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A400M Flight Testing Progress
From what I understand the 4th proto is flying.
Soon they will start soft runway testing and inflight refuelling. http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...g?t=1295973792 Flight performance seems ok, the envelope has been validated during the past year. Any idea if the A400M is meeting range and payload requirements? Some videos of tests completed late last year: Test preparing for soft runway tests: YouTube - a400m unprepared A400M Ground Loads Trials: YouTube - A400M Ground Loads Trials Late november medium size bird ingestion test were passed. Around that time EADS said " Now there are no more technical tests left before certification. It is just a matter of paperwork."
Fourth Airbus Military A400M makes first flight | Shephard Group |
Grizzly 2 experienced temperatures as low as -21ºC as it underwent tests on its powerplants. It was accompanied by an Airbus A340-300 carrying support equipment and the test team.
It will experience further cold weather testing in Kiruna and at other locations this winter and next says Airbus Military. http://www.a400m.com/Portals/0/Imgs/...02_08_2011.jpg Airbus Military A400M begins cold weather trials in Sweden & for those who like detail ;) http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ai...03-114186.html |
It seems today inflight refueling testing started, with a VC-10 of the armée de l'air britannique.
L'A400M fait ses premiers essais de ravitaillement en vol - 15/02/2011 - leParisien.fr http://in.reuters.com/resources/r/?m...India-431282-1 not officially confirmed though.. |
Thanks for your interest Keesje, but just to clarify your post #1, the quoted comment about certification applies to the engine, not the aircraft, and it is not from EADS. (In fact nobody knows where it´s from as it was an anonymous Reuters "source familiar with the project".)
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Algy thnx, issue with anonymous "source familiar with the project" is that they are often right too, but apparently not in this case.
Anyway the trails hit the news today, dry contacts. http://www.a400m.com/Portals/0/Imgs/...02_16_2011.jpg |
Like a chunky front row lad trying to make a move on a MILF.;)
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The Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft programme has successfully completed its Maturity Gate milestone, it was announced on 18 February. |
Grizzly 2 experienced temperatures as low as -21ºC as it underwent tests on its powerplants. But did they go drinking in those temps, and attempt to stagger back to Sinbads via a 10' snowdrift? I think not. Poofs! |
Grizzly hits EASA test benchmark
Airbus Military's A400M "Grizzly" has completed sufficient simulated flight-cycle testing on a full-scale airframe to achieve civil type certification of the airlifter by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The test specimen has undergone 1,665 cycles. The test programme is required to simulate flights at least one year ahead of the actual operations performed by the aircraft. Grizzly hits EASA test benchmark http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/ai...270-112534.jpg |
'nother Grizzly trial. Text and pix from Airbus Mil.
The Airbus Military A400M has completed a challenging series of tests to determine the lowest speed at which it can take-off – known as minimum unstick speed or Vmu. During the tests, performed at Istres in France, the aircraft’s nose was raised until a special ‘bumper’ fitted to the rear fuselage struck the ground at the maximum pitch-up angle of 13º. In the close-up photo sparks can be seen flying from the bumper as it drags on the runway. http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../LowSpeed1.jpg http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../LowSpeed2.jpg airsound |
a400m at Filton
Apparently an A400M visited RAF Filton today
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NICE I want one:)
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Originally Posted by airsound
(Post 6328815)
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../LowSpeed1.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1.../LowSpeed2.jpg airsound "Crappy Euro Herc Flight Control Software Fault Causes Tail Strike - A400M Unsafe, Full Redesign Required - RAF To Buy More Boeings" |
-21C?
Or as we used to call that in Minnesota, a sign of Spring. |
Nice video from Filton. I have to say, I am surprised how slow the props turn, they must be absorbing a massive amount of power:eek:
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It's because the rubber bands have completely unwound resulting in the props rotating more slowly.:ok:
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I guess Ed Strongman made sure he had to do this mission?
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Nice video from Filton. I have to say, I am surprised how slow the props turn, they must be absorbing a massive amount of power |
The A400 paid a visit to the secret Wiltshire airbase on Friday afternoon - nice couple of flypasts. Pity they're not going to be based there, it would've made a great tactical AT base, much better than the Oxfordshire shiny airport!
