A400 Grizzly
"The INTRODUCER"
A400M not going to BZN for refuelling trials
For all those interested, I can tell you officially that the A400M refuelling activity with the VC10 will be performed from Toulouse and not BZN. The AvWeek and Flight reports were entirely correct on the basis of the briefing they received (which I attended) - but the briefing language was incorrect in implying that the flying would be performed from BZN as opposed to the aircraft simply being based at BZN. Pure cock-up not conspiracy - trust me. (And why wouldn't you as I'm an Airbus Military spokesman.)
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
DefenseNews: A400M Partners Reach Contract Accord: French Minister
TOULOUSE, France - France said Nov. 5 that the seven countries due to buy the troubled A400M military transport had drafted a new deal to fund the program and that it would receive its first plane in 2013. The A400M contract has been a difficult one for the manufacturer Airbus and its parent company EADS, with delivery of the planes already running four years late and a massive 5.2-billion-euro cost overrun.
"I have very, very good news for you - the conclusion of an agreement on the A400M," Morin said, on a visit to EADS subsidiary Airbus' plane-making plant outside the southern French city of Toulouse. "It only remains for the seven customers to begin national ratification procedures. This November 5 is a great day for the European defense industry," he told reporters covering his factory tour.
In a statement, EADS said the draft deal was the same as had been agreed in principle with the client countries in March, which would see the firm agree to cover 1.8 billion euros in cost overruns itself........
"The A400M flight test program is making excellent progress and demonstrates the soundness of the product," said Domingo Urena, managing Director of Airbus Military, in an EADS statement. "We are very proud of the achievements so far and are now moving towards the series production by the end of the year," he added.....
TOULOUSE, France - France said Nov. 5 that the seven countries due to buy the troubled A400M military transport had drafted a new deal to fund the program and that it would receive its first plane in 2013. The A400M contract has been a difficult one for the manufacturer Airbus and its parent company EADS, with delivery of the planes already running four years late and a massive 5.2-billion-euro cost overrun.
"I have very, very good news for you - the conclusion of an agreement on the A400M," Morin said, on a visit to EADS subsidiary Airbus' plane-making plant outside the southern French city of Toulouse. "It only remains for the seven customers to begin national ratification procedures. This November 5 is a great day for the European defense industry," he told reporters covering his factory tour.
In a statement, EADS said the draft deal was the same as had been agreed in principle with the client countries in March, which would see the firm agree to cover 1.8 billion euros in cost overruns itself........
"The A400M flight test program is making excellent progress and demonstrates the soundness of the product," said Domingo Urena, managing Director of Airbus Military, in an EADS statement. "We are very proud of the achievements so far and are now moving towards the series production by the end of the year," he added.....
First para drop from "grizzly three".
picture:
Airbus A400M setzt erste Fallschirmspringer ab - FLUG REVUE
picture:
Airbus A400M setzt erste Fallschirmspringer ab - FLUG REVUE
Bit of a silly comment VX275, one normally expects to walk before running...
At least this puts to bed that daft rumour that the A400M couldn't fly slow enough to jettison meat bombs safely.
At least this puts to bed that daft rumour that the A400M couldn't fly slow enough to jettison meat bombs safely.
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This has a little more detail on the first para drop .....
PICTURE: First paratroops jump from Europe's A400M
PICTURE: First paratroops jump from Europe's A400M
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The fact that the MR2 has been grounded for months sealed the fate of MRA4.
Has anyone actually missed it, therefore do we need to replace it?
Playing devil's advocate here btw.
A400M doesn't have that problem as there will always be a need for AT assets, and our current fleet is overworked, to the extreme.
For all those who doubted, we're still going and we're on target for 2013 delivery. Expect to see one at your local "superbase" by 2014, on schedule (albeit the revised, revised, revised schedule.
)
Has anyone actually missed it, therefore do we need to replace it?
Playing devil's advocate here btw.
A400M doesn't have that problem as there will always be a need for AT assets, and our current fleet is overworked, to the extreme.
For all those who doubted, we're still going and we're on target for 2013 delivery. Expect to see one at your local "superbase" by 2014, on schedule (albeit the revised, revised, revised schedule.
)
...our current fleet is overworked, to the extreme.
A400M is a complex programme, but seems to be making remarkable progress now that it's flying. Far more so than the Boeing 7-late-7 or the KC-767I, both of which are years overdue - and are arguably far simpler.
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Progress ...
While the news seems to be pretty good about Grizzly testing, I was a bit surprised by Mr. Morin's statement that first deliveries aren't due for another 3 or 4 years: I know that it's going to be able to do a whole heap of things, but some years back Airbus (no "Military" then) used to deliver a "ready to go" new civil type one year after first flight, and was then in the process of getting "the family" up and operating - A310, A300-600, A320, A330, A340 - in less than 15 years, which included getting a whole new production system in place as well. (The A380 came later)
Not really a criticism of what promises to be an outstanding military transport, though ... Just that it's badly needed by the RAF, the Armée de l'Air and the Luftwaffe, who all have to wait what seems to be a looooong time.
PS. Agreed (before the flak artists get their guns pointed) that comparing military and civil transport testing is a bit of an "apples & oranges" affair,
but it's clear that there isn't a lemon among 'em .
