First Airbus A400M for Germany leaves the paintshop and starts taxiing trials.

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Airbus Defence and Space

First Airbus A400M for Germany leaves the paintshop and starts taxiing trials

The first Airbus A400M new generation airlifter for the German Air Force has taken another steps towards delivery with painting of its new colours and the start of taxiing trials. The aircraft moved under its own power for the first time on 12 October at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain.

First German A400M airlifter in Luftwaffe's colours

Driven by its four TP400 turboprop engines, assembled in Munich by MTU Aero Engines – a member of the Europrop International consortium which manufactures the powerplants – the aircraft taxied forwards and in reverse and performed a series of tight turns. In the coming days it will carry out progressively faster trials before making its first flight. Future German A400M has also been painted in its new colours at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain. The dark, matte tone reduces the visibility of aircraft at altitude, as well as being radar-absorbent to make it harder to detect by radar. The craftsmen in Seville used around 500kg of paint – enough to paint about 100 family cars. The paint used is an environmentally friendly chromate-free coating with high solid content and low volatility leading to reduced emissions.