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"it would've made a great tactical AT base"
Except for the slightly inconvenient fact that the A400M wouldn't fit in any of the existing hangars... |
Please tell me that was a joke |
Except for the slightly inconvenient fact that the A400M wouldn't fit in any of the existing hangars... For the enormous cost of moving everything to Brize you could've built the mother of all hangars...... |
"For the enormous cost of moving everything to Brize you could've built the mother of all hangars...... "
Er, but you'd still be running two large stations, which surely is around twice as expensive...? Really don't see the point as then you'd have about twenty aircraft at each station. Rather expensive don't you think? |
Cost of relocating Lyneham to Brize is around £200 million, payback date around 15 to 20 years provided nothing else changes....
That's more than enough to run Lyneham for many years, and you get 2 more runways, a Crash cat 4A diversion/ PD in the south of England, you can fly 24/7 without much complaint from the locals (Tac/NVG at Brize - I don't think so!), even circuits at the weekend at Brize is pushing it. This argument has been thrashed out endlessly, Lyneham will close, but don't let anyone be fooled that it will save any money, except perhaps in the very long term, but it's now that we're short of cash. Besides, in 10 or so years when they want to make more cuts, they'll have nothing left to close! (Mil ramp on the side at Birmingham maybe?) |
Mil ramp on the side at Birmingham maybe? airsound |
News from Airbus Mil and EADS
A400M contract amendment finalised with customer nations Leiden/Seville, 7 April 2011 – EADS and Airbus welcome the conclusion of contract amendment negotiations with OCCAR and the seven A400M launch customer nations. The contract amendment was signed today in Seville by Patrick Bellouard, Director of OCCAR – Executive Agency, and Airbus Military CEO Domingo Ureña, in the presence of Spanish Minister of Defence Carme Chacón. National armament directors and other representatives from customer nations also attended the ceremony. The Contract Amendment now implements the changes which were agreed in principle by the Participating Nations with EADS and Airbus Military in the Frame Agreement signed on 5th March 2010. “This is a major milestone, and EADS is particularly proud to have the support of all governments involved in this cooperation programme that represents a strategic capacity for Europe and its defence, and for the new generation of military transport worldwide. The A400M is a fantastic new aircraft already flying with outstanding and unrivalled capabilities", said EADS CEO Louis Gallois. “From an industrial point of view, the programme is on track. This enabled us to agree, with full confidence on the industrial go-ahead of the programme over a month ago,“ said Domingo Ureña, Airbus Military CEO. “We are also very satisfied with the progress of the Flight Test programme which confirms day by day the soundness of the aircraft. Also, all the pilots of the Air Forces who have already tried and flown the aircraft, expressed great satisfaction about its agility and capabilities. We are sure that, once it gets better known, many more Air Forces around the world will be keen to have it in their fleets”. With four aircraft flying, the A400M has achieved over 1,400 test flight hours and close to 450 flights. The fifth aircraft is complete and has started the final control phase prior to a first flight in early Fall. Civil Certification is to be achieved before year end, and first delivery to first operator – the French Air Force – by the turn of the year 2012 /early 2013. Today Airbus Military holds 174 firm orders from eight nations, the seven launch nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Turkey and the UK) for 170, plus four for Malaysia. |
Much to my digust I was told that Airbus use American English as an official language. This was after I was repremanded for changing the word airplane to aeroplane in all the documents I was sent to review.
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VX, as a 'bus fan, and an English wordsmith, I am absoutely horrified by that news....
