Airbus A400M conducts intense helicopter AAR

[chopper2004]

Airbus A400M major helicopter air to air refueling trial certification.

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/04/airbus-a400m-conducts-major-helicopter-refuelling-certification-campaign.html


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1025x684/2cff6891_bec9_4ca8_ab3a_c70dfd1643d7_e657ab046580d7799302648 7e1ade5f0a82d262e.jpeg

[beardy]

Having seen those photos of the interesting vortices from the outboard edge of the flaps at high weight and low speed I would imagine that if a helicopter drifted off station toward the centreline it would create some exciting moments.

How did they synchronise the rotors?

[ZH875]

Rotor synchronisation through fibre optic communications via the refuelling lines.:)

[VX275]

I'd be interested to hear from someone with knowledge of composite wing structures about the significance (if any) of that failing paint finish on the A400M highlighting the fuel tanks.

[320busboy]

I'd be interested to hear from someone with knowledge of composite wing structures about the significance (if any) of that failing paint finish on the A400M highlighting the fuel tanks.

Name 1 bus the paint on composite that hasnt liberated 🤣

[sandiego89]

So what was the fix? I thought there was excessive turbulence making the trailing hoses move around too much?

Is that the #1 A400?

[chopper2004]

Rotor synchronisation through fibre optic communications via the refuelling lines.:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OWmtMlZEAs

[SLXOwft]

So what was the fix? I thought there was excessive turbulence making the trailing hoses move around too much?

Is that the #1 A400?

Sandiego, it's EC-404, the 4th prototype and the oldest one still flying. I believe this has been the AAR trials aircraft all along. I have seen film of it using the Cargo Holds Tank unit to refuel another A400M and 2 Spanish (?) F/A-18s from wing pods around 2016. Around the same time, following wiind tunnel testing, the proposed fix was using a longer 120' as opposed 80' stiffer but narrower hose. The smaller diameter of course reduced the fuel flow but was required to allow it to be stowed in the Cobham pods. This was scheduled for dry testing with in 2019. I assume it was this fix that was successful tested followed by the first wet tests in 2020.

[minigundiplomat]

I'd be more worried about the rotorheads on the 225M suddenly falling off.

[unmanned_droid]

I'd be interested to hear from someone with knowledge of composite wing structures about the significance (if any) of that failing paint finish on the A400M highlighting the fuel tanks.

A lot of what you see on the wings and elsewhere is silver tape. Much of it is covering test instrumentation installed around wing ribs, spars and associated bolting.

This aircraft has been used heavily for flight test and so the more off-white/yellow appears to be abrasion of the top coat down to the primer coat. You'll see on the leading edge that it seems like those areas have been repainted or a tape applied, most likely to maintain the aerodynamic surface finish and to not wear through the primer and in to the carbon which would require repairs. I don't know exactly which testing this aircraft has carried out, but it could have been used in testing around sandy areas/beach landings and so on, so the leading edges would have taken a beating.

The Airbus website allows you to download a higher resolution image here:

https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2021/04/airbus-a400m-conducts-major-helicopter-refuelling-certification-campaign.html

[sandiego89]

Sandiego, it's EC-404, the 4th prototype and the oldest one still flying. I believe this has been the AAR trials aircraft all along. I have seen film of it using the Cargo Holds Tank unit to refuel another A400M and 2 Spanish (?) F/A-18s from wing pods around 2016. Around the same time, following wiind tunnel testing, the proposed fix was using a longer 120' as opposed 80' stiffer but narrower hose. The smaller diameter of course reduced the fuel flow but was required to allow it to be stowed in the Cobham pods. This was scheduled for dry testing with in 2019. I assume it was this fix that was successful tested followed by the first wet tests in 2020.

Thank you for the response SLX, good stuff.

[sycamore]

It is about time the RAF got serious about `tactical` tanking again,for Chinnys and the `new` MLH`.....

[mjv]

004 is the test b..., as the HDU is gigantic (also Copham), not quick to install and therefore nobody really keen on using as you pretty much lose all other "roles". the rest was already said, except the LDE are not taped, they look that way and the panels are "metal" backed up by a composite mix.

cheers

mjv