Posted on 09/12/2014 7:29:22 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Europe's Airbus said on Thursday that it sees the possibility of selling hundreds of its A400M military transport plane to the U.S. military in the medium to long term.
Barry Eccleston, president of Airbus Americas Inc, told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit that the company was focused on securing additional orders for the UH-72 helicopter that it builds in Mississippi in the short term, but its "next big project" would be focused on marketing the A400M.
"There's this incredible airplane that can do just about everything," Eccleston said, noting that Airbus saw possible sales of the A400M to the U.S. Air Force and other military services to replace older C-130 transport planes built by Lockheed Martin Corp and C-17s built by Boeing Co .
He said Airbus would launch a major marketing drive for the A400M in the United States after the airplane was introduced in France, Britain, Turkey and Germany.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2752572/REUTERS-SUMMIT-Airbus-sees-possible-future-sales-hundreds-400M-U-S.html#ixzz3D6zil2e1 Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Anytime I hear Airbus, I’m taken back to 9/11 and NBC’s Bryant Dumbel. He was talking about the 757 saying “it is sometimes referred to as an Airbus”.
So what was that travesty of a “competition” between Boeing and Northrop all about?
People forget after a slow start, the A400M has proven to be a much better plane than anticipated—especially with its impressive maneuverability and quiet engines. With a change to a Flying Boom refueling system and American avionics, the A400M could be final-assembled at Airbus’ new plant in Mobile, AL for Western Hemisphere customers—including the USAF.
I will never fly on one. They’re made in France. Need I say more?
We already have a updated C-130J with new quiet engines with better performance and glass cockpit. and C-17’s that haul more cargo why buy Airbust when we can buy AMERICAN.
It’s actually put together in Spain using parts from across Europe.
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/07/17/airbus-revs-up-for-a400m-production/
I happen to feel there is a scheduled airline market for travelers that would accept getting there a bit slower with lots more comfort and cheaper that could be met with these type of propjets.
Because barring any further foreign orders in the next six months, the C-17 line is due to shut down permanently in mid 2015.
After that, if the USAF wants to buy more transports with larger capacity than the C-130J, it's either the A400M or a decade long new development program.
you are forgetting that a line can be reopened hence the C-5B. Or who is to say there is not already a replacement cargo bird in development in the works. We have enough C-17’s to last a long time. and more than enough C-130’s with upgrades and new C-130J models being bought.
This airlifter project started 32 years ago. So they are finally at a point where they can produce a few completed aircraft.
The problem with the C-130J is just a LAV III will fit inside without the turret! The C-130J is no option to move combat ready Strykers or Bradleys close to the front line.
Range for C-130J is 1,600 nm at 35,000 lbs. Range for A400M is 1,800 nm at 37 t or 3,500 nm at 20 t (~44,000 lbs). From Hickam AFB Guam or Japan is within range of an A400M with a useful load.
The C-17 is a tactical transport aircraft with a marginal capability for semi prepared runways. The main landing gear has the same number of tires like the A400M. The operational empty weight of the C-17 is higher than the maximum landing weight of the A400M.
For sure US Air Force can C-17 on dirty runways but not for long.
you have no clue what you are talking about when it comes to a C-17 landing on un improved runways.. we train for that all the time...
Gee we have TANKERS to air refuel no need for a A400 that cost almost as much as a c-17 no need for it when we have a nice fleet of C-130’s.
Go sell your Airbust crap elsewhere.. the A-400 is nothing more than a c-133 made by a crappy company that took 32 years to even get airborne and only after having to ask Euro country’s for more money.
now get your facts correct when you are bashing American made equipment
C-130J RANGE- 2,835 nmi unrefueled..
Payload- 44,000 lb MAX
you post all over the internet your PRO-Airbust crap and darn near every 1 of your posts get a reply from someone in the USAF telling ya you are full of it.. If you aint a stick or a wrench or a load you have no clue
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