factbox: sizing up the airbus a400m \"grizzly\"

Driven by the largest turbine in the West
The new European competitor prop engine is designed to lift 37 tons, compared to 21 tons of payload for Hercules, C-17\'s 75 tons.
For domestic buyers, it is priced at about 100 million euros.
Here are the details of the pot
Airlifter of Europe, after its robust design, was nicknamed \"grizzly bear\" by the tester \".
Who will buy A400M? --
Although Malaysia also wants four planes, it is mainly NATO countries in Europe.
Belgium, the UK, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey have recently won a 10% price increase, which will be due to the purchase of fresh funds, longer delivery schedules or less at the same price
The following is the buyer\'s country | aircraft: Germany 60 * France 50 Spain 27 UK 25 * Turkey 10 Belgium 7 Luxembourg 1 Total launching country 180 export: Malaysia 4SAFRICA 0 * Note: * in 2009, South Africa canceled its order for the 8 A400Ms and indicated that it would withdraw from the plan.
** The UK said it would say from 25: ** Germany that it would reduce the number of A400Ms ordered to reduce costs. DESIGN:--
A400M is the first high
T-wing aircraft
The tail shaped by Airbus, with its classic lowwing airliners.
About 30% wide-
The fuselage plane is by weight-saving carbon-
Including fiber composites for most wings.
Like many modern passenger planes, pilots control aircraft using electronic equipment or \"flying\"by-wire\" systems. ENGINES:--
Plane four 11,000-shaft-Horsepower P400-
A European team including Rolls developed 6 engines
On les, saifeng, MTU engines.
After the government rejected Airbus\'s choice to import engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, it chose the local engine. PROPELLERS:--
There are eight ratios per engine-
Figeac propeller blades measuring 5 m tip-to-tip. The scimitar-
Each pair of forming blades on the engine rotates in the opposite direction--
Turn clockwise. clockwise.
This makes the wing more efficient and less weight, and the aircraft can fly with a smaller rudder.
If all engines turn in the same direction, but one engine fails, a larger rudder is needed to keep the aircraft stable. SOFTWARE:--
People are very concerned about the key engine software, called FADEC (
Full Authority Digital Engine Control).
It turned out that writing and recording software in accordance with civil certification standards was a daunting task and caused delays.
The regulation is twice the size of the world\'s largest civil aviation engine.
Payload and range :--
Typical 20-
The payload of the A400M can fly 3,450 nautical miles.
There are 30 tons on board with a range of 2,450 nanometers.
What can it carry :--
The capacity of 340 can carry NH-
90 transport helicopters or CH-
A container truck or two infantry vehicles. --
In an emergency, it has 125 stretchers and a space in the intensive care unit.
It can accommodate 116 soldiers or fully equipped paratroopers. --
Airbus says the size of the a400m allows it to combine strategic and tactical roles, but the competitor says the C-
Boeing and Boeing
It\'s already overlapping.
Where you can land :--
Airbus says 12-
The wheel landing gear allows the A400M to land on a soft and rough runway as short as 750 m (2,500 feet).
Speed and height :--
Maximum speed of Mach 0.
72 is equivalent to 420 \"real wind speed\" at a medium height \".
At low altitude, refueling the helicopter can be slower than 110 knots. -
20 knots slower than the proximity of small jets.
Every hour is a knot in the sea. TANKER:--
It can also be used as a tanker, or it can be refueled in the air.
Competition: A400M fits the niche between Lockheed Martin\'s companies
130 Hercules Turbine
Props and Boeing C-
17, this is also able to land in half
Ready airstrip
In fact, the three companies have a degree of competition, market experts say.
A spokesman for Lockheed Martin said
The modern version of the first flight in 1996 can carry the 95% mission specified by the A400M.