RAF celebrates 10 years of 'dream to fly' A400M Atlas

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BFBS Forces News

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@samismith5476 2 ай бұрын

A decade already? Wow I feel old

@ashfaqueali555 2 ай бұрын

FAMILY PROSPERITY PEACE PROSECUTION

@fallinginthed33p 2 ай бұрын

The C-130 is still flying and that thing is almost 70 years old by now.

@sirwinski625 2 ай бұрын

Saw one of these doing low fly bys over the cornish coast today, gotta say they're definitely a sight to behold

@RJM1011 2 ай бұрын

It was also over the New Forest today.

@frostyrobot7689 2 ай бұрын

They occasionally do the flypast at the Edinburgh festival. Saw one flanked by 2 Typhoons. Total chonker of an aircraft, but pretty modern looking.

@ipfreely 27 күн бұрын

C-17 has been the true hero, serving for twice as long.

@fToo 2 ай бұрын

@2:10 Sudan evacuation mentioned ... without acknowledging that the A400M was initially thought too heavy for the runway there

@RJM1011 2 ай бұрын

The RAF should have kept at least one C130 Sqn as the the Atlas might be bigger. But bigger is not always best.

@1chish 2 ай бұрын

It is when you are delivering freight over long distances. And why keep an inferior airframe with the added inventory costs? Apart from which the RAF Hercules were hard used airframes.

@FlamingMonkey46 2 ай бұрын

Yeah potentially good idea for Special forces / SAS but I think a lot of these things comes down to cost, as you would have to have maintain equipment, parts and crew for two types of completely different aircraft. Who knows what politics goes on behind the veil.

@jado3069 2 ай бұрын

C130 is also cheaper to run. Best is a mixture of both in your fleet.

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

@@jado3069it's more expensive to operate two separate types, even if one is cheaper per flying hour

@85daniel 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_Inclination The german and french have a combined C-130 fleet to reduce costs and to have a plane for shorter runways.

@christianlebordelais Ай бұрын

Une belle observation

@feandu-l4t Ай бұрын

Amazing

@GaryJohnWalker1 2 ай бұрын

How's reliability? Weren't there development issues with the gearbox in part due to how components/assemblies were split between the consortium partner countries/companies?

@marcg1686 2 ай бұрын

They had major issues initially. They worked them out. Lest we forget, the C-130J was almost cancelled because of the problems Lockheed Martin encountered. New engines on a forty year old airframe and it almost failed.

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

@@marcg1686C-17 was also almost cancelled, and the entire fleet needed new wing spars early on in production due to design defects. Nowadays it's an absolute workhorse.

@marcg1686 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_Inclination The C-17 is indeed a workhorse. One thing that MDC and later Boeing never did was to improve the landing gear. The C-17's greatest strength is flying large unitary loads from one asphalt runway to another and refueling at the destination. Landing on a CBR 6 strip with enough fuel for a return trip massively limits its payload.

@fallinginthed33p 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_InclinationI miss the smaller jet transports that led to the C-17 like the YC-14. Those were supposed to replace the C-130 but the Hercules is amazingly long-lived.

@alanmcmillan6969 2 ай бұрын

A Great plane. And capable for snything.

@miketaylor1916 2 ай бұрын

@@alanmcmillan6969 not really. Doesn’t like sand or dirt.

@alanmcmillan6969 2 ай бұрын

@miketaylor1916 They just showed it taking off on a beach!

@marcg1686 2 ай бұрын

@@miketaylor1916 So your pick to transport 25 tons to a CBR 6 strip without destroying the surface and with enough fuel for a 500NM return trip would be...?

@miketaylor1916 2 ай бұрын

@@marcg1686 🥱😴 sorry nodded off then 😴🥱

@marcg1686 2 ай бұрын

@@alanmcmillan6969 Greetings. Taking off from a beach is not a big deal. Repeatedly landing on a CBR 6 strip repeatedly without trashing the strip is a big deal. And the A400M performs that mission rather well.

@vitaliyvyntu4566 2 ай бұрын

Welcome

@derf9465 2 ай бұрын

Still adding trim to get rid of the vibration on the flight deck.......and how is the wing box cracking doing ?

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

Those kinds of issues get dealt with through modification programmes, as a fairly standard part of most airframes development through service life. C-17 had a complete wing spar redesign and replacement, and Typhoon had speedbrake adjustments as a result of unforeseen turbulence fatigue on the tail. These things happen. Simulation in the design stage and early flying trials can't catch everything, which is one of the reasons we have continuing airworthiness management in the armed forces.

@corvanphoenix Ай бұрын

C-17's go ok too ;)

@skaro4ever 2 ай бұрын

remember the first time it came to riat

@bradleywoods1999 2 ай бұрын

How many do we have?

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

@johnnunn8688 2 ай бұрын

Can load a Chinook; blades on, mast on, u/c down?

