Airbus Military A400M successfully performs unpaved runway trials

Airbus Military has completed an important set of trials of the A400M new generation airlifter, demonstrating the aircraft’s excellent performance on gravel runways.

In tests lasting more than a week at Ablitas in northern Spain, development aircraft MSN2 performed 25 landings during six flights on the same runway.

The trials confirmed that despite the harsh conditions, damage to the aircraft exterior from stones and dust was minimal and within expectations, and the runway remained usable after repeated operations.

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