Ha volato l'A400M
- Autore Discussione rick@BCN
- Data d'inizio
11th December 2009
A400M, AIRBUS MILITARY’S NEW AIRLIFTER, TAKES TO THE SKIES
This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team’s discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
Airbus and Airbus Military have drawn on their decades of technical experience in building civil airliners to produce the world’s most modern airlifter capable of both strategic and tactical operations. Despite being a true tactical aircraft that can land on soft, rough and short runways to deliver equipment and troops close to where they are urgently needed, it cruises at the same altitudes as jets and at comparable speeds.
It was designed from the outset as an aerial refueller and can offload fuel to both fighters and helicopters at their preferred speeds and heights.
The A400M features the same proven fly-by-wire controls technology as Airbus’ highly successful airliner family and an advanced cockpit that has evolved from that of the A380. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) wings and other large structures bring weight and strength advantages and cut the risk of corrosion.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
* * *
Airbus Media Release
A400M, AIRBUS MILITARY’S NEW AIRLIFTER, TAKES TO THE SKIES
This morning Airbus Military’s all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft’s handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft’s systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team’s discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
Airbus and Airbus Military have drawn on their decades of technical experience in building civil airliners to produce the world’s most modern airlifter capable of both strategic and tactical operations. Despite being a true tactical aircraft that can land on soft, rough and short runways to deliver equipment and troops close to where they are urgently needed, it cruises at the same altitudes as jets and at comparable speeds.
It was designed from the outset as an aerial refueller and can offload fuel to both fighters and helicopters at their preferred speeds and heights.
The A400M features the same proven fly-by-wire controls technology as Airbus’ highly successful airliner family and an advanced cockpit that has evolved from that of the A380. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) wings and other large structures bring weight and strength advantages and cut the risk of corrosion.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
* * *
Airbus Media Release
riprese molto curate e d' effetto ... bravo' Airbus... la diretta ripartira' all' atterragio, stay tuned.
Atterrato!
A400M, WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED AIRLIFTER, COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT
The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has landed back in Seville, Spain today at 14:02 local time (13:02 UTC) after completing a successful maiden flight lasting 3h 47min following its take-off at 10:15 local time.
Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, captained the flight supported by Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo. The engineering team on board included: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet who had responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce with responsibility for the aircraft systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit.
The crew confirmed that the aircraft, known as MSN 1 and its four Europrop International TP400D turboprop engines performed as expected.
Ed Strongman said: “We have had a very successful first flight – the take-off performance was impressive, we explored a lot of the operational flight envelope, and it was a delight to operate in such a well-designed cockpit with its easy interface to all the normal and military systems. I’m sure our customer pilots are really going to like it – we certainly did.”
Nacho Lombo added: “From the very beginning of the flight we were impressed by the ease of handling of the aircraft which was in line with what we experienced in the simulator. The aircraft, systems and engine performance were highly satisfactory. We sense the great potential of this magnificent machine. It has been an honour for all the crew to fly the A400M on its maiden flight, representing all the people involved in the programme.”
Chief Executive Officer Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, said: “I would like to congratulate Ed Strongman, Nacho Lombo and all of the flight-test team for completing the first flight of the A400M with great success. I am also deeply grateful to everyone in the design, manufacturing and early operations of this programme for their enormously hard work and dedication that have made this aircraft a reality. And I want to thank all those people in our industrial partners and suppliers, as well as our customers, who have contributed so much to the definition and creation of an outstanding product.”
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said: "I hope we can soon provide certainty that we are able to continue the A400M programme. This is expected by those at Airbus, our partners and suppliers worldwide who contributed so strongly to today's success as well as by the air forces who wait for their plane."
For its first flight the aircraft took off at a weight of 127 tonnes, carrying 15 tonnes of test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast, compared with its maximum take-off weight of 141 tonnes. As planned, the six-man crew extensively explored the aircraft’s flight envelope in direct law, including a wide speed-range, and tested lowering and raising of the landing gear and high-lift devices at altitude. After checking the aircraft’s performance in the landing configuration the crew landed back at Seville.
