xzoomie32065 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Is Airbus trying to sell the A400M to USAF? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13883409 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jansen Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 They've been trying to pitch it for years, but seeing as how the project is years behind schedule and the USAF won't get deliveries until past 2020... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsmith130 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I would say the A400M is competing more with the C-17 rather than the C-130. Pictures don't do it justice in terms of size and power. Notice the size of the props (17.5 feet diameter) and engine power (~11,000 SHP) below General characteristics Crew: 3 or 4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster) Capacity: 37,000 kg (82,000 lb) 116 fully equipped troops / paratroops, up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel Length: 45.1 m (148 ft 0 in) Wingspan: 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in) Height: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in) Empty weight: 76,500 kg (168,654 lb) Max takeoff weight: 141,000 kg (310,852 lb) Max. landing weight: 122,000 kg (268,963 lb) Total internal fuel: 50,500 kg (111,330 lb) Powerplant: 4 × Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop, 8,250 kW (11,060 hp) each Propellers: 8-bladed, 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) diameter Cruising speed: 780 km/h (480 mph; 420 kn) (Mach 0.68 - 0.72) Initial cruise altitude: at MTOW: 9,000 m (29,000 ft) Range: 3,298 km (2,049 mi; 1,781 nmi) at max payload (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A) Range at 30-tonne payload: 4,540 km (2,450 nmi) Range at 20-tonne payload: 6,390 km (3,450 nmi) Ferry range: 8,710 km (5,412 mi; 4,703 nmi) Service ceiling: 11,300 m (37,073 ft) Tactical takeoff distance: 980 m (3,215 ft) (aircraft weight 100 tonnes, soft field, ISA, sea level) Tactical landing distance: 770 m (2,526 ft) (as above) Turning radius (ground): 28.6 m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P3_Super_Bee Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would say the A400M is competing more with the C-17 rather than the C-130. That's my thoughts... A C-17 with props... A C-130K with the engine/prop installed for flight test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jansen Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of the A400M, and it is being marketed as the middle ground between the C-130 and the C-17. There is a demand for it, as not everyone can afford the maintenance-intensive Globemasters, but there are a lot of loads that don't quite fit into the Herk. It is perhaps a competitor as much as the C-27J is. Different size, different market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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