Turkey's first A400M tactical transport has moved a step closer to delivery, with the aircraft having performed its first engine runs and taxi trials at Airbus Military's San Pablo final assembly site in Seville, Spain.
Aircraft MSN9 is the first of 10 A400Ms on order for the Turkish air force, and the third production example of the type to have been completed, following two French air force examples. Its four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop engines were run simultaneously for the first time on 29 July, and Airbus Military has since released video footage showing the transport performing an initial taxi trial, using its outboard engines only.
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Both images: Airbus Military |
"The aircraft will be transferred to the Airbus Military delivery centre in September," the company says. Speaking prior to the Paris air show, A400M programme head Cedric Gautier outlined a planned schedule to deliver Ankara's first aircraft late the same month, although it was at that point expected to make its flight debut during June.
Deliveries of the Turkish air force's A400Ms are due to be completed in 2018, according to the nation's SSM defence procurement agency.
Airbus Military's first production A400M, MSN7, arrived at the French air force's Orléans-Bricy air base on 2 August (below), having been accepted in Seville the previous day. The company is on contract to produce a combined 174 of the aircraft for Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the UK.
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French air force |
Source: Flight International
