Hey, what do you know....it finally got off the ground

[MIKE JG]

A400M made it's first flight on Friday:
http://www.airbusmilitary.com/

[CelticWarrior]

If somebody says "better late than never ....."

[f4nutter]

[MIKE JG]

If somebody says "better late than never ....."

[Cowboymarine1593]

honestly i dont think the world needs a c17 replica, the real thing is the best

[Firebird]

honestly i dont think the world needs a c17 replica, the real thing is the best

True, but in two years you won't have a choice. Due to Current plans.

[nickblack423]

honestly i dont think the world needs a c17 replica, the real thing is the best

The A400M isn't a C-17 replica its a replacement for the Hercules. It has roughly the same size cargo bay as an IL-76 and can land and take-off in the same space as a Herc. Its a very very good aircraft that has been built around the cargo bay rather than the cargo bay being built to fit in an aircraft. Very excited about this, wish I was able to work on them.

Nick

[st george]

You could always work on an Ai one Nick

[Cowboymarine1593]

I understand the concept of it being the replacement of the 130 but it does kinda resemble the c 17

[petebramley]

You could always work on an Ai one Nick

Trying to tempt him out or retirement already

[nickblack423]

I understand the concept of it being the replacement of the 130 but it does kinda resemble the c 17

That's because airbus took alot of good things from the C-17 as it is a benchmark for Transport Aircraft now seeing as its so brilliant.

Nick

[VulcanDriver]

She looks great in the air. I think the RAF plan to replace their entire C-130 fleet with it. I wouldn't be surprised to see all C-130 operators move to the A400M in the futire.

[Firebird]

Weird, I thought the RAF were going to have 25x C-130J, 1 has since crashed, plus 25x A400M, as well as the now 7x C-17s. Still it will probably have changed by April.

[nickblack423]

As far as we were told the plan was always to keep the C-130J as they are pretty new and can be utilised for small operations and loads, and run them alongside the A400M in Strat/Tac operations, with the C-17 providing Strategic Airlift.

Nick

[jgibson_sniper]

I thought the replacement for the C-130 was the C-130J-30 I hope Airbus has made it pass all the bumps for this project. I think she looks pretty cool. what a child between a C-17 and C-130 would look like.

[jgibson_sniper]

Although she dose look like she got almost all of her genetics from the C-17

[petebramley]

Looks like Airbus may can the whole project if participating Gov's don't
cough up some more cash

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8452493.stm

[Firebird]

Hmmm, response from Euro Leaders "Fine, give us our $7.25bn back", this should followed shortly by "Good Mr. Boeing, when is the earliest delivery slot for the C-17?"

[scottr5213]

I think it would be better for countries that placed orders to get there money back while they can, The 400 looks like its going down in flames already.