A400M first flight
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Watch it live on LIVE A400M First Flight
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
AWST: Meet the Guys
Tomorrow, Airbus Military is putting its faith in the hands of six experienced flight test professionals as they navigate the A400M through its maiden flight.
Ed Strongman (far left), the chief military test pilot for Airbus, will be at the controls. A former RAF C-130 pilot (a few years ago, he'll be the first to admit), Strongman was also the first flight pilot for the A340-600. He's got a "meager" 11,000 flight hours under his belt, 7,000 of which have come during flight testing.
Strongman recently flew the TP400's C-130 Flying Testbed, giving him some turboprop airlifter experience again. And, owing to delays in the A400M program, he's had time for more than a few simulator sessions.
In the right hand seat will be Spaniard Ignacio "Nacho" Lombo (second from right), who was also involved in the first flight of the KC-30 multi-role tanker transport. He's got previous fighter experience on the way to logging 4,250 flight hours.
Eric Isorce (the gentleman in the back) is the senior flight test engineer. A former Colonel in the French air force, he brings perhaps the biggest bragging rights, having flown the nuclear-capable Mirage 2000N.
Jean-Philippe Cottet (far right) will oversee the TP400D turbofans and previously worked on flight test activities involving the GP7200 for the A380.
Dider Ronceray (second from left) is the flight test engineer overseeing aircraft handling qualities. He may be the most patient man on the crew: Airbus says he's been on the A400M program since 1998, which is before it was the A400M.
Rounding out the team is Gerard Leskerpit (second from right), another test flight engineer. He's flown the Transall C-160 and the C-130 when working for the French government.
The first flight aircraft has a unique feature: it is carrying an explosive to create an emergency escape hatch in the fuselage in case things go awfully wrong. The other four flight test aircraft (MSN2, MSN3, MSN4, and MSN6 -- MSN5 was stricken from the program) will not have the escape mechanism.
Tomorrow, Airbus Military is putting its faith in the hands of six experienced flight test professionals as they navigate the A400M through its maiden flight.
Ed Strongman (far left), the chief military test pilot for Airbus, will be at the controls. A former RAF C-130 pilot (a few years ago, he'll be the first to admit), Strongman was also the first flight pilot for the A340-600. He's got a "meager" 11,000 flight hours under his belt, 7,000 of which have come during flight testing.
Strongman recently flew the TP400's C-130 Flying Testbed, giving him some turboprop airlifter experience again. And, owing to delays in the A400M program, he's had time for more than a few simulator sessions.
In the right hand seat will be Spaniard Ignacio "Nacho" Lombo (second from right), who was also involved in the first flight of the KC-30 multi-role tanker transport. He's got previous fighter experience on the way to logging 4,250 flight hours.
Eric Isorce (the gentleman in the back) is the senior flight test engineer. A former Colonel in the French air force, he brings perhaps the biggest bragging rights, having flown the nuclear-capable Mirage 2000N.
Jean-Philippe Cottet (far right) will oversee the TP400D turbofans and previously worked on flight test activities involving the GP7200 for the A380.
Dider Ronceray (second from left) is the flight test engineer overseeing aircraft handling qualities. He may be the most patient man on the crew: Airbus says he's been on the A400M program since 1998, which is before it was the A400M.
Rounding out the team is Gerard Leskerpit (second from right), another test flight engineer. He's flown the Transall C-160 and the C-130 when working for the French government.
The first flight aircraft has a unique feature: it is carrying an explosive to create an emergency escape hatch in the fuselage in case things go awfully wrong. The other four flight test aircraft (MSN2, MSN3, MSN4, and MSN6 -- MSN5 was stricken from the program) will not have the escape mechanism.
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Congratulations to the team! Some good background info here too: A400M Thrusting forward
..he's actually 3rd from right
"Nacho" Lombo (second from right)
Brilliant news! I wish I'd put that bet on about the A400M flying before the 7-late-7 now!
Trumpet Ts, do give my regards to Gerard L when they get back!
Trumpet Ts, do give my regards to Gerard L when they get back!
From Airbus Military
Airbus Military's press release
AM17/09R
11th December 2009
A400M, AIRBUS MILITARY’S NEW AIRLIFTER, TAKES TO THE SKIES
This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team’s discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
11th December 2009
A400M, AIRBUS MILITARY’S NEW AIRLIFTER, TAKES TO THE SKIES
This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team’s discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
In the 90’s I used to do a little work for PP at Aerovision in Blagnac. He owned and operated an Aerospatiale Corvette kitted out for aerial photography and worked closely with Airbus, so hopefully they are up shadowing the A400M today getting a few PR shots.
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On the basis that I know Fark Awl Squared about the subject.
1. The A400M looks like a nice aeroplane and on the basis of 'if looks right it'll fly right' it should be OK..............
2. It looks smaller than a C-130J
4. On the basis of test flying starting now - what is the project in service date and how many are we supposed to get ???
cheers
Arc
1. The A400M looks like a nice aeroplane and on the basis of 'if looks right it'll fly right' it should be OK..............
2. It looks smaller than a C-130J
4. On the basis of test flying starting now - what is the project in service date and how many are we supposed to get ???
cheers
Arc
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Arclite01 in answer question 4.
25 is what is wanted and what we signed up for. EADS want more money. We might get 19 according to one report to offset the cost increase, or 25 if through-life support costs can be drastically reduced (even if we have to pay more towards the programme on the old HM Government overdrawn credit card) - we might even get none, especially if no solution between the programme partners is found in regards to the cost increase. Deliveries? MSN001 flew today and is about to land as I write this. MSN002 and MSN003 first flights next year, MSN004 and MSN006 in 2011 (missing one MSN005 is static airframe). Deliveries to the French (launch customer) from end-2012. I think the RAF from 2013. That's if the test programme now runs smoothly.
25 is what is wanted and what we signed up for. EADS want more money. We might get 19 according to one report to offset the cost increase, or 25 if through-life support costs can be drastically reduced (even if we have to pay more towards the programme on the old HM Government overdrawn credit card) - we might even get none, especially if no solution between the programme partners is found in regards to the cost increase. Deliveries? MSN001 flew today and is about to land as I write this. MSN002 and MSN003 first flights next year, MSN004 and MSN006 in 2011 (missing one MSN005 is static airframe). Deliveries to the French (launch customer) from end-2012. I think the RAF from 2013. That's if the test programme now runs smoothly.
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Just been looking at a picture of it flying, and the due to the high shutter speed, the blades are only slightly blurred. Is it me and my poor eyesight, or do the props rotate in different directions?