Getting out of the A400M

Airbus CEO Tom Enders will be a happy man now that the A400M has started its trials for paratroop drops, getting him a step closer to jumping out of the military transport himself.

Enders, a parachutist, has long said he wants to jump out of the aircraft (although last year, when he spoke of getting out of the A400M, he was talking about the program altogether and the money-losing contract). It's unlikely Enders will get to jump still this year, as he once said he'd like to do, but at least he's a step closer; and with European governments signalling last week they are ready to revise the A400M contract, he may not be jumping out of frustration but for enjoyment.

(credit: Airbus Military)

The test on Friday involved six free-fall paratroopers. The aircraft was at 6,000 ft. over the drop zone at Fonsorbes, near Toulouse, Airbus Military says.

The British and French military provided the personnel, with two exiting via the ramp and the rest via the left-hand side door. The side door has a device that deploys when the door opens to improve air flow and make it easier for the jumpers to leave the aircraft.

Airbus Military notes that the trials were proceeded by dropping water-filled balloons.

The tests also involved deploying instrumented mannequins using static lines; static line deployment is generally more interesting from a development test perspective, because, on other programs, that is where there have been surprises in terms of air flow.

Airbus says more trials are planned next year.

Tags: ar99, AirbusMilitary, A400M