You Presscue

Airbus unveiled the A400M military transport plane yesterday.

(A400M: Desert Landing (C) EADS)

The A400M is a cost-effective turboprop aircraft with a speed equalling almost that of transport aircrafts with turbofan power plants. The aircraft was designed according to the requirements of the air combat forces of the eight project participant European countries (Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Luxemburg, Portugal, Great Britain und Turkey).

(First complete A400M military transport aircraft in Seville, Spain (C) EADS)

The A400M should be used for various tasks like tactical air transport, logistic, humanitarian and peace keeping missions. It can operate in the areas with inadequately developed infrastructure, is capable of in flight fuelling and is also designed as tanker. The maximum load capacity of the machine is 37 t. The airplane can transport 20 t over a distance of 3,500 km at a speed of 421 knots. It is also used as troop (120 paratrooper), freight transport (nine 8"x88" palettes or two (helicopter) gunships), also for rescue missions in the air (Medieval).

Please scroll down for comments