Airbus A400M Takes To The Skies Over Spain

The Airbus A400M plane, designed to replace outdated military planes, is scheduled to take its first test flight next week after lengthy delays, costing millions.

The test flight was initially planned for 2008, but the £18bn project has been plagued by numerous technical failures, which saw South Africa dropping its order and causing French and German officials to give Airbus until the end of the year to prove that the project is still viable.

The plane is currently undergoing ground tests at the manufacturing plant in Seville, and is scheduled to take to the skies in Friday. Two pilots, from Britain and Spain, and four French engineers will be responsible for the initial flight.

The plane’s technical problems were largely down to the complexity of its engine system, which is currently reported to be the most powerful turbo-propelled engine in the world.

Airbus, which is owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, launched the A400M project in 2003 with an order of 180 planes from seven different European countries including the UK.