A400M Rollout

[B777LR]

In any case, it's just Enders pushing the German government. Germany might still back out, but France, Spain and the UK still need it, so it won't be dropped.

[kitnut617]

It would be a pity if the project wasn't continued with, but many very expensive projects have been cancelled in the past when prototypes have just started flying.  Not by a manufacturer though ----

[Spey_Phantom]

Belgium also needs the A400M, we invested in 7 of the aircraft, but with our declining defence budget (witch is extremly low), chances are we could cancel our order and look elsewhere. i really hope we go for the A400M, as the C-17 seems a bit to big and the C-27J is a bit small. with the new wide load requirements i dont think we would go for the C-130J 

[B777LR]

Belgium also needs the A400M, we invested in 7 of the aircraft, but with our declining defence budget (witch is extremly low), chances are we could cancel our order and look elsewhere. i really hope we go for the A400M, as the C-17 seems a bit to big and the C-27J is a bit small. with the new wide load requirements i dont think we would go for the C-130J 

There is always the possibility of leasing Il-76s, like Denmark. We are stuck with 5 Il-76s over the next 5 years, and cannot use them because the contract allows the owner to sell up to 40 passenger seats on each flight... (which is a big no no in the EU)

[GTX]

Me thinks Boeing or Lockheed will be watching in anticipation...wonder if the An-70 is still an option?

Regards,

Greg

[bluedonkey99]

Here is an interesting article on the The Register  regarding the current "negotiations" on the A400 http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/06/a400m_cancellation_bluff_enders/ and how usual a so called "euro" solution is still reliant on US technology, so we may as well buy USA kit for a third of the price!?

  The authors book "Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs: Waste and Blundering in the Military" is also an interesting read.

BD99

[Steel Penguin]

i would point out that the El Reg article is by a writer who catches a LOT of flack for his stance on Uk procurement, and seems to normaly go for ( my perception admitidly) Its over budget, over time and we should have bought American.....
forgeting the problems or depending on some one else to develop and produce the items you want, ( yes some of these are going back a long time but, The atom bomb ( UK had to re develop after WW2 as we were shut out) the F111, Sky bolt, the current wrangling over the F35, etc). so treat the artice with a lot of salt, as El-Reg is by its own admitance a red top IT e-paper.

[PR19_Kit]

This aircraft should have gone with an off the shelf turbofan powered option from the very start. That may have attracted a lot more interest.

Wasn't part of the design brief that it should a) be quiet and b) be able to stop in a hurry? I think that's what defined the need for turbo-props.

[B777LR]

This aircraft should have gone with an off the shelf turbofan powered option from the very start. That may have attracted a lot more interest.

No, turboprops were the only way this baby would perform as wanted. They should have gone for the P&W engine instead, or offer the P&W engine as an alternative.

[GTX]

Err guys, the A400M (back when it was the European Future Large Aircraft) did start off as jet powered:





Regards,

Greg

[B777LR]

Err guys, the A400M (back when it was the European Future Large Aircraft) did start off as jet powered:

Yes, but that was back when i was only 2 years

Jets won't be just as good as props for the missions the A400 will perform though

[PR19_Kit]

Err guys, the A400M (back when it was the European Future Large Aircraft) did start off as jet powered:

But then they sold the design to McDonnell-Douglas and it became the C-17...............

[Stands back, turns around and runs like hell for the bunker...........  ]

[Stargazer]

Err guys, the A400M (back when it was the European Future Large Aircraft) did start off as jet powered:

But then they sold the design to McDonnell-Douglas and it became the C-17...............

[Stands back, turns around and runs like hell for the bunker...........  ]

He he... don't want to spoil your fun, but the A400M design appeared after the C-17 design! But I think you know that, right? You're just being silly... 

[PR19_Kit]

He he... don't want to spoil your fun, but the A400M design appeared after the C-17 design! But I think you know that, right? You're just being silly... 

But this is Whiff World, remember? 

[Thorvic]

Try looking up the AW681