Airbus A400M

[MacGyver]

I actually did a search figuring that this has been discussed, not much came up. Sounds like it should be flying in 2008, and half of Europe is ordering them, but not the US (according to google). European made I suppose.

H3 - $30 million

J model - $60 million

A400M - $90 million

payload of 64k, a little faster than the Herc, cargo area a little bigger than the Herc, and it has that neat tiger-stripe paint job.

[LJ Driver]

Sweet ride. We should be buying these instead of J's.

[Guest Boom]

I love how every Herk thread has to include the H3 in it.

[MacGyver]

I love how every Herk thread has to include the H3 in it.

I love it also. I don't think comparing them to the E models would make much sense.

[Mambo]

I love how every Herk thread has to include the H3 in it.

Here ya' go boom...

E Model - buck o' nine

[HerkDerka]

I dig the counter-rotating props, but the T-tail needs to go.

HD

[MacGyver]

Now I can check my email on that low level

[Guest Pogo]

Sadly the A400M has yet to fly and prove it is anything but a good design on paper.

It is not anywhere near as large as a C-17, the RAF are planning to buy it to compliment the C-17 and C-130J fleets, not replace either.

At a time when budgets are shrinking in the UK we should be buying more C-130s and C-17s rather than getting a third type in the fleet.

[Guest PilotKD]

Now I can check my email on that low level

Don't forget to remove your CAC before egress.

[brickhistory]

Don't forget to remove your CAC before egress.

I think the reader is equipped with a micro-ACES II system should that become necessary.

A lot of the Brits are not fans of this and see it more as a pan-Euro building exercise than THE airlifter for their future. A chance to stick to the 'US man' as it were...............

[JS]

Sweet ride. We should be buying these instead of J's.

A snapshot comparison from the Airbus website versus the Air Force website:

Pallets:

C-130J – 8

A400M – 9

Troops:

C-130J – 128

A400M – 116

Paratroopers:

C-130J – 92

A400M – 116

Number of Litters:

C-130J – 97

A400M – 66

Max Allowable Payload:

C-130J – 44,000 lbs

A400M – 74,000 lbs

Top Speed:

C-130J – 0.58

A400M – 0.68-.072

Range at Max Payload:

C-130J – 1700NM

A400M – 1700 NM

I am a little skeptical of the max payload of the A400M. I found several lower numbers from other sites such as FAS.org and even from MacGyvers original post above, but I will give Airbus the benefit of the doubt.

In the categories that the Airbus actually outperforms the C-130, it only beats the Herk by about 10% in speed, pallets and paratroops. Not to mention that the C-130 has better specs for overall troops and litters.

So basically it is a plane that would cost 50% more than the J model but give around 10% more performance. Sounds like a good deal to me. :bash:

[MacGyver]

I found several lower numbers from other sites such as FAS.org and even from MacGyvers original post above, but I will give Airbus the benefit of the doubt.

when I did 37 tons x 2 on my E6B it came out to 64,000 lbs. I called my Nav buddy, and he explained to me that 37 x 2 = 74.

[JS]

when I did 37 tons x 2 on my E6B it came out to 64,000 lbs. I called my Nav buddy, and he explained to me that 37 x 2 = 74.

To quote Forrest Gump, "I am not a smart man" - I get confused about American tons versus British tons, versus short and long tons, versus metric tons. Bottom line, a ton is either 2000#, 2240#, or 2204#. Either way, I think 37 tons would be at least 74,000# depending on which kind of ton.

[pcola]

when I did 37 tons x 2 on my E6B it came out to 64,000 lbs. I called my Nav buddy, and he explained to me that 37 x 2 = 74.

Gotta love tying in the thread debating the usefulness of the E6B.

Well done. And very funny.

[sputnik]

Now I can check my email on that low level

Is that actually the controls or is that a joke that went over my head (entirely possible)?

[Guest PilotKD]

That's how they're going to cut back on ancillary training. That guy above is doing his Records Management CBT during his lowlevel. Trafficking of Persons will be during A/R.

[Guest TheBurt]

The military version of the whiz wheel is called an MB-4, civilians use the E6B. Now back to the original thread, the T-tail on that airbus is definitely gay. So has Jill Metzger run that marathon or what?

[busdriver]

What's the rational for the T-Tail? I seem to remember the T-Tail has a tendency to cause a dutch roll, necessitating the wing anhedral. Am I remembering this right?

[sputnik]

That's how they're going to cut back on ancillary training. That guy above is doing his Records Management CBT during his lowlevel. Trafficking of Persons will be during A/R.

Well played

[sputnik]

What's the rational for the T-Tail? I seem to remember the T-Tail has a tendency to cause a dutch roll, necessitating the wing anhedral. Am I remembering this right?

Brother, I just flying the fvcking things.

[Gravedigger]

Airbus Unveils Military Giant

Hmm...

[drewpey]

is this a contest to see who can fit the most blades on a prop?

The drogue probe looks odd...

[Dead Last]

is this a contest to see who can fit the most blades on a prop?

The drogue probe looks odd...

I like the strong engines, though I don't think Airbus learned the lessons of two different engines on the same aircraft as previously mentioned... Speaking of which has anyone seen the new -15 Vmca!!!

[afthunderchief16]

Airbus has really got a handle on this whole photoshop thing, they must be saving bundles on that stuff using 130 pics in place of their own

[busdriver]

What's the deal with different engines on the same airframe?