Madrid. 24 August 2016. Airbus Defence and Space has successfully demonstrated the capability of the A400M new generation airlifter to operate on a sand runway – the last of three unprepared types of surface on which it will be certified. The tests using the development aircraft MSN2 took place over a three week period in August on a specially constructed airstrip at Woodbridge, UK. A final week of tests will include operations at increasingly higher weights. The A400M demonstrated excellent performance in taxying manoeuvres, such as U-turns, and during take-off and landing on the 1,600m (5,250ft) strip. These tests followed earlier successful results on the gravel surface at Ablitas in Spain and a grass runway at Écury in France. The photo shows MSN2 taking off from Woodbridge.
A400M takes off from & lands on sand runway
Hits 1,596
More from AerospaceMore posts in Aerospace »
- GKN Aerospace Secures Five-Year Repair Contract Extension with Pratt & Whitney
- GKN Aerospace delivers first high voltage EWIS system for Clean Aviation’s SWITCH project
- GKN Aerospace supports Airbus-led ICEFlight programme to accelerate maturation of cryogenic technologies for hydrogen-powered flight
- Saab achieves AI milestone with Gripen E
- Airbus unveils HTeaming, its modular crewed-uncrewed teaming system
