>> EQUIPMENT / AIRBUS
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<Atlas will be a uniquely capable aircraft, providing tactical and strategic airlift capabilities for use in peace, crisis and war...>
the new Voyager aircraft, now entering service with the RAF, will give us the ability to rapidly move people and equipment around the globe for military and humanitarian operations for decades ahead.” Before Atlas enters service it has to complete its lengthy test programme. Heading the test team is Chief Test Pilot for Airbus Military, Ed Strongman. He is ideally suited for the role as he has a background as a Hercules pilot with the Royal Air Force and as a service test pilot, before leaving to join the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as a certification test pilot.
Flying colours
During his time with the CAA, Strongman took the A330 and A340 through a tough test programme and in 1995 was invited to join Airbus. At the time the military side of Airbus was in converting airliners
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for troop transport or for a future air-tanker role. Strongman has been involved with the A400M programme from the onset. He has been leading the team flying the four test aircraft in a wide variety of conditions, from the snow and ice of Sweden and Canada to the high and hot spaces in Djibouti. Here the Atlas operated from dirt or laterite runways. During trials the aircraft have performed faultlessly and passed the various tests with flying colours.
Tail’s up
Trials have also included air-to-air refuelling with the RAF using a VC10 K3 from No 101 Squadron. An aircraft was flown out to Airbus in Toulouse and dry contacts were made using the VC10’s centreline hose-and-drum unit. There were concerns that flying right behind the rear-mounted engines of the VC10 would put excess
globaldefencemedia.com | winter 2012_13
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