Ground runs commence on Airbus Military A400M Flight Test Bed at Marshall Aerospace, Cambridge UK

June 2008

Today marked an important milestone in the Airbus Military A400M Flight Test Bed programme with the first ground runs of the Europrop International (EPI) TP400-D6 engine and Ratier-Figeac propeller installed upon the Marshall-owned C-130 test aircraft. This first run emphasises the power of the A400M engine/ prop combination which is the largest ever to be

designed and produced in the Western world.

The ground runs will enable the engineers to test and measure the engine starts, nacelle ventilation, intake distortion, engine noise behaviour and undertake the vibration stress survey to clear the new Ratier-Figeac/ Hamilton Sundstrand propeller. In total over 30 hours of ground running is foreseen before the aircraft can be cleared for flight, and during this phase Marshall Aerospace (MA) will start delivering data recorded from its Data Acquisition System to provide Airbus Military with key data on engine, propeller and nacelle performances. During the initial ground runs, checks will be performed to confirm the aircraft, engine and propeller interfaces, and flight test instrumentation. In addition, the propulsion system will undergo low power and high power static runs, followed by low speed and high speed taxi tests and consequently the flight test campaign.

As a unique flight test bed programme, many additions and alterations have been made to the standard aircraft ground run procedure. There has been significant revision to Operating Instructions and Aircrew Manuals as the crew are operating two different engine and propeller types simultaneously.

Many other measures have been taken into consideration including the reinforcement of the MA engine running bay with specially made chocks. The flight test crew will also be able to become accustomed to conditions inside the aircraft as together with the Operating crew, there will be up to 7 Test engineers located in the cargo bay to operate the monitoring consoles, and therefore safe procedures of communication must be established between the areas for the upcoming flight test campaign which will need to be practised and optimised.

Martin Broadhurst, Chief Executive of Marshall Aerospace, said “Marshall Aerospace is proud to be involved in the development of the A400M through the Flying Test Bed programme. This is an important milestone in the progress towards first flight.”

Nick Durham, President of Europrop International, said: "We now look forward to working together with Airbus Military and Marshall on the flight test programme, and demonstrating that the engine satisfies the performance criteria and sets new standards for a turboprop of this size."

Notes for 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 Group) - to manage the TP400 engine programme.

Designed to power the Airbus Military A400M military transport, the TP400 will be the most powerful turboshaft engine to enter service in the West. It features a three-shaft configuration and will deliver a maximum power output of 11,000 shaft horsepower. More than 800 engines will be required for the 192 A400M aircraft ordered to date by nine countries.

For further information, please contact:
Nick Britton, Rolls-Royce
Tel: +44 117 979 59 43
Email: nick.britton@rolls-royce.com

Vincent Chappard, Snecma
Tel: +33 (0)1 69 87 09 29
Email: vincent.chappard@snecma.fr