simi_av8r 0 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 minding my own business, there i was sat in my office with a window or two open, typing an email to a colleague about something-or-other, when i heard the unfamiliar sound of a large propeller based aircraft taxiing onto the C17 parking stands just across the road from our building. At first i thought it was a visiting C130 or CASA 295 that we've had rather regularly of late, and thought nothing of it. But then the noise differed slightly, so i turned, and to my amazement, this was sitting on the C17 bay with a couple of buddies either side of it! I'd taken my camera in as i'd planned to go and pop by RAF Fairford for the last few hours of practice before RIAT tomorrow, but i wasn't expecting this rather large visitor! enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 Good work agent Simi! It's great to see the A400 and C130 side by side I didn't realise the A400 was so much bigger :biggrin: Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted July 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 well M, after seeing it today, i'd even go so far as to say that one should think of it as a C17 with propellers! Its certainly not much smaller than the ol' Globemaster, yet just as useful off the Tarmac as the C130 - great stuff! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,498 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 Actually, that final shot is probably the best, a great trio! Link to post Share on other sites
SEATAC 400 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 Very cool to see them all side by side. I still have a weak spot for the C-130. I love the captain sim version of it. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 ...i'd even go so far as to say that one should think of it as a C17 with propellers! Its certainly not much smaller than the ol' Globemaster... Great photos, Simi. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I can imagine that four 11,000 shp turboprops might have had a different sound to them. Comparing the three of them with some real-world data... In round numbers the capacity of the A400M is about twice that of the C-130J and C-130J-30. The -30 has a significantly greater volume than the J but only marginally more payload capacity. The C-17 has about 1-1/2 times the cargo volume and twice the weight-carrying capability of the A400M. The four AC stack up about like this... Volume is in the ratio of 1 (C-130J), 1.5 (C-130J-30), 2.75 (A400M) and 4.2 (C-17) Payload is in the ratio of 1 (C-130J), 1 (C-130J-30), 2 (A400M) and 4 (C-17) John Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 You lucky person!!! Would love to see the A400M in real life! Great shots!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Troy 0 Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Nicce shots. I'd love to work in aviation somewhere .. sigh Link to post Share on other sites
Aidan 1 Posted July 18, 2010 Report Share Posted July 18, 2010 Isn't the A400M the biggest plane in the world?? Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted July 18, 2010 Report Share Posted July 18, 2010 Isn't the A400M the biggest plane in the world?? Not even in the top ten... John EDIT: Actually, not even in the top 20 of currently flying AC, as measured by Maximum Takeoff Weight MTOW Exceeding A400M ----------------------- AN-225 - 600,000 kg A-380 - 560,000 kg AN-124 - 405,000 kg C-5 - 348,818 kg B-777 - 351,500 kg (777 300ER) MD-11 - 286,000 kg Tu-160 - 275,000 kg B-757 - 272,500 kg Il-96 - 270,000 kg KC-10 - 267,600 kg C-17 - 265,360 kg An-22 - 250,000 kg B-787 - 247,000 kg L-1011 Tri-Star - 231,000 kg B-52 - 220,000 kg Il-86 - 215,000 kg B-767 - 204,120 kg (767 400ER) Tu-95 - 188,000 kg B-747 - 181,485 kg Il-76 - 157,000 kg An-70 - 145,000 kg ----------------------- A400M - 141,000 kg ----------------------- Heavier than A400M but no longer in Use --------------------------------------- XB-70 - 250,000 kg B-36 - 190,000 kg Tu-144 - 180,000 kg Concorde - > 174,000 kg C-141 - 147,000 kg JDA Link to post Share on other sites
stu7708 244 Posted July 19, 2010 Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 I do love flying the A400M in FSX.. so i'm a bit jealous of you right now.... Link to post Share on other sites
needles 1,013 Posted July 19, 2010 Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 Hi Si' excellent photo oportunity there mate, you lucky aviator you. As you are probably aware I live in the Highlands of Scotland and I live about 2 hours drive away from RAF Kinloss and Lossiemouth. I would love to get to the bases and get some shots as great as yours. When I think of calling the bases to ask permission to visit for a photo day, I feel that they are on the back foot before I start because of the era we are living in. It does sound a bit dodgy when a 52 year old wants to come and takes pics of their aircraft eh? My son is in the RAF but is stationed at RAF Wittering with 2MT so I don't get to see him very often. I thought he might be able to arrange it for me but I'm not sure. He's over in Afghan at the moment at Camp Bastion, 1 week left of his tour. Take care mate and do post more if you get the chance. Regards Link to post Share on other sites
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