Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Low, fast and slow flybys by a belgian A400M Atlas at Sanicole 2022 international airshow performed on both days of the show and including a parachute drop, courtesy of L'Armée de l'Air! :)

Don't miss the scene at the beginning of the video with the lightning strike in the background! w00t !!

And that SAR helicopter landing bonus was neat! :D

The Airbus A400M Atlas is a European, four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military (now Airbus Defence and Space) as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Transall C-160 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

The Airbus A400M increases the airlift capacity and range compared with the aircraft it was originally set to replace, the older versions of the Hercules and Transall. The A400M operates in many configurations including cargo transport, troop transport, and medical evacuation. The aircraft is intended for use on short, soft landing strips and for long-range, cargo transport flights.

The A400M's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 from Seville, Spain. Between 2009 and 2010, the A400M faced cancellation as a result of development programme delays and cost overruns; however, the customer nations chose to maintain their support of the project. A total of 174 A400M aircraft had been ordered by eight nations by July 2011. In March 2013, the A400M received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. The first aircraft was delivered to the French Air Force in August 2013.

The project began as the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group, set up in 1982 by Aérospatiale, British Aerospace (BAe), Lockheed, and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) to develop a replacement for the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. Varying requirements and the complications of international politics caused slow progress. In 1989, Lockheed left the grouping and went on to develop an upgraded Hercules, the C-130J Super Hercules. With the addition of Alenia of Italy and CASA of Spain the FIMA group became Euroflag.

Since no existing turboprop engine in the western world was powerful enough to reach the projected cruise speed of Mach 0.72, a new engine design was required. Originally the SNECMA M138 turboprop (based on the M88 core) was selected, but didn't meet the requirements. Airbus Military issued a new request for proposal (RFP) in April 2002, after which Pratt & Whitney Canada with the PW180 and Europrop International answered. In May 2003, Airbus Military selected the Europrop TP400-D6, reportedly due to political interference over the PW180 engine.

A forward-looking infrared enhanced vision system (EVS) camera provides an enhanced terrain view in low-visibility conditions. The EVS imagery is displayed on the HUD for low altitude flying, demonstrating its value for flying tactical missions at night or in cloud. EADS and Thales provides the new Multi-Colour Infrared Alerting Sensor (MIRAS) missile warning sensor for the A400M.

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 3 or 4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster)
Capacity: 37000 kg
116 fully equipped troops / paratroops, up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel
Cargo compartment: width 4.00 m x height 3.85 m x length 17.71 m (without ramp 5.40-metre)
Length: 45.1 m
Wingspan: 42.4 m
Height: 14.7 m
Wing area: 225.1 m2
Empty weight: 76500 kg
Gross weight: 120000 kg
Max takeoff weight: 141000 kg
Fuel capacity: 50500 kg internal fuel
Max landing weight: 123000 kg
Powerplant: 4 × Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop, 8200 kW each
Propellers: 8-bladed Ratier-Figeac FH385 and FH386 variable pitch tractor propellers with feathering and reversing capability (FH385 anticlockwise on engines 2 and 4, FH386 clockwise on engines 1 and 3), 5.3 m diameter

PERFORMANCE

Cruise speed: 781 km/h at 9450 m
Initial cruise altitude: 9,000 m at MTOW
Range: 3300 km at max payload (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A)
Range at 30-tonne payload: 4500 km
Range at 20-tonne payload: 6400 km
Ferry range: 8700 km
Service ceiling: 12200 m
Tactical takeoff distance: 980 m (aircraft weight 100 tonnes, soft field, ISA, sea level)
Tactical landing distance: 770 m (as above)
Turning radius (ground): 28.6 m

More info:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A400M_Atlas

International Sanicole Airshow official homepage:
sanicole.com/en

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