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https://www.rtbf.be/info/economie/detai ... en-espagne
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The first Belgian A400M has made its maiden flight in Spain
Posted on Friday, July 31, 2020 at 5:32 p.m.
The first of the seven Belgian Airbus A400M military transport aircraft
made its inaugural flight this week
from the European manufacturer's plant at Seville-San Pablo airport (southern Spain),
which assembles these aircraft,
has we learned from Airbus on Friday.
This first flight had been expected for weeks,
but it was delayed due to the slowdown in the activities of the aircraft manufacturer due to the coronavirus pandemic, then technical problems observed on the aircraft, which bears the CT-02 registration ( the CT-01 being the only A400M ordered by Luxembourg).
" Airbus confirms that the first flight of the MSN 106 (the 106th aircraft to roll off the Seville assembly line and the first aircraft destined for Belgium) took place on Monday July 27, " said on condition of anonymity a manager of the European group at the Belga agency.
Withdrawal of C130s
This aircraft had left the paint shop at the beginning of May 2020,
bearing the colors of the " Belgian Air Force ", with the tricolor cockades,
the registration CT-02 and the emblem of the 15th air transport wing of Melsbroek, its future user.
He then carried out various tests, before making his first flight on Monday,
both according to Airbus and a Belgian military source.
The " acceptance " process should begin on August 31
and the ToT (" Transfer of Titles ", ie transfer of ownership from Airbus to the customer)
is scheduled for October 9, the source said.
By then,
Airbus must deliver the only Luxembourg A400M,
an aircraft expected to be integrated into a binational unit based in Melsbroek.
This aircraft (serial number MSN104 and registration CT-01) made its first flight on April 14
and its delivery should take place next month.
The Air component has meanwhile started the withdrawal of its old aircraft, the C-130 Hercules,
four of which have ceased to fly.
The fleet of nine surviving aircraft, put up for sale by Defense,
was bought by Sabena Aerospace, a company belonging to the new Blueberry group,
and Blue Aerospace, a company of the Heico group.