I have no problems at all with American English, which is often unreasonably maligned this side of the pond. But surely, if Airbus stands for anything, it stands for Europe competing successfully with the US. Anybody might think that the French don't include England in greater Europe..... How very sad - but thank you for bringing us the news. airsound Incidentally, 'fall' does not need a capital 'f'.... |
"Airblish"
Bit of pernicketry first - I hope VX's command of "English English" usually extended to his spelling of "reprimanded" when checking Airbus documentation ... Mustn't let the side down, you know ... :E:E
A private rule I used during my years of writing material for my Airbus colleagues was "always think of who your intended readers are". As most likely perusers of, for example Tech Docs will have learned their English outside UK, they'll follow your reasoning a bit more easily if you use the probably American spelling they also use. Similarly, if you're words are directed to BA or British Ministers, don't cause potential offence by using US conventions. And, if the person above you insists on US usage, and you can't abide "airplane" - why not choose "aircraft", which is neutral and possibly more learned-sounding ? UK (unfortunately?) is a very small proportion of the world market in any case, and however much many of us regret that, (shades of "Empire of the Clouds") British spelling of English is a minority affair. BTW - There were, though, lots of unusual flavours (probably still are) in documents produced by many a multi-lingual service - lots of fun in that, which could be smoothed out with a bit of tact. PS I also once worked in Germany on Docs produced by many subcontractors across the world. We reckoned the notice on the office door should read "Hier est Anglofranzoski gespoken". The MD liked the idea too ... |
A private rule I used during my years of writing material for my Airbus colleagues was "always think of who your intended readers are". Similarly, if you're words are directed to BA or British Ministers, ..... British spelling of English is a minority affair. |
Applologies
Mea maxima culpa - please delete the apostrophe and the final "e" in "you're".
Petard, own, hoist with ... :uhoh::uhoh: |
In any case :-
Aeroplane, originally a French loanword with a different meaning, is the older spelling. The oldest recorded uses of the spelling airplane are British. According to the OED, "[a]irplane became the standard American term (replacing aeroplane) after this was adopted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1916. Although A. Lloyd James recommended its adoption by the BBC in 1928, it has until recently been no more than an occasional form in British English." In the British National Corpus, aeroplane outnumbers airplane by more than 7:1 in the UK. The case is similar for the British aerodrome and American airdrome, although both of these terms are now obsolete. Aerodrome is used merely as a technical term in all of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The prefixes aero- and air- both mean air, with the first coming from the Ancient Greek word ἀήρ (āēr). Thus, the prefix appears in aeronautics, aerostatics, aerodynamics, aeronautical engineering, and so on, while the second occurs (invariably) in aircraft, airport, airliner, airmail etc. In Canada, airplane is more common than aeroplane, although aeroplane is not unknown, especially in parts of French Canada (where it is however used only in English – the French term is avion, and the French word aéroplane designates 19th-century flying machines). |
What a masterful exposition, forget, thank you!
I would only add that the UK CAA, presumably taking its cue from legal documentation, uses 'aerodrome' (not airfield), but 'aircraft' (not aeroplane). Sorry about the thread drift - but I've always been mildly fascinated by the fact that Americans wear flight suits and talk about flying safety, while Brits wear flying suits and talk about flight safety. And don't get me started again on 'base' versus 'station'..... airsound |
And don't get me started again on 'base' versus 'station'..... MoD Web says camp is OK. ROYAL AIR FORCE GIBRALTAR – A BRIEF HISTORY The first two RAF camps were constructed in Gibraltar at the beginning of the second world war, The first was North Front Camp which was previously a racecourse, this was to become the main camp. The second was New Camp which was built on reclaimed land next to Montague Bastion. |
And I don't recall ever coming across a camp commander, or, perish the thought, a camp wo. Ooh-er missus
airsound |
Surely a Station is a place from whence one catches a train or, heaven forbid, a bus?
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Forget
I'm here chum. Actually in Airbus PR we still use British English. I think the Fall was EADS-influenced, where things are not so simple. :hmm:
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Originally Posted by airsound
(Post 6358188)
I would only add that the UK CAA, presumably taking its cue from legal documentation, uses 'aerodrome' (not airfield), but 'aircraft' (not aeroplane).
Aerodrome covers airfields, airports and (I suspect) heliports and such. Aircraft cover balloons, helicopters and such which are all part of the CAA's remit. If anyone wants to question the use of aeroplane, may I suggest that they think about the fact that aeroplanes fly thanks to the exploitation of the laws of AEROdynamics (not AIRdynamics)? That settles it as far as I'm concerned! |
I have heard it said that Airbus people speak a patois all their own.
As a transplant I have managed not to get upset about "airplane", since "aeroplane" itself is a bit of a Greco-French mutt of a word. And to get back to the original point, I have learned to prefer the Anglo-Saxon "fall" to the Froggy import "Autumn". |
Oh boy, I had a look at this thread because I thought it had updates on the A400M Flight tests..................but after the opening page it has changed into a lot of wittering about words!!
Anybody able to get the thread back onto its topic! |
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