Let's see if the A400 is this nimble. Oh and for those that think that the C-27 is an answer to anything...Really? Really? Say it out loud and see if it sounds right. The US Army wanted C-27's because they couldn't get C-130's...the C-27 is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist.
Just going off second hand accounts from Farnborough, apparently the A400M is surprisingly nimble for a fat bird. It does have a lot of power and fancy flight controls.
ReplyDeleteNo idea how it compares to a C130 though, but people seem to have been impressed. The A400M has had it's problems but credit where credit is due is only fair.
and i'll give it as soon as we get a credible max weight and price point on it
ReplyDeleteFair enough, but I didn't mean give credit for the whole aircraft, I won't give that until I hear positive reviews coming from users.
ReplyDeleteMax weight may improve after the first few production standard airframes are finished, they'll cut down on some unnecessary weight hopefully. Price will depend on the order cuts being considered.
you're probably right to be honest but i gotta ask.
ReplyDeleteis the price point going to come down low enough to justify its existence?
as it currently stands its only a few million below the C-17....
That is my major worry.
ReplyDeleteBut the whole thing was never primarily about an economically viable aircraft, it was about acquiring and building a strategic defence capability for Europe that it had lost, which it has done. EADs admit that in order to make profit they need to get exports for the system.
Personally i'd be happy to see the UK with more C17's, but the A400 will have a couple of uses which the UK will probably find more useful than the US would, such as the ease of converting it into a tanker simply by fitting the drogue system to the wings. We'll need that thanks to the stupid procurement of tankers we have going on.
heard C-130 was empty and A400M (which looked good in the air) had a lot of test equipment aboard, but don't remember specifics.
ReplyDeletelooked on your site Sean to get the vid of the A400 but didn't see it. did i overlook it???
ReplyDelete