Does the A400M have a Use?

[Earpiece]

Apart from going round and round Brize Norton (probably not wanting to get lost), flying quite low over the surrounding villages and making a lot of noise, does the A400M Atlas actually do anything useful?

[SASless]

It does a good job of turning dead Dinosaurs into heat and noise!

[falcon900]

Are you trying to suggest that flying low over villages and making a lot of noise isnt useful??????

[Runaway Gun]

They could have flown around Lyneham, and let louder aircraft orbit Brize, but they decided to put all the eggs into one runway...

[Martin the Martian]

Well, those ones that trundle daily over Cornwall at FL300, either heading SW or NE, must be doing something.

[wiggy]

Apart from going round and round Brize Norton (probably not wanting to get lost), flying quite low over the surrounding villages and making a lot of noise, does the A400M Atlas actually do anything useful?

Not sure about Brize and the RAF but...

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2020/03/06/barkhane-la-11e-brigade-de-parachutistes-et-francazal-au-coeur-dune-premiere-pour-la400m,8780365.php

​​​​​​ (https://www.ladepeche.fr/2020/03/06/barkhane-la-11e-brigade-de-parachutistes-et-francazal-au-coeur-dune-premiere-pour-la400m,8780365.php)https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/03/10/france-a400m-airdrop-supplies-troops-niger-sahel/

​​​​​​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Newcombe

[Lima Juliet]

She’s been supporting Ops in the Falklands for the past 3 years. https://en.mercopress.com/2018/04/04/atlas-a400m-replaces-hercules-at-falklands-mount-pleasant-complex


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x675/dzytfajvmaakoqx_060af6666cdedda2118eae985f8b38988b6013c9.jpg
Or supporting UN ops in Mali?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x907/image_187232d97754aad6dd6955e554f2cf3f18ca7de5.jpeg
Or taking emergency aid to Indonesia after the earthquakes/tsunami struck?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x793/image_d6704e9d687ec0398772a8d23f9bdd4237633d87.jpeg
Or picking up PPE for the UK’s fight against COVID:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x847/image_520fc79428bc152b084bb6728280a088fdc952c7.jpeg

She does do quite a bit really, and will soon be doing much more as she takes over other roles from C130J. As ever, a slow start from introduction to service, but starting to get about a whole lot more now.

[esa-aardvark]

Looking at the first photo I thought that perhaps they had stuck an extra engine in the nose !!

[air pig]

She’s been supporting Ops in the Falklands for the past 3 years. https://en.mercopress.com/2018/04/04/atlas-a400m-replaces-hercules-at-falklands-mount-pleasant-complex


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1200x675/dzytfajvmaakoqx_060af6666cdedda2118eae985f8b38988b6013c9.jpg
Or supporting UN ops in Mali?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x907/image_187232d97754aad6dd6955e554f2cf3f18ca7de5.jpeg
Or taking emergency aid to Indonesia after the earthquakes/tsunami struck?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x793/image_d6704e9d687ec0398772a8d23f9bdd4237633d87.jpeg
Or picking up PPE for the UK’s fight against COVID:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1360x847/image_520fc79428bc152b084bb6728280a088fdc952c7.jpeg

She does do quite a bit really, and will soon be doing much more as she takes over other roles from C130J. As ever, a slow start from introduction to service, but starting to get about a whole lot more now.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-brize-norton/news/military-delivers-life-saving-vaccine-to-gibraltar/

[SASless]

Conga line loading of PPE?

[jeallen01]

Apart from going round and round Brize Norton (probably not wanting to get lost), flying quite low over the surrounding villages and making a lot of noise, does the A400M Atlas actually do anything useful?
Should have been there when they were doing Concorde proving tests - and with the VC10's providing "distractions" for the locals because they were louder!

[Just This Once...]

Picking-up PPE or just getting it delivered by the Turkish Air Force....?

[ancientaviator62]

Is entering via what on the C130 would be the crew entrance door the norm for the A400 ?

[sycamore]

Offloading the co-pilots spare meals/drinks/coffee/tea/drinks at Dakar,for `those `who lived just off the ramp...

[Ninthace]

Is entering via what on the C130 would be the crew entrance door the norm for the A400 ?
It’s OK. There is a no left turn sign just inside the door

[MPN11]

Crew and Business Class at Door 1L, the rest via the big hole at the back?

[Ken Scott]

Crew and Business Class at Door 1L,


Only one class on an A400M and it isn’t business...

The pilots’ seats are pretty comfy though.

[toolboxstickers]

Makes a great film prop for Tom Cruise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elpUGB9Ap1Y