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Airbus Military has revealed its long-term flight-test programme for the A400M transport, with its first example expected to launch the schedule with a 3h debut flight late next week.



Aircraft MSN001 has already completed several medium-speed taxi trials to above 80kt (148km/h), and should make high-speed runs this weekend, says Eric Isorce, head of the A400M integrated flight-test operations team. The work will culminate in a rejected take-off run at about 120kt.

Link to Article

Do those red props serve a special purpose or are they just the normal props covered with red covers?



Looking at that pic, the first thing I thought was, appearance wise, it looks like a C-141 + C-17 + C-130.

They are prop blade warmers...

miamiair wrote:They are prop blade warmers...

Why would they care about heating up a prop blade, and why only 2 prop blades and not the other six?

My first thought was that they were different colours to enable the blades to be identified in high-speed photos (during flight test). But then it should be only one - or the opposing blades in different colours, if the colour affects the balance.

graphic wrote:

miamiair wrote:They are prop blade warmers...

Why would they care about heating up a prop blade, and why only 2 prop blades and not the other six?

Joke...

miamiair wrote:

graphic wrote:

miamiair wrote:They are prop blade warmers...

Why would they care about heating up a prop blade, and why only 2 prop blades and not the other six?

Joke...

Yay 4am.

miamiair wrote:They are prop blade warmers...

ShyFlyer wrote:Do those red props serve a special purpose or are they just the normal props covered with red covers?

If you look closely at the picture you can see a rope going from the inboard prop blade, under the airframe and theoretically to the other prop. On the outboard port engine you can see a rope going to the ground from the red cover.

Look like it's part of the aircrafts tie down equipment.

Well, it's flown!

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1130334&lang=eng_news&cate_img=35.jpg&cate_rss=news_Business

The A400M military transport plane that has been causing Airbus and European defense ministers budgetary and logistical headaches finally took to the skies for its maiden flight on Friday.

But even as the hulking, gray airlifter took off from the Spanish city of Seville, defense officials were to meet on the ground to decide how to continue with the much delayed and over budget project.

More video:



As one of the poor schlubs paying for this, let me just say I didn't pick the "music".

Geebus that is a freakishly tall tail! (proportionally)

ShanwickOceanic wrote:More video:



As one of the poor schlubs paying for this, let me just say I didn't pick the "music".

Whats the story with the turkey?

Well, I missed this because of all the other hash going on in the thread but a big congrats to Airbus for getting it off the ground and best of luck for a smooth flight test phase. Great looking plane, I hope it ends up being efficient and long-serving for whomever it's operators may end up being.