PPRuNe Forums - A400M Flight Testing Progress

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- - A400M Flight Testing Progress (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/440739-a400m-flight-testing-progress.html)

Good news, keeping fingers crossed.

No, VinRouge, they are resuming the reliability test, not restarting it. While some parts of the work covered in the previously completed 160 aircraft flight hours might need to be covered again, they don't have to repeat the entire process.

First three production A400Ms

The final assembly line actually looking like, well, a final assembly line

Interesting... thread shows a "page 11" with "posts 201-203", but won't let me access page 11. Lets see if this gets me in.

{edit: well, it says this is post #201. Fun.)

For folks that like high definition: first three production A400M's on the production line, for delivery next year.

http://www.sldinfo.com/wp-content/up...er-20-2012.jpg

It must be siesta time, not a soul in sight in the photo link in the previous post!

Look again. It's the scale.

There's a person walking alongside the rear wall, possibly two more at the top of the fin of the far aeroplane and the ghost of someone by 0008's No3 engine (Obviously a visiting foreign engineer who moved too fast for the camera shutter). Siesta time it is.

I make it 12 people in that picture.

green granite,

9-10 in the lane in the back,
3 close to the nose of msn 9,
1 making a call under its wing,
1 in the office under the msn 9 wingtip
3 guys working the tail of msn 10(?)

and a few maybe's.

At least 17 :8

;)

So a full work-shift then!

:E

Nice to see an A400 over Lincolnshire, yesterday. Routed over Coningsby and Cranwell. :ok:

Wot no flying carpets? BORING

Seriously though, nice set up with the staging.

Ah happy [mostly] memories of Toulouse indeed.

I see the French are on yet another tea break... No engineers around or are they hiding inside the aircraft...

Nice picture...:ok:

TEEEJ - it got as far as Lossiemouth too!

Was nice to see it up at Lossiemouth.

The A400M FAL is in Seville.

A400M completes F&R flight-test phase

Quote:

The F&R testing was completed in just 32 days, during which the aircraft made 52 flights and visited 10 different airfields. Data from the F&R programme, which was performed entirely using the first production-representative aircraft – MSN6 / Grizzly 5 – is now being examined by the civil and military certification authorities for the A400M – respectively EASA and a committee appointed by OCCAR.

http://www.airteamimages.com/pics/160/160113_800.jpg

Having received the restricted Type Certification begin May this year, this phase of the flight test programme was the last major requirement prior to full Type Certification. It is expected that the aircraft will receive the full civil Type Certificate and military Initial Operating Capability in the first quarter of 2013 subject to the approval of the relevant authorities.

Airbus Military A400M completes critical flight-test phase - Airbus Military

forthcomming lectures

Some of you may beinterested in the forthcoming RAeS A400M lectures. 9th Jan atBedford ARA and 7th Feb Ed Strongman (test Pilot) at Cambridge. Thisis our Sir Arthur Marshall named lecture at Downing Coll and if last year isanything to go by it will be standing room only.

Come and find out thereal story. I can’t stand the BS on here particularly about 02 certificationand Certification generally. We had AvP 970 which became Def Stan 00-970 withclear guidance and pass/fail, go/no go criteria. These days things are moreflexible and tailored.

I know the C&Qteam have worked hard with other nations and stood up to airbus on occasion. Afew things are certain: the T&E will be over budget. (Q2 will see to thateven thought they are embedded in the Combined Trials Team they will advise theIPT not to accept advice from other nations T&E organisations. – I hope theIPT stand up to them)

The aircraft will be astep change in capability over the C130.

The x locks in the CHSwill never meet the 10 to the minus 9 criteria but I am no longer the poorbugger that has to recommend that bit is signed up.
I am looking forward to seeing it in UK servicebut we will never have enough of them. Just hope that when the time comes wecan afford it.