The third French A400M, MSN010, landed on Orléans Airbase on Friday 25th July 2014 afternoon.
According to the official French Air Force publication the capabilities of the third Atlas are improved compared to the first two aircraft of the kind that France received last year: an increased flight envelope (service ceiling of 12000 metres), the possibility of approach operations in very low visibility (category II approach) and additional transport capacities (two freight pallets on its ramp while flying) are some new features of the third Atlas.
Now the MEST airmen have taken over the aircraft for all experimentation operations to come, although even this aircraft (and MSN011, MSN012, MSN014) is foreseen to fly on EATC OPCON on training- and air transport missions.
Read more about the cooperation of MEST and EATC here.
Read more about EATC involvement in A400M matters here.
Words: Thomas/Prudent
Picture: SIRPA Air