THE first Airbus A400M Atlas transport plane for RAF Brize Norton has made its maiden flight.
The turboprop aircraft took off from the airfield at manufacturer Airbus Defence & Space’s factory at Seville, in Spain, at 2.25pm local time on Saturday, August 30, right, and landed five hours and five minutes later after being put though its paces over southern Spain and the Mediterranean.
Airbus’s chief military test pilot, Edward Strongman, said after landing: “It was very satisfying to conduct this first flight of the first A400M for the Royal Air Force.
“I have no doubt that its combination of true tactical capability with strategic range will be an enormous contributor to future air mobility in the RAF.”
The aircraft, which was back in the air again on Thursday, is the one of 22 ordered by the RAF at a cost of more than £3.2bn and is set to be delivered to Brize Norton by the end of this month.
After training of flight and ground crews, it is expected to enter service in March next year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here