via EADS Press Release.
The second production Airbus Military A400M has successfully completed its first engine runs as it begins final preparation for its maiden flight later this month.It occurred to me that the real problem with the A400 is how its been marketed. From the very beginning they've taken aim at the C-130 in particular and the C-17 in general.
The aircraft, known as MSN8, is now undergoing taxying trials outside the A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain.
Airbus Military expects to complete four A400M aircraft in 2013 and will deliver MSN8 to the French Air Force in the third quarter of the year.
That was a mistake. Perhaps a deadly mistake when it comes to the production/sales success of this airplane. The reason for this is relatively simple. EADS has always made it money by developing 'tweener' airplanes...in other words airplanes between two different classes of a rivals product. They did the same here. The problem was that they chose to make false comparisons.
They should have simply said that the airplane was designed to fill a gap in the market and touted it as a SUCCESSOR to the C-141...but with more rough field capability.
That would have been a win for the program and the results would probably be an easier gateway to selling some examples to the USAF and other air arms around the world.
Marketing. Real simple but most companies screw it up.