Airbus A400M Atlas, concepts and other roles

[McColm]

The Airbus A400M Atlas is now being handed over to It's customers.
The Royal Air Force start getting theirs next year and have launched a challenge to see what ideas 16-18 year olds have in the long range search and rescue missions.

I've seen artwork with the Atlas having four poded turbofan engines instead of the turboprops.
I personally think an MPA/ASW can be whiffed with weapons carried on pylons under wings or along side of the fuselage.
A replacement for the E-3 Sentry or AEW & C.
An ELINT or SIGINT version.
Ever some skis fitted for Artic and Antarctic supplies.
The USAF did ask for technical details and Canada cancelled their order.

[Captain Canada]

Some big skis would look awesome. Gloss grey with day-glo panels......Mmmmmm



A gunship.

[McColm]

You would need some massive floats for an amphibious version or a shallow hull from an aircraft carrier kit.

[Captain Canada]

It would look awesome in USCG colours.

[McColm]

Who does those decals that size, would they be 1/48 or 1/72?

[Howard of Effingham]

McColm!

i am sure that at Scale Model World and not that long after the kit came out, a wiffed A400M with four CFM-56
turbofans in SAAF markings was on the what-if SIG stand. i know as i had a RP-4C Privateer Elint a/c in the same
display that year.

perhaps one of the SIG's photographers will have a photo of this A400M in their files.

[kitnut617]

Canada cancelled their order.

Canada had asked for a tender but it was never taken up so there was no order to cancel --- instead they went with C-17's and C-130J's


Something I'm in the process of building right now ---



And I've got a stretched version on the go too, early days though so photos later when I start a thread for it

[JayBee]

McColm!

i am sure that at Scale Model World and not that long after the kit came out, a wiffed A400M with four CFM-56
turbofans in SAAF markings was on the what-if SIG stand. i know as i had a RP-4C Privateer Elint a/c in the same
display that year.

perhaps one of the SIG's photographers will have a photo of this A400M in their files.

I take it you are referring to this one from SMW 2012, and no I have not the faintest idea who the guilty party is.

Jim

[kitnut617]

That looks really good  ---- 

[pyro-manic]

Snoopy II.

[McColm]

You could always put the engines above the wings or a pair at the rear sort of VC-10 layout.
I've got a large scale sailing dingy in my stash, I'll see if this fits under the lower fuselage section, when the kit arrives.

[PR19_Kit]

The 4 jet A400M at SMW 2012 was built and brought in by one of our American members, but I can't remember his name, sorry. Big guy with glasses..........

[kitnut617]

The prop diameter is so big on the A400M that a good portion of the prop wash covers and goes over the wing, I wonder how much of a lift influence the prop-wash has and whether the hi-bypass fan would actually make it better --

[Martin H]

The 4 jet A400M at SMW 2012 was built and brought in by one of our American members, but I can't remember his name, sorry. Big guy with glasses..........

that would be Brad,aka Scooterman

[Go4fun]

Snoopy II.

PS: Also useful for breaking up jousting events with a single low pass!