Not really a criticism of what promises to be an outstanding military transport, though ... Just that it's badly needed by the RAF, the Armée de l'Air and the Luftwaffe, who all have to wait what seems to be a looooong time.
PS. Agreed (before the flak artists get their guns pointed) that comparing military and civil transport testing is a bit of an "apples & oranges" affair,
but it's clear that there isn't a lemon among 'em .
Last edited by Jig Peter; 9th Nov 2010 at 15:17. Reason: Add PS
BEagle, I know full well that one has to be able to walk before you can run, I have after all had several years conducting military parachute test work.
I also know that at one time the tests that Airbus are making a fuss about were going to be ALL they needed to certify the A400M for parachuting. So I say again, lets see something useful like sim stick para wedge before getting too excited.
I also know that at one time the tests that Airbus are making a fuss about were going to be ALL they needed to certify the A400M for parachuting. So I say again, lets see something useful like sim stick para wedge before getting too excited.
BEagle, I know full well that one has to be able to walk before you can run, I have after all had several years conducting military parachute test work.I also know that at one time the tests that Airbus are making a fuss about were going to be ALL they needed to certify the A400M for parachuting. So I say again, lets see something useful like sim stick para wedge before getting too excited.
Do you motivate and encourage your team by belittling their achievements?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Ares: What You Can Learn Reading (French) Parliamentary Reports
..........Regarding the discussions on the A400M which were successfully concluded on November 5, Collet-Billon said: “There is a delicate technical point concerning the flight management systems (FMS) made by Thales. Airbus and Thales are proposing a solution which would increase the number of standards of the aircraft ... . Contractual financial dispositions, taking the form of retention of payments, are under negotiation in order to guarantee that the manufacturer will upgrade all the aircraft to the successive standards ... . The first delivery of an A400M to the French air force is scheduled for 2013 at the first operational standard. The standards will then move up until 2018; the last standards will concern functions specifically requested by the Luftwaffe [German air force].”.......
..........Regarding the discussions on the A400M which were successfully concluded on November 5, Collet-Billon said: “There is a delicate technical point concerning the flight management systems (FMS) made by Thales. Airbus and Thales are proposing a solution which would increase the number of standards of the aircraft ... . Contractual financial dispositions, taking the form of retention of payments, are under negotiation in order to guarantee that the manufacturer will upgrade all the aircraft to the successive standards ... . The first delivery of an A400M to the French air force is scheduled for 2013 at the first operational standard. The standards will then move up until 2018; the last standards will concern functions specifically requested by the Luftwaffe [German air force].”.......
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the last standards will concern functions specifically requested by the Luftwaffe [German air force]
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Walk then run
The test with 6 parachutists was, I expect, one of the sensible small-scale checks that are being done on the A400M (Algy will correct me if my surmise is wrong ...), like the rough runway check made earlier with a length of runway covered in chalk pellets. Full-up tests on a really rough runway are scheduled later, and the full parachuting tests are (or were last time I looked at the web-site) due to be held in Turkey (consortium partner), presumably in 2011.
Mods were done, I read recently, after the side doors and ramp were opened in flight earlier in flight testing, with noise and buffeting mentioned. These mods seem to have cleared the air for this test, avoiding the need to develop excrescences such as those applied to the unfortunate Beverley. Seems a reasonably cautious approach, with a fair chance of the later "full" tests going through smoothly - but the carpers are never satisfied ...
Mods were done, I read recently, after the side doors and ramp were opened in flight earlier in flight testing, with noise and buffeting mentioned. These mods seem to have cleared the air for this test, avoiding the need to develop excrescences such as those applied to the unfortunate Beverley. Seems a reasonably cautious approach, with a fair chance of the later "full" tests going through smoothly - but the carpers are never satisfied ...
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Depends what you define as wedge Stoppers. The current system, I agree, is of little utility, but the A400M RAS (think wedge) is a different thing with much more potential. Think four containers off the ramp....
... presumably the ability to lay beach towels on the sun loungers in the early hours without being detected?
BTW, have you NB'd there's been a bit of a 'Nacht der langen Messer' at a location you and I know well.....
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Why block the ramp with that daft contraption when you could dispatch folk along with a whole bunch of really really useful stuff via that chuffin great opening, if wedge is still something we are looking to achieve then we really are not thinking very big at all.
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Moosemaster,
I take issue with your comments of -
'The fact that the MR2 has been grounded for months sealed the fate of MRA4. Has anyone actually missed it, therefore do we need to replace it?'
This is typical of the ignorance that those within the publicly visible fleets often display.
When your local Pub has accepted US$, Canadian$, Euro bollox and Norgie dib dobs as a matter of routine several times in six months then you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that someone else is wiping your own arse.
Again ISK VAS is working overtime.
No offence mate but Big Picture !
I take issue with your comments of -
'The fact that the MR2 has been grounded for months sealed the fate of MRA4. Has anyone actually missed it, therefore do we need to replace it?'
This is typical of the ignorance that those within the publicly visible fleets often display.
When your local Pub has accepted US$, Canadian$, Euro bollox and Norgie dib dobs as a matter of routine several times in six months then you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise that someone else is wiping your own arse.
Again ISK VAS is working overtime.
No offence mate but Big Picture !
Last edited by Bannock; 12th Nov 2010 at 06:59.