Aircraft
Big Year For The Grizzly As Certification Is Achieved

This year should prove to be a momentous one for the Airbus Military A400M. On the last day of April, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted the multinational airlifter–also dubbed the Grizzly–its initial type certification shortly after the five-aircraft test fleet had notched up the type’s 1,000th flight. Test activity is in full swing as the program prepares to achieve its next major milestone: delivery of the first customer aircraft at the end of the year.

On November 23 last year, an A400M entered final assembly at the Airbus Military plant in Seville, Spain. While the five previous flying airframes were destined for the development fleet, MSN7 is to be the first aircraft for the French Armée de l’Air. In order for the aircraft to be handed over around the end of the year, the A400M team has to achieve a number of goals.

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