Spanish Air Force's first Airbus A400M airlifter took to the skies

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Airbus DS
 
 
Spanish Air Force's first Airbus A400M airlifter took to the skies
 
The first Airbus A400M tactical airlifter ordered by the Spanish Air Force has made its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards its delivery. The aircraft, known as MSN44, took off from Seville, Spain where the A400M Final Assembly Line is located at 15:25 local time (GMT+1) on 5 September and landed back on site 3 hours and 45 minutes later.
     
Spanish Air Force s first Airbus A400M airlifter took to the skies 640 001Spain's first A400M tactical airlifter performing its maiden flight
(Credit: Airbus DS)
     
Test-Pilot Nacho Lombo, who captained the flight, said after landing: "As always, the aircraft was a pleasure to fly. I am confident that its unique combination of strategic and tactical capabilities will have a transformational effect on the Spanish Air Force’s air mobility operations as it has done in other countries already."

The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in the coming weeks, Airbus Defence and Space announced today Sept. 6.

Fourteen A400Ms will be delivered to Spain by 2022, the
Maj Gen Pablo Jose Castillo of the air force’s air mobility command announced on December 2015.

Powered by four Europrop TP400-D6 engines, the A400M has a maximum payload of up to 37 tonnes It can carry 116 fully equipped troops / paratroops or up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel; and is configured for air-drop single loads up to 16t; multiple loads up to 25t total.
 

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