be at Brize (delayed from March). Final operating capability slated for 2022, when all 22 aircraft are at Brize.
Having said that, the MoD announced the first 'operational' mission earlier this week (a logistics run into Akrotiri).
So, with delivery ramping up, and a budget freeze and perhaps cut in the pipeline, when do we rationalise the AT fleet and retire the C-130J fleet? (And we want to try and get one of the last 5 White tail C-17s?)
Not to be contentious :E
Lower Hangar
6th Mar 2015, 13:23
Glanced up and initially thought 'C-17' then I heard the noise of the engines - not loud e.g like C130
melmothtw
6th Mar 2015, 14:16
There are no more C-17s, as far as I am aware (the UAE bagged the last two last week). Perhaps KenV knows better.
RAF due to retire C-130Js in 2022 to coincide with A400M FOC (although some likely to be retained for SOF).
Martin the Martian
6th Mar 2015, 14:47
The UAE order made eight of the white tails now spoken for. Should still be two left.
Willard Whyte
6th Mar 2015, 15:59
RAF due to retire C-130Js in 2022 to coincide with A400M FOC (although some likely to be retained for SOF).
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that date shift to the left as a result of 'SDSR 15', even if it's a case of simply retiring them, or selling on, on an almost 1 for 1 basis against the A400 as and when each arrives.
It's not as though britmil inc. is any stranger to capability chasms.
billynospares
6th Mar 2015, 19:55
A400M is a long way from being fully operational. Basically circuit bashing and freight. Will need a few years to mature and acquire useful tac clearances.
salad-dodger
6th Mar 2015, 20:52
RAF due to retire C-130Js in 2022 to coincide with A400M FOC (although some likely to be retained for SOF).
So if we keep some for SF, we won't really have retired the C-130Js then will we?
S-D
its the bish
6th Mar 2015, 20:55
Lower hanger, same mind as you, saw it over Exmoor today, several miles away and initially thought it was a C17, then heard it, at least as my good lady said it wasn't a Russian Bear !
Uncle Ginsters
6th Mar 2015, 21:21
I'm sure the C17 could step in for any shortfall, give or take a couple of CBR points here or there...we seem to have the most under-utilised fleet in the world these days.:D
StopStart
6th Mar 2015, 21:40
A400M FOC is a long way off. When SDSR comes looking for AT heads to roll they should flog the entire C130J fleet and then lease (as per the original C17 deal) 10 MC130Js and all the associated clobber off the U.S. to meet the SF task.
mmitch
7th Mar 2015, 09:48
The A400M made its first operational delivery this week.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/atlas-delivers-first-operational-payload-05032015
mmitch.
Trumpet_trousers
7th Mar 2015, 15:45
A400M is a long way from being fully operational. Basically circuit bashing and freight. Will need a few years to mature and acquire useful tac clearances.
Really? Perhaps you'd like to share your foundation for those claims with all of us? :mad:
Lyneham Lad
16th Mar 2015, 18:13
Some more background in Flight Global on the Cyprus flight earlier this month plus more info on the delivery situation etc.
ANALYSIS: A400M Atlas delivers the goods for RAF (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-a400m-atlas-delivers-the-goods-for-raf-409960/)
There are no more C-17s, as far as I am aware (the UAE bagged the last two last week). Perhaps KenV knows better.
Four of ten white tails are committed with a contract signed and some money exchanged.
Another four are "spoken for" with a letter of intent, but no contract yet and no payments. If another buyer comes along with money and ready to sign, they can probably get any of those four.
Two have zero commitments, with lots of different governments having formally expressed "interest" in them. Qatar is one of the interested parties who seems the most serious. But who knows for sure? Anything can still happen.
billynospares
16th Mar 2015, 21:03
Billynoclues good one. I guess stopstart has no clue either . Work for Airbus by any chance ? :ok:
3ge27841
17th Mar 2015, 11:15
spotted this on Flightglobal this morning...........
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-a400m-atlas-delivers-the-goods-for-raf-409960/ (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-a400m-atlas-delivers-the-goods-for-raf-409960/)
Seems to have gone Tech in Halifax, NS.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh112/bobby-itfc/a400_zpstrg582qr.jpg (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/bobby-itfc/media/a400_zpstrg582qr.jpg.html)
snippy
1st May 2015, 20:59
At least they will get that blue van and the rest of that kit in the back of it.....unlike a Herc:=
Martin the Martian
2nd May 2015, 12:49
An Atlas was spotted in Cornish skies by several members of the public on Tuesday this week, leading to several worried calls to the local BBC radio phone in about the large aeroplane flying around. Thankfully somebody with a bit of sense called in to tell all that it was one of ours.
Mind, with the rarity that we see RAF aircraft around these parts you could be forgiven for thinking that we don't have an air force any more (hint).