Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed certification testing of the A400M new generation airlifter on a grass runway. The tests using the development aircraft MSN2 took place over a three-week period at the airfield of Écury-sur-Coole in France in September and examined the aircraft’s behaviour on grass and natural soil runways. The A400M demonstrated excellent performance both in taxying manoeuvres, such as U-turns, and during take-off and landing on the 1,500 m strip. These tests followed earlier successful results on the gravel surface at Ablitas in Spain and will be followed by tests on sand surfaces next year.
Specifications
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Overall Length | 45.10 m/148 feet |
| Overall Height | 14.70 m/48 feet |
| Wing Span | 42.40 m/139 feet |
| Cargo Hold Length (ramp excluded) | 17.71 m/58 feet |
| Cargo Hold Height | 3.85-4.00 m/12 feet 7 inch-13 feet |
| Cargo Hold Width | 4.00 m/13 feet |
| Cargo Hold Volume | 340 m3/12,000 feet3 |
| WEIGHTS | |
| Maximum Take Off Weight | 141,000 kg/310,850 lbs |
| Maximum Landing Weight | 123,000 kg/271,200 lbs |
| Internal Fuel Weight | 50,500 kg/111,300 lbs |
| Maximum Payload | 37,000 kg/81,600 lbs |
| ENGINE (×4) | |
| EuroProp International TP400-D6 | 11,000 shp/8,200 kW |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Maximum Operating Altitude | 12,200 m/40,000 feet |
| Maximum Cruise Speed (TAS) | 300 knots/345 mph/555 km/h |
| Cruise Speed Range | 0.68-0.72 M |
| RANGE | |
| Range with Maximum Payload (37,000 kg/81,600 lbs) | 1,780 NM/2,050 miles/3,300 km |
| Range with 30,000 kg/66,000 lbs Payload | 2,450 NM/2,796 miles/4,500 km |
| Range with 20,000 kg/44,000 lbs Payload | 3,450 NM/3,977 miles/6,400 km |
| Maximum Range (Ferry) | 4,700 NM/5,406 miles/8,700 km |
Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed certification testing of the A400M new generation airlifter on a grass runway. Tests took place over a three-week period at the airfield of Écury-sur-Coole in France in September and examined the aircraft’s behaviour on grass and natural soil runways.