A400M - Yes/No/maybe?
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The pilot's grab bags and weapons need to be easily accessible and 'to hand', should they need to vamoose in a hurry out of the DV window or even the crew door.
Ask anyone who was on XV 206 or 298!
Its part of the tactical mentality to consider the worst case and plan for it. Getting blown up on a tactical strip with the bad guys all around is very feasible (as proved recently) - so, wouldn't you want a gun, ammo and some E and E kit (not to forget, of course, the emergency pie rations!)
Flip
Ask anyone who was on XV 206 or 298!
Its part of the tactical mentality to consider the worst case and plan for it. Getting blown up on a tactical strip with the bad guys all around is very feasible (as proved recently) - so, wouldn't you want a gun, ammo and some E and E kit (not to forget, of course, the emergency pie rations!)
Flip
Presumably,at the very least, you would fly wearing the same tactical survival vests that the FJ mates presumably wear?
Maybe there's a tactical pilot someone out there with sufficient passion to want to work on the A400M programme, so that his/her successors will get what you consider to be so essential?
PM if interested and available.
Maybe there's a tactical pilot someone out there with sufficient passion to want to work on the A400M programme, so that his/her successors will get what you consider to be so essential?
PM if interested and available.
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I hope so and agree wholeheartedly.
Our guys do have some combat survival vests, in which they fly, but they also carry SA80s and a longer term grab bags - because AT crews would not be high on any CSAR priority list and, if we have any CSAR assets, they would take a while to get we go - if they ever get there - remember Bravo 20!
Check your emails!
Flip
Our guys do have some combat survival vests, in which they fly, but they also carry SA80s and a longer term grab bags - because AT crews would not be high on any CSAR priority list and, if we have any CSAR assets, they would take a while to get we go - if they ever get there - remember Bravo 20!
Check your emails!
Flip
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Probably a Dumb Question....
But I understood that A400M was in effect a super-Herc for the 21st century, which whilst welcome, was not designed to do the C-17's strategic job... and that in any case, an A400M couldn't carry an MBT as it wouldn't fit (as well as falling through the floor if you tried).
So presumably A400M / C-17 Mix -- with, pace Tony and Gordon -- enough airframes and a suitable DAS, will work well by about 2012.
S41
So presumably A400M / C-17 Mix -- with, pace Tony and Gordon -- enough airframes and a suitable DAS, will work well by about 2012.
S41
Beags,
Thanks for posting the picture of the flight deck. Is there a graphic/picture of the back end you could post as well? I'd like to see that too!
Thanks,
p-u-l
Thanks for posting the picture of the flight deck. Is there a graphic/picture of the back end you could post as well? I'd like to see that too!
Thanks,
p-u-l
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Ah, we change to a loadmaster slagging thread all of a sudden.....
I'm sure the pie eaters will be along shortly.... (Cue ABIW)
Does the A400M have a pie and pastie heater a la C-17 I wonder?
I'm sure the pie eaters will be along shortly.... (Cue ABIW)
Does the A400M have a pie and pastie heater a la C-17 I wonder?
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Ah, we change to a loadmaster slagging thread all of a sudden.....
(Clue: contrast and compare)
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Loadie Or Ground Eng
Is this what is being aluded to? Loadie performing the GE's job? - Or GE performing the Loadie's job? I know which one my money is on. Apparently it could be one or the other!
If this is what was meant then it has been in the rumour mill for at least 6 months.
'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'
Last edited by philrigger; 6th Nov 2006 at 10:51.
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It's been in service for some time.
Long gestation though. I was at Boeing in the early 90s and was stopped by one of their engineers. "How's JTIDS/Link 16 going?" asked he. "Oh a little time yet" sayeth GMP "Another year or two to go".
"Golly gosh" he retorted (or something similar) "We started on it in 1963."
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JTIDS has been with the UK Hercs for quite a while now. I saw it first in 2003 - very impressive! Talk about improved situational awareness - no matter how many people on the flight deck!
