Europrop International (EPI) has congratulated Airbus Military on the official handover of the first production A400M transport aircraft to the French Air Force. The A400M is powered by four of EPI’s TP400 engines, the most powerful turboprops in the Western world.
Speaking on the occasion of the official delivery event, EPI President Ian Crawford said: “Everyone at EPI, our partner companies and our supply chain would like to offer our congratulations to Airbus Military on this hugely significant occasion. It is a challenge to build an entirely new engine that rewrites the manual for turboprops but we have worked closely with Airbus over the development phase to deliver a truly game-changing military transport capability in the shape of this magnificent aircraft.
“We now look forward to supporting the French Air Force and what I anticipate will be a large number of other military operators as this programme enters a new and exciting phase.”
EPI has worked closely with Airbus Military and the customer community to establish an in-service support programme which includes around-the-clock technical, logistics and on-base support, similar to that used in the civil aerospace market. An engine maintenance facility has also been established in Bordeaux.
The TP400 engine achieved civil certification in May 2011 and has now amassed over 19,000 engine flight hours.
Notes to Editors
EPI Europrop International GmbH was created by four leading European aero-engine companies (Industria de Turbo Propulsores, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma [Safran]) to manage the TP400 engine programme.
Designed to power the Airbus Military A400M military transport, the TP400 is the most powerful turboshaft engine in the West. It features a three-shaft configuration and will deliver a maximum power output of 11,000 shaft horsepower.