First A400M on its own legs

[Canberra TT.18]

Hi,

Some nice pictures of first A400, without engines

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... sting.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Pieter

[Rabbit]

France considering penalties for A400M delays

France's defense minister says the French government is discussing possible financial penalties against Airbus over delays to its delivery of the A400M military transport plane.

Herve Morin said at a meeting of European Union defense ministers that he hopes the European planemaker will make up some delays once production gets into full swing. He refused to give details Thursday on a possible price tag for any penalties.

Airbus parent EADS said last month it had indefinitely postponed the A400M's first flight because its engines aren't ready.

The A400M was to have made its first test flight in Seville, Spain before the end of this year. EADS describes the A400M as Europe's most ambitious military procurement program.

[Rabbit]

France Considers Easing A400M Terms

Oct 29, 2008
Robert Wall/Paris wall@aviationweek.com



The French government has agreed to reach out and see if governments are willing to grant industry's appeal for some relief on the much-delayed A400M project.

French defense minister, Herve Morin, says he has asked his air force chief and the defense armaments agency, DGA, to lead the talks. The air force would see if there is room for some marginal relief on program specifications, with Morin suggesting he may be supportive.

At the same time, DGA would be investigating whether partners may back off from asking for penalties from the Airbus Military consortium developing the military airlifter. The initiative comes after Morin met with Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, the largest industrial partner in the A400M.

Nevertheless, Morin indicates that any deal is contingent on industry providing iron-clad guarantees on the program schedule, particularly the handover of aircraft. Germany, another key A400M customer, has been less inclined to offer relief.

France, for one, will likely have to take some bridging steps as a result of the A400M schedule set-backs.



source: http://www.aviationweek.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[larrythechief]

Nice C-17 copy (sort of)

[kiwi]

Nice C-17 copy (sort of)

Without the engines indeed it looks like something you get when a C-130 and a C-17 have baby's