Another first flight
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Airbus
Airbus' A400M took its first flight Friday in Spain. The flight lasted 3 hours and 47 minutes.
Friday, December 11, 2009 | 5:47 am
As people in the Puget Sound region await the first flight of Boeing's 787, which could fly as early as Tuesday, aviation enthusiasts in Europe saw the first flight of Airbus' A400 military transport.
The delayed A400M took off from an airport in Seville, Spain, this morning.
Cost overruns and delays at times have put the military plane's future in doubt.
From the AP report:
Louis Gallois, head of Airbus parent EADS, said he found the takeoff "more moving than I expected. It's enormous. We've been waiting a long time."
He disappeared into the VIP tent — where journalists are not allowed — when asked about cost overruns.
The A400M program was launched six years ago with an order for 180 planes from seven governments — Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey. The project is running at least three years late.
The delayed A400M took off from an airport in Seville, Spain, this morning.
Cost overruns and delays at times have put the military plane's future in doubt.
From the AP report:
Louis Gallois, head of Airbus parent EADS, said he found the takeoff "more moving than I expected. It's enormous. We've been waiting a long time."
He disappeared into the VIP tent — where journalists are not allowed — when asked about cost overruns.
The A400M program was launched six years ago with an order for 180 planes from seven governments — Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey. The project is running at least three years late.
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