In the first half of 2010 MSN 1 will be joined by two sister aircraft, MSN 2 and MSN 3, followed by MSN 4 by the end of the year. A fifth aircraft will join the programme during 2011. This fleet will be used for some 3,700 hours of test-flying between now and first delivery to the French Air Force at the end of 2012. This will be followed by additional military development flying. The type will be certificated by both the civil and military authorities.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
Airbus Media Release
A400M, WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED AIRLIFTER, COMPLETES FIRST FLIGHT
The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has landed back in Seville, Spain today at 14:02 local time (13:02 UTC) after completing a successful maiden flight lasting 3h 47min following its take-off at 10:15 local time.
Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward “Ed” Strongman, captained the flight supported by Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio “Nacho” Lombo. The engineering team on board included: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet who had responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce with responsibility for the aircraft systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit.
The crew confirmed that the aircraft, known as MSN 1 and its four Europrop International TP400D turboprop engines performed as expected.
Ed Strongman said: “We have had a very successful first flight – the take-off performance was impressive, we explored a lot of the operational flight envelope, and it was a delight to operate in such a well-designed cockpit with its easy interface to all the normal and military systems. I’m sure our customer pilots are really going to like it – we certainly did.”
Nacho Lombo added: “From the very beginning of the flight we were impressed by the ease of handling of the aircraft which was in line with what we experienced in the simulator. The aircraft, systems and engine performance were highly satisfactory. We sense the great potential of this magnificent machine. It has been an honour for all the crew to fly the A400M on its maiden flight, representing all the people involved in the programme.”
Chief Executive Officer Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, said: “I would like to congratulate Ed Strongman, Nacho Lombo and all of the flight-test team for completing the first flight of the A400M with great success. I am also deeply grateful to everyone in the design, manufacturing and early operations of this programme for their enormously hard work and dedication that have made this aircraft a reality. And I want to thank all those people in our industrial partners and suppliers, as well as our customers, who have contributed so much to the definition and creation of an outstanding product.”
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said: "I hope we can soon provide certainty that we are able to continue the A400M programme. This is expected by those at Airbus, our partners and suppliers worldwide who contributed so strongly to today's success as well as by the air forces who wait for their plane."
For its first flight the aircraft took off at a weight of 127 tonnes, carrying 15 tonnes of test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast, compared with its maximum take-off weight of 141 tonnes. As planned, the six-man crew extensively explored the aircraft’s flight envelope in direct law, including a wide speed-range, and tested lowering and raising of the landing gear and high-lift devices at altitude. After checking the aircraft’s performance in the landing configuration the crew landed back at Seville.
In the first half of 2010 MSN 1 will be joined by two sister aircraft, MSN 2 and MSN 3, followed by MSN 4 by the end of the year. A fifth aircraft will join the programme during 2011. This fleet will be used for some 3,700 hours of test-flying between now and first delivery to the French Air Force at the end of 2012. This will be followed by additional military development flying. The type will be certificated by both the civil and military authorities.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civil transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 37 tonnes of payload. Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as for military tanker transport derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft, with the integration of the state-of-the-art flight-refuelling boom (ARBS) which is unique in its class. With the C-295, CN-235 and C-212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with over 650 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide.
Airbus Media Release
tutto sommato ha fatto bene, se non altro in questo modo si e' potuto contare su Lockeed per sviluppare il C27, dopo l' acquisto del 130j, che e' in linea ormai da qualche anno; se non sbaglio produciamo comunque il pezzo forse piu' importante della macchina, il riduttore delle eliche. In Airbus saremmo sempre stati secondari, meglio crescere con gli americani, almeno per ora.
sono comunque dell' idea che il 400 ha la potenzialita' di essere un' ottima macchina e sara' l' unica macchina medio pesante sul mercato per decenni....
