Breaking news
Airbus A400M military airlifter successfully achieves grass runway certification tests.
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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Airbus DS
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| Airbus A400M military airlifter successfully achieves grass runway certification tests | |||
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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, Airbus announced yesterday Nov. 3, 2015.
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 MSN2 landing on the grass runway(Credit: Airbus DS) |
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"The A400M demonstrated excellent performance both in taxying manoeuvres, such as U-turns, and during take-off and landing on the 1,500m strip," said Airbus. 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.
Next year, 23 units are due for delivery as production speeds up. That compares to seven or eight delivered last year.
Airbus is in “serious negotiations” with potential export clients for the A400M, helped by the plane now being operational, said last week Antonio Rodriguez Barberan, head of sales for military aircraft. Sales of more than 300 units over the next 30 years are expected. |
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