A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

Hello everyone,

The much-awaited Airbus heavy lifter A-400M finally took off for its maiden flight today in Seville, apparently without incident.
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6348/a400mff.jpg
Footage and pictures on the official site.

Pushed back by some 3 years now, the program still seems on track in spite of constant financial haggling between EADS and the client states.

So how about including it in the OOBs now? I don't think it's going to be canceled after all. :D

First delivery is supposed to be to France around January 2013, so taking into account further delays in the program and time for training and organization, I would put IOC at January 2014.

By 01/2015, the following countries should have it in service in usable quantities:
-France
-Germany
-Spain
-Belgium
-Turkey
-South Africa
-Malaysia

My delivery schedule is a bit out of date, so I'll try to see if I can get more details on other users next week.

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

Seems tha South africa no longer wants them:

http://www.fin24.com/articles/defaul...518-25_2560151

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

So how about including it in the OOBs now? I don't think it's going to be cancelled after all.

I wouldn't be too hasty:- As you rightly state price continues to be a hurdle, also from Air International Dec :- "FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) testing in recent weeks has demonstrated that the latest software revision is "on the right track" and that no new problems have been discovered."
Hardly a ringing endorsement!
However its chances may have been boosted by the decision to end C-17 production.

Regards, Warwick

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

Who seriously belives this is going to be used as a paratroop transport ???

Don

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

I don't care if this aircraft is added or not. But if Don and Andy wasted their time on this instead of something important then that would not be good. Thats my 2 cents.

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

It's possible, if NATO is tries to liberate Hokkaido from the Russians...oh wait.

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

Apparently at least Airbus and the French air force, to start with. Been designed for it from the start, actually.
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9...troops3400.jpg
Also keep in mind that at least in France and Germany, the A-400M is going to completely replace the Transall, so by 2020 there will be no other para-dropping platform in service. I wouldn't place bets on Belgium either, though Spain and Turkey can probably rely on smaller CASA platforms.

This isn't exactly the most complicated unit to model, users and dates are mostly known, icons are already in the game and I can provide LBMs.

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

Good luck getting it added then.

You sound like person interested in aircraft. Myself, I like tanks more.

K.

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

NO problem then Tangui. It looked to me like a heavy equipment lifter rather than a para transport but I've been busy with SPWW2 and didn't bother to dig into it. Since you have photos of it being used to drop paras then it'll be added

I see Germany, France, Spain, UK, Turkey, Belgium and Malaysia appears to be interested. My guess is this isn't likely to start appearing for at least 5 years. I've put a note into the to-do list for this

Don

Re: A-400M flyoff! (at last)
 

OK, alright, thanks for the feedback.
I just thought it was the right point to bring it up.
As said, I'll try to keep you up on the planned service dates for each user.