@gazof-the-north1980 2 ай бұрын

It can carry a Chinook but even a C-5 Galaxy requires the Chinook Blades to come off and the mast to come down!.

@johnnunn8688 2 ай бұрын

@ ‘Twas a joke, as the commentator should have mentioned that fact.

@niweshlekhak9646 2 ай бұрын

@@gazof-the-north1980 the Chinook propellers are removed for safety reasons.

@juricarmichael2534 2 ай бұрын

If it flies, it's a real "Dreamliner"! 😉😈😂

@LittleBigChina 2 ай бұрын

you can fit a chinook in an A400?!

@OldManGaming69 2 ай бұрын

Hardest working aircraft? Really? I remember being on the C130Js and we used to take on a fair majority of the A400M tasking because they are always U/S.

@1chish 2 ай бұрын

Well facts say different. A detailed report over 5 months gave the following: A400M C-130J Availability rate 65-70% Below 60% Number of aircraft available 13-14 Fewer than 8 Confirmed by 'Airforce Technology': "The UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) C-130J tactical transport aircraft have had a lower availability than their C-17 and A400M counterparts in 14 out of the past 19 months, beginning 1 March 2021 to 1 September 2022, including five months where the fleet availability rate dropped below 60%"

@gholfin2124 2 ай бұрын

@@1chishhow many actual airframes were available against total fleet numbers. I would assume that the J was being wound down, so was probably intended to have low availability rate. Better to compare a previous year, say 2019 for comparison

@1chish 2 ай бұрын

@@gholfin2124 Nice try at mitigating it but the numbers are very clearly laid out. The clue to your answer is the percentages of fleet. Should we go to the first year of A400M introduction (2014) when we had 3 x A400Ms just to make the C-130 look better? The C-130 is an old design albeit a good one but the RAF Hercules had been worked very hard and we now have a far more capable and more reliable aircraft and more of them. What exactly is the issue?

@gholfin2124 2 ай бұрын

@@1chish the issue is the timeframe you are referring to, you have taken a time period to suit your point, you could have chosen a different period but it wouldn’t suit your narrative, as the C130 was being wound down at the time it was always going to struggle, due to the political will of the decision makers (as told to me by 47 sqn aircrew at RIAT 22) to justify their decision. percentages hide reality, ‘lies, damn lies and statistics!’ and all that. The C130 doesn’t need a timeframe, it has its place in aviation and RAF history. Capability depends on what you need, A400 does have a heavier payload and can travel further, but can it deploy SF assets into hostile territory? Why have the French just purchased 4 x C130Js for SF role?

@1chish 2 ай бұрын

@@gholfin2124 Can I preface my remarks by asking a simple question? Why do people like you seem incapable of accepting change and cling on to something in the past supporting it with at best dubious comments and downright falsehood? For example you suggest it doesn't need a timeframe because of its position in history. Apples & Pears right there Old Son. So how can a comparison be made in 1999 (the year C4s and C5s came into service) when there were no A400M aircraft? Last point first - Why are we getting the Frogs involved. They do what they do and who cares? Further to your SF point the A400M has been passed on all (published) SF requirements for some time. Not sure why you people who have downer on the A400M peddle this nonsense. On your main point: I referred to the published report on the two aircraft. I never chose anything or had to 'suit my narrative'. Again nice try at shifting the discussion and making it personal. And you accuse ME of 'having a narrative' when yours is all over your replies. Sorry but when looking at data percentages are pretty relevant as long as the data used is the same which it was in the study from which I quoted. As for capability the Fat Albert had limitations and the A400M exceeds those in every matrix - weight carried, volume available, cruise speed, unrefuelled range and austere landing envelope. And finally its interesting you quote 47 Squadron. Some more cynical than me would suggest their view was probably influenced by the fact they knew No 47 was to be stood down the year after RIAT2022.

@Jimmythefish577 2 ай бұрын

So given its fly by wire, and it’s a digital cockpit, how will it stand up should any of those systems be battle damaged?

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

It has more control redundancy than any mechanically controlled aircraft, as the wires don't have to follow the same routings to control surfaces. Digital cockpits are also more reliable than analogue instruments, and if one screen fails, the information can be replicated on the others. They also have reversionary backup modes.

@gazof-the-north1980 2 ай бұрын

Its a better Cargo plane than the C-130 because its bigger and can fly further but the C-130 was more suitable for Special Forces and was used (By the Americans) in so many different mission roles. (C-130 is the best plane in the world)

@niweshlekhak9646 2 ай бұрын

C-17 is better than C-130. There is variant of C-17 with stealth coating.