Da El Pais:
"El A400M, el avión militar más grande del mundo, vuela sobre territorio español por primera vez desde las 10.15 de la mañana cuando despegó del aeropuerto sevillano de San Pablo. Con un peso de 127 toneladas, el A 400 M realizará este primer vuelo de pruebas sobre el noroeste de la provincia de Sevilla y sobre el sur de Extremadura. Los responsables de Airbus Military han indicado que el despegue del avión se realizó con absoluta normalidad y que el vuelo permitiría realizar las primeras pruebas de los distintos sistemas del avión, según ha informado Fernando Alonso, responsables de las actividades de pruebas de vuelo de Airbus.
Empresa: EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, N.V.)
La noticia en otros webs
webs en español
en otros idiomas
Además, según ha advertido en una entrevista el director general de Airbus, Fabrice Brégier, los países que participan en el programa del A400M tendrán que asumir un incremento significativo de su precio, igual que el grupo asumirá una parte del sobrecoste por el retraso que acumula.
En la primera media hora de vuelo, el A 400 M ha realizado pruebas de recogida y salida del tren de aterrizaje, así como comprobaciones del funcionamiento de la presurización del aparato y del distintos sistemas, entre ellos el del acondicionamiento interior del avión, que vuela a una altitud de 8.000 pies. El A 400 M deberá pasar ahora por un periodo de pruebas de dos años hasta obtener con 2.800 horas de vuelo su certificación oficial.
Sobre las 12 de la mañana está previsto que el A400M regrese a Sevilla y aterrice en presencia de el Rey Juan Carlos, y de la ministra de Defensa, que se desplazan en estos momentos hacia Sevilla.
La ciudad también se ha preparado para este evento con la instalación de varias pantallas gigantes de televisión en el centro de la ciudad, que han permitido a los ciudadanos presenciar el despegue de este impresionante avión de transporte militar, que se convertirá en el más versátil de cuantos existen.
Coincidiendo con el vuelo de estreno del aparato, el director general de Airbus, Fabrice Brégier, ha advertido en una entrevista que publica el diario francés La Tribune de que los países que participan en el programa del A400M tendrán que asumir un incremento significativo de su precio, igual que el grupo asumirá una parte del sobrecoste por el retraso que acumula, y ha añadido que hay que lograr un acuerdo antes de fin de año.
Brégier ha añadido que desde EADS, casa matriz del fabricante Airbus, mantienen sus "compromisos contractuales" y ha mostrado el compromiso del grupo de asumir su "parte del riesgo industrial", con lo que no se descarga financieramente en los siete países del programa (Alemania, Francia, España, Reino Unido, Turquía, Bélgica y Luxemburgo).
En cuanto a los rumores que hablan de que EADS ha estudiado la posibilidad de abandonar el proyecto, el alto ejecutivo ha recordado el "contexto particularmente difícil" que vive ahora la empresa por la "crisis del transporte aéreo sin precedentes" y ha alertado de que "EADS deberá velar para que el A400M no cuestione la capacidad de Airbus para seguir siendo un actor de nivel mundial".
Por el momento, EADS ha establecido una provisión de 2.400 millones de euros para hacer frente al incremento de costos del programa del A400M, pero el sobrecoste total ahora -que Brégier no ha querido cifrar- se estima en cerca de 8.000 millones, y el reparto de la diferencia entre ambas cifras es lo que negocia con los siete gobiernos."
Interessante e' il passaggio in cui EADS dice che l'aumento dei costi per lo sviluppo della macchina verranno ridistribuiti sui paesi facenti parte del progetto tramite un aumento del prezzo di vendita. D'altronde Airbus non e' una societa' di beneficienza...
Mi sa che l'Italia ha fatto proprio bene a starne fuori, e poi per quello che serve al nostro esercito abbiamo i C27 che sono le migliori macchine sul mercato dei cargo medio leggeri!
