First flight of the A400M this morning ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX-kIUYRyDk

:)

replacement for Hercules?

The offical Airbus video is pure cheese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8swMBV3_oVc&feature=related

tunnie wrote on 11. Dec 2009 at 10:55:

replacement for Hercules? The offical Airbus video is pure cheese http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8swMBV3_oVc&feature=related

and a bit :)  Herc carries 20 tonnes  A400M designed to carry 37 Tonnes.

Interesting that I flew with Ed Strongman (Chief Test Pilot) when he first started in the mid 70's ... t'lad seems to have done alright for himself .. :)

Edit :

Landed safely ... 3 hrs 47 minutes .. not bad for the first flight :)

That would carry a few Miggys !!

Lovely looking plane, but why the props and not jet engines? :-/ :-/

It looks rather odd, but beautiful, without them!! 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) ;) ;)

Lizzie Zoom wrote on 11. Dec 2009 at 20:03:

Lovely looking plane, but why the props and not jet engines? :-/ :-/ It looks rather odd, but beautiful, without them!! 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) ;) ;)

Turbo probs better on fuel?   :-/ Should imagine that is higher up on the list that speed for a cargo plane

Turbo props far more efficient at medium to low altitude and medium speeds.

Props are far more reactive as well, no spool-up time , also far, far more "reverse" thrust capability than a jet which can only re-direct the jet efflux at an angle .. due to the engine being in the way !!  Prop can go fully into reverse pitch and give almost the same power for reverse manouvering on the ground, and "short field" or "tactical" landings.

Each of those engines produces over 11000 SHP to drive those 5 metre (diameter) props ...   :)

The C130K which this thing replaces runs its engines at 100% all the time ... extra power is gained by the prop coarsening off and taking a bigger "bite" of air as the throttle is moved.

HTH

Entwood wrote on 11. Dec 2009 at 20:35:

Turbo props far more efficient at medium to low altitude and medium speeds. Props are far more reactive as well, no spool-up time , also far, far more "reverse" thrust capability than a jet which can only re-direct the jet efflux at an angle .. due to the engine being in the way !!  Prop can go fully into reverse pitch and give almost the same power for reverse manouvering on the ground, and "short field" or "tactical" landings. Each of those engines produces over 11000 SHP to drive those 5 metre (diameter) props ...   :) The C130K which this thing replaces runs its engines at 100% all the time ... extra power is gained by the prop coarsening off and taking a bigger "bite" of air as the throttle is moved. HTH

Thanks Entwood :y :y