However, it was then a bl00dy big screen in front of the nav with an almost full-sized keyboard. I suspect that something smaller might be more sensible if using a 2-person flight deck in the A400M.....unless of course, the Airbus plan would be to fill the third seat for such missions (ie almost all tac/sf/sorties that matter)?
Beags - just how is JTIDS/L16 planned to be displayed/used?
However, it was then a bl00dy big screen in front of the nav with an almost full-sized keyboard. I suspect that something smaller might be more sensible if using a 2-person flight deck in the A400M.....unless of course, the Airbus plan would be to fill the third seat for such missions (ie almost all tac/sf/sorties that matter)?
Beags - just how is JTIDS/L16 planned to be displayed/used?
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Flip,
The JTIDS or MIDS data will be displayed as an overlay on any of the 6 configurable standard head down displays. Data input will be via the FMS keypad. There will be no standalone unintegrated kit, except possibly the EFB. The first level of cockpit workload trials are now complete, and as expected, it is not likely that a 4th (the LM being the 3rd) crewmember will be required.
At present there are no signs of delays to the program, but there is no flex. However, our hopes that the ac would arrive fully cleared may have been optimistic.
HVD
The JTIDS or MIDS data will be displayed as an overlay on any of the 6 configurable standard head down displays. Data input will be via the FMS keypad. There will be no standalone unintegrated kit, except possibly the EFB. The first level of cockpit workload trials are now complete, and as expected, it is not likely that a 4th (the LM being the 3rd) crewmember will be required.
At present there are no signs of delays to the program, but there is no flex. However, our hopes that the ac would arrive fully cleared may have been optimistic.
HVD
I at a point in My career was involved with the development of the A400M and the freight bay camera will be there provided its ticked on the options list however if I rememeber correctly the screen will be in the LMs station in the forward freight bay.
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HVD
Thanks - that sounds a whole lot better! However, what was the AB rationale about a third person being carried on some high workload sorties?Beagle I think mentioned this (sometime ago) - perhaps on a different thread?
Will MIDS/JTIDS be fully compatible with all US/UK sensors and platforms as I seem to recall some difficulties with the various Links/Nets etc in the past? In other words, would an A400 on an SF mission, close to/beyond the the FEBA, pick up real-time EW Int from ALL C3I assets about pop-up threats before they get within pinging range of a RF-guided SAM? Not that the Taliban have these things but Iran and N Korea most certainly do and who knows where we will be by the time the A400M comes into service...yikes!
Flip
ps Am worried that the ac will not come into service 'fully cleared' - do you infer that all Air Drop clearances will be after R2S - just like the UK J introduction? If so, I know that our special customers will be really miffed to hear that. That might mean we will have to extend the K....again (unlikely), or expand the very expensive trials on the J to get ALL the esoteric air drop clearances req'd for Chelsea (not cheap but perhaps the better option?)!
Of course, the most worrying aspect of this will be that we will then get a J v K v A400 willy-waving contest on PPrune!! (Aaaarghhhh, not again, please NO!!!!!)
Thanks - that sounds a whole lot better! However, what was the AB rationale about a third person being carried on some high workload sorties?Beagle I think mentioned this (sometime ago) - perhaps on a different thread?
Will MIDS/JTIDS be fully compatible with all US/UK sensors and platforms as I seem to recall some difficulties with the various Links/Nets etc in the past? In other words, would an A400 on an SF mission, close to/beyond the the FEBA, pick up real-time EW Int from ALL C3I assets about pop-up threats before they get within pinging range of a RF-guided SAM? Not that the Taliban have these things but Iran and N Korea most certainly do and who knows where we will be by the time the A400M comes into service...yikes!
Flip
ps Am worried that the ac will not come into service 'fully cleared' - do you infer that all Air Drop clearances will be after R2S - just like the UK J introduction? If so, I know that our special customers will be really miffed to hear that. That might mean we will have to extend the K....again (unlikely), or expand the very expensive trials on the J to get ALL the esoteric air drop clearances req'd for Chelsea (not cheap but perhaps the better option?)!
Of course, the most worrying aspect of this will be that we will then get a J v K v A400 willy-waving contest on PPrune!! (Aaaarghhhh, not again, please NO!!!!!)