Five A400M test aircraft complete a formation flight

As the next-generation A400M continues its certification evaluations, all five of the programme's flight test aircraft took to the sky this week for a unique formation flight performed by the Airbus Flight Test teams. The exercise originated from Toulouse, France. Once completed, each aircraft returned to its individual testing activities -- which include evaluations for handling quality (performed by A400M test aircraft MSN1), wing pod hose stability (MSN2), engine performance (MSN3), pressurisation and oxygen (MSN4), and function and reliability (MSN6).

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  Science & Technology

[Romain GeantDart]

c'est toi la merde

[paul8ain]

Twice the payload of a C-130, flying where a C-130 can, with top speed just 30 kt less than a C-17. Makes sense in some places: for example, where the flight isn't transatlantic or transpacific; and you are using a gravel strip. C-130 handles that OK, but the C-17 is a giant vacuum cleaner: the inlet vortices for those big fans just suck up the gravel and feed it through the engines...

[Larry R Wendell Jr]

I would love to here the sound of the aircraft, music is great, but the sound would have been better! Just my opinion, a fine looking aircraft!

[photoguy95]

Excelent video. However may i ask, what happened to MSN5? I read the description and you stated each of the 5 aircraft returned to the individual testing. That being MSN1, MSN2, MSN3, MSN4, and MSN6.

Thank you in advance!

[abdullah -sa]

good

[paul8ain]

And your evidence for this is?

[paul8ain]

/watch?v=QIZcTVz60rA like its very own tornado! Also: /watch?v=7KbjRhWXTYw which was most likely a puddle.

[firefightergoggie]

Idiot

[lowperpi66]

I was there !! Seeing this at the very beginning of my internship was really a great experience :D

[paul8ain]

Yep. And talk to one of the maintenance techs about the work they have to do afterwards! Snow isn't a problem, as it just turns to steam: gravel doesn't. Take a look at the engine placement on the A-10: the inlet vortices start on top of the wings: that is a jet that can safely operate on dirt and gravel.

[USAAIRPOWER]

Wrong Retard! I guess you don't know any about the C-17A.

/watch?v=diX3x6ffvSA

The C-17 can land on any type of environment whether snow, dirt, and others.