The jumbo Airbus made two landings and two takeoffs on the tarmac Carcassonne. A real test for this unit to replace aging Transall and Hercules army. And a reason for hope for the future of the third regiment of marines parachute.
"We proved that the runways Salvaza could receive future widebody the French Army." Pierre Mouroux was "happy as a kid," Friday. The two touchdowns - and as many takeoffs - the Airbus A400M have gone remarkably well. If the head of the control tower is excited, it is for two reasons. He sees this, too, "reasons for hope for the continuation of the third Regiment of Marine Infantry Parachute Carcassonne."
It is probably no coincidence that several representatives of third RPIMa also attended these tests, alongside Christian Lanoy, airport manager and various personalities, alerted at the last moment.
The control tower warned a little time before landing
"We have been told by Airbus that hour before landing the A400M, when the control tower received the flight plan says Pierre Mouroux. Within an hour, we have everything set up on platform:.. security services, all to prove our ability to receive this kind of plane Sincerely, we are proud of what we achieved. "
The Airbus A400M is a multi-purpose military transport aircraft (of troops and equipment, which may contain two Pumas helicopters for example). Designed by Airbus Military is expected to eventually replace the C-160 Transall and other aging C-130 Hercules. It is currently ordered 174 copies of eight different countries: France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malaysia.
The perfect device for parachute jumps
The first copy of the A400M is the factory June 26, 2008 in Seville. On 20 September 2009, the CEO of EADS Louis Gallois announced the first flight of the A400M for December. It actually took place on December 11 in Seville, is a delay of more than two years on the original program. Finally, the A400M military obtained his certification on July 31, 2013, following the recommendation of the expert committee bringing together seven program countries. The French Air Force took delivery of the first A400M on September 30.
The airport manager, the head of the control tower and the military "3", especially, of course hope to see him more regularly ask Salvaza. "This is the perfect type of device that allows paratroopers to perform their jumps," said Pierre Mouroux maliciously.
Ideally now create a drop zone (an old project is Couffoulens side) and probably harder to convince politicians ...
Source: http://www.midilibre.fr/2013/10/12/salv ... 768928.php
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