News Review: A400M makes its maiden flight | ADM Feb 2010

1 February 2010

The first Airbus Military A400M military airlifter made its maiden flight in Seville, Spain, on 11 December.

Five pre-production aircraft will be used for some 3,700 hours of test-flying before first delivery to the French Air Force at the end of 2012.

This will be followed by additional military development flying.

The type will be certificated by both the civil and military authorities.

A total of 184 A400Ms have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the UK.

Airbus Military believes the RAAF could order the aircraft to supplement its C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Hercules at some time in the future.