@gazof-the-north1980 2 ай бұрын

@@niweshlekhak9646 The C-17 is used as a Cargo Plane and it drops paratroopers and thats about it. The C-130 is used as a Cargo Plane, drops paratroopers, its a SAR aircraft, Special Operations platform, Flying Command Centre, Weather Recon, Drone Carrier, Gunship, Electronic Warfare, Air-to Air Refueller, Grounds forces refueller. The C-130 has been utilised in so many roles.

@niweshlekhak9646 2 ай бұрын

@@gazof-the-north1980 C-17 is used by Special Operations more than C-130.

@gazof-the-north1980 2 ай бұрын

@@niweshlekhak9646 ??? When have the 160th SOAR been refuelled by a C-17? The MC-130 is the Special Ops plane.

@niweshlekhak9646 2 ай бұрын

@@gazof-the-north1980 Never does 160th SOAR release info about refueling.

@JeanBatiste5158 2 ай бұрын

When was the last time England made an aircraft by her own?!!

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

The Hawk production line last produced aircraft a couple of years ago, but collaborative efforts like this make perfect sense as we can pool budgets and resources, for economies of scale we otherwise couldn't achieve

@JeanBatiste5158 2 ай бұрын

@Orbital_Inclination no excuse me. I'm not ok with collaborative efforts. Every country must stay souvrain on his military basis. Actually, england deserves his nickname, "american puppy" or "Nato one paw quack" because it relies on allied supplies and industries. Even hollywood maje james Bond died on the movie and made etgan Hunt the survival legend....

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

@@JeanBatiste5158so you'd rather we developed an inferior aircraft with a far more limited budget and manufacturing capability, than produced a decent aircraft as a joint effort? Another case of pointless nationalism coming before common sense or military effectiveness.

@martinfox3478 2 ай бұрын

@@JeanBatiste5158 I think you mean the United Kingdom, not England.

@JeanBatiste5158 2 ай бұрын

@martinfox3478 anyway the island in europe who brexit and become The USA best puppy

@traceyking2584 2 ай бұрын

🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

@skaro4ever 2 ай бұрын

but its not a Fat Albert

@gw2891 2 ай бұрын

Just be honest people our armed forces are on their arses

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

Not really, just understaffed for what is asked of them. We still manage to deliver on taskings routinely, but it takes a toll on the workforce as there aren't enough people to spread the burden.

@Jimmythefish577 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_Inclinationso even after all you said you agree that out forces are indeed, on their arses.

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

@@Jimmythefish577no, the air force can still deliver the output asked of it, its just being asked too much of for the size of it

@munkfish101 2 ай бұрын

Why do captains site on the left? Always thought most people are right handed so be a nightmare flying stick with your left hand lol

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

Captain and co-pilot sit on the left and right respectively, but share the flying between them as Pilot Flying and Pilot Monitoring, so the stick location is just something they have to learn to deal with.

@chrishowe2935 2 ай бұрын

Pilot in charge flies left handed even with a yoke, because power lever/throttle, prop (and mixture if present) controls are in the centre and managed with the right hand.

@adriancash7063 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_Inclination like every Airbus made since the A300/A310….

@adriancash7063 2 ай бұрын

@@chrishowe2935 and when the co-pilot is PF?

@angry7518 2 ай бұрын

But worrying the pilot doesn’t know his left from right, ha.

@johnallen7807 2 ай бұрын

"dream to fly"??? not from some of the comments I've read online and, as far as I know, it still cannot meet all the SF requirements that the C130J could (you know the one you scrapped with 12 years of service life left).

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

Flying characteristics and ease to operate are different things to capability. Being an airbus aircraft with a lot of automation, the thing is pretty care-free to operate.

@ashfaqueali555 2 ай бұрын

LOST IN DECADE MAINTAIN IN DETAILS TECHNOLOGY DREAM

@sandboxie97 2 ай бұрын

Why does the UK always call their aircraft different then anyone else using them? A400m vs Atlas Eurofighter vs Typhoon

@Orbital_Inclination 2 ай бұрын

Typhoon wasn't popular with Germany because of WWII, when Typhoons used to strafe their troops. A400M was originally going to be called Grizzly, but the RAF seniors hated that name, so opted for Atlas instead.

@callumlucas4444 2 ай бұрын

The official name under service is still the Eurofighter typhoon so it’s not even a Eurofighter vs typhoon situation like you put it.

@wanderschlosser1857 2 ай бұрын

@@Orbital_InclinationThe Eurofighter name for the EF2000 is older than the Typhoon (add-on) name. I guess the Brits more like catchier names for their aircraft and Typhoon certainly sounds cool especially for historical reasons. Also "Euro" is probably a bit despised on the Island. And no, we Germans don't give a flying unicorn whether there was an opposing plane in the war with the same name. Anyway, Typhoon was adopted in general to be the official name added to the Eurofighter brand for export reasons. In Germany we still call them Eurofighters since that name is longer around and got stuck in the minds. Both names are good and correct for this great aircraft.