Was that actually a loop. The camera angle in the video shows it not to be a loop exactly...more of a steep return to target perhaps?

Thomas, no it wasn't, but I don't think it was posted as the loop after take off. Just an example of what the 400 can do. Still bloody impressive for a big aircraft.

Re: Loop
 

I concur that it's often difficult to exactly understand what one's looking at in this type of shots as one doesn't have any reference (aka "where's the horizon") but I believe it actually was a "reverse half Cuban Eight" which is described as:

from level flight pull up to about 45 deg, half roll, downward 5/8 loop back to level flight

The mis-translation of 'loop' from the original Spanish and the irrelevant posting of that A400M Farnborough video has, regrettably, brought out the spotters. I watched that display; it was merely a steep wingover with about 100-110° of bank and has absolutely nothing to do with the Sevilla accident.

Why a journalist would wish to find out which crew members were able to leave the aircraft I do not know either - those of us who do know will not be disclosing that information either on this thread or via PM....

Would those swapping childish insults please desist from doing so. Thanks.

Spain Shifts Airbus A400M Crash Probe to Military

LONDON—Spain has shifted responsibility for the crash probe of an Airbus Group NV A400M military cargo plane to the military, as investigators begin to tap information from the aircraft’s black boxes.

The Spanish crash investigation will now be led by the military, a Defense Ministry spokesman said Wednesday. He wouldn’t explain why the military has taken over from the transport ministry’s civil aviation accident team that was initially put in charge.

Beagle,
Courtney is spot on :ok: ...to wit;
I apologise if my 'irrelevant' posting offended your sensibilities. I didn't claim it was related in any other way than as an example of the aircrafts performance envelope after doubt was shed after ORACsHave a whiskey and a lie down, old son. People might think you are becoming a little pretentious..

My apologies that I seem to have provoked heated discourse, had I seen the Aviation Week link posted by TT earlier then I would not have posted what I did, I immediately edited my original post to state that my suggestion was incorrect.

Sadly even first-hand accounts can be misinterpreted, I did not intend to speculate.

No: I simply think that Courtney Mil's attitude stinks.

Also, you misinterpreted my comments in the other thread (probably as they're poorly written). I'm happy to see a lack of wild speculation and uninformed nonsense by FSX'ers but this is a discussion forum. Stamping on any form of discussion is counterproductive. I guess the problem is finding a way to allow those with useful insight to post their thoughts while simultaneously stopping the FSX team from posting their stuff.
Anyway that's probably a discussion for another thread. Apologies if I caused any offense, I was wound up by CM's attitude.

Update #2
 

Latest factual information here:
A400M accident: Update number 2

From the linked article:
"Airbus Defence and Space owns five A400M test aircraft of which three are currently in service and the other two have been retired. "

Anyone know why those two test birds were "retired"? Were they non-flying test articles?

MSN1 and MSN3 are retired, both having completed their respective flying roles in the flight test program. MSN1 is in Toulouse and either has, or shortly will, go on public display. MSN3 is in Seville, and has had some items 'spares recovered' to keep the remaining 3 test airframes flying.

KenV


Boeing has retired most of the 787 test fleet and has already placed several in museums including one at Pima.


R.I.P to the guys that sadly died. I hope the survivors make a full recovery.


V1

Aviationweek has an article
 

A400M Crash Adds To Airlifter Program?s Woes | Defense content from Aviation Week

It states both pilots are among the casualties. It ends with second-hand reports and speculations on the cause of the accident.

In this morning's German paper it read that all four engines cut shortly after departure with the aircraft at a height of around 500 meters. There was no source for that report, though.

There's strong local interest in this story because the German A400Ms are based not far from here, at Wunstorf. Too, Airbus is an important local employer.

Local papers have already covered such A400M issues as the lack of operational readiness of the type, and the program's negative impact on the financial performance of Airbus, so that if it turns out that there's some further, serious technical problem that shall come to light, that should see local coverage beyond the usual level for the crash of a military aircraft.

So on the 400 would a transition from TOGO thrust to climb thrust be done via a manual pull on the throttle quadrant, or via setting speed on the autopilot? I imagine the transition to climb thrust would be at about the listed altitude of 500M.

I am not speculating, just trying to understand how the system works.

Given the strong feelings in evidence on this thread, I'd suggest it may be worth the OP renaming this thread and adding "condolences only" to the title. Another thread could then run to cover the interest in the cause of the incident. This solution had been tried and tested on previous sad events.

Or start another titled "Condolences Only "

El G.

sandiego89

Since you neither know how the A400M auto-throttles work, or what the TOGA power setting is called, I suspect you aren't going to get very far diagnosing the cause of the crash, even if you did have the FDR traces to hand.

I don't mean to sound rude, but it is rather frustrating that when someone has very politely requested people avoid speculation, principally because there are members who frequent this forum who are directly impacted by the incident, people carry on regardless.

Sigh...
I wish people would desist in this mindless guessing game and speculation, have some respect for the fact that people in this thread were and are close to those involved.

Can not understand how they don't get it Nutty
Best to the survivors.
John