"El A400M, el avión militar más grande del mundo, vuela sobre territorio español por primera vez desde las 10.15 de la mañana cuando despegó del aeropuerto sevillano de San Pablo. Con un peso de 127 toneladas, el A 400 M realizará este primer vuelo de pruebas sobre el noroeste de la provincia de Sevilla y sobre el sur de Extremadura. Los responsables de Airbus Military han indicado que el despegue del avión se realizó con absoluta normalidad y que el vuelo permitiría realizar las primeras pruebas de los distintos sistemas del avión, según ha informado Fernando Alonso, responsables de las actividades de pruebas de vuelo de Airbus.
Empresa: EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, N.V.)
La noticia en otros webs
webs en español
en otros idiomas
Además, según ha advertido en una entrevista el director general de Airbus, Fabrice Brégier, los países que participan en el programa del A400M tendrán que asumir un incremento significativo de su precio, igual que el grupo asumirá una parte del sobrecoste por el retraso que acumula.
En la primera media hora de vuelo, el A 400 M ha realizado pruebas de recogida y salida del tren de aterrizaje, así como comprobaciones del funcionamiento de la presurización del aparato y del distintos sistemas, entre ellos el del acondicionamiento interior del avión, que vuela a una altitud de 8.000 pies. El A 400 M deberá pasar ahora por un periodo de pruebas de dos años hasta obtener con 2.800 horas de vuelo su certificación oficial.
Sobre las 12 de la mañana está previsto que el A400M regrese a Sevilla y aterrice en presencia de el Rey Juan Carlos, y de la ministra de Defensa, que se desplazan en estos momentos hacia Sevilla.
La ciudad también se ha preparado para este evento con la instalación de varias pantallas gigantes de televisión en el centro de la ciudad, que han permitido a los ciudadanos presenciar el despegue de este impresionante avión de transporte militar, que se convertirá en el más versátil de cuantos existen.
Coincidiendo con el vuelo de estreno del aparato, el director general de Airbus, Fabrice Brégier, ha advertido en una entrevista que publica el diario francés La Tribune de que los países que participan en el programa del A400M tendrán que asumir un incremento significativo de su precio, igual que el grupo asumirá una parte del sobrecoste por el retraso que acumula, y ha añadido que hay que lograr un acuerdo antes de fin de año.
Brégier ha añadido que desde EADS, casa matriz del fabricante Airbus, mantienen sus "compromisos contractuales" y ha mostrado el compromiso del grupo de asumir su "parte del riesgo industrial", con lo que no se descarga financieramente en los siete países del programa (Alemania, Francia, España, Reino Unido, Turquía, Bélgica y Luxemburgo).
En cuanto a los rumores que hablan de que EADS ha estudiado la posibilidad de abandonar el proyecto, el alto ejecutivo ha recordado el "contexto particularmente difícil" que vive ahora la empresa por la "crisis del transporte aéreo sin precedentes" y ha alertado de que "EADS deberá velar para que el A400M no cuestione la capacidad de Airbus para seguir siendo un actor de nivel mundial".
Por el momento, EADS ha establecido una provisión de 2.400 millones de euros para hacer frente al incremento de costos del programa del A400M, pero el sobrecoste total ahora -que Brégier no ha querido cifrar- se estima en cerca de 8.000 millones, y el reparto de la diferencia entre ambas cifras es lo que negocia con los siete gobiernos."
Interessante e' il passaggio in cui EADS dice che l'aumento dei costi per lo sviluppo della macchina verranno ridistribuiti sui paesi facenti parte del progetto tramite un aumento del prezzo di vendita. D'altronde Airbus non e' una societa' di beneficienza...
Mi sa che l'Italia ha fatto proprio bene a starne fuori, e poi per quello che serve al nostro esercito abbiamo i C27 che sono le migliori macchine sul mercato dei cargo medio leggeri!
Che balle ste solite sensazionalate giornalistiche, un C-17 allora per loro dev'essere un trasporto paracadutisti...
