A400M

Question 1

when did Atlas enter Service?

Answer 1

2014

Question 2

what role does Atlas fulfil?

Answer 2

Provides Tactical and Strategic oversized lift capability

Question 3

Which aircraft does Atlas Complement?

Answer 3

C-130J Hercules and the C-17 III Globemaster

Question 4

what is the max payload that Atlas can hold?

Answer 4

37 Metric Tonnes (37000kg)

Question 5

what is the Max range of Atlas with its Max Payload?

Answer 5

2000NM

Question 6

What altitude can Atlas operate up to?

Answer 6

40000 feet

Question 7

What can Atlas transport

Answer 7

116 full-equipped troops
Chinook + Puma helicopters
APCs and Other military vehicles from the Army
Mixed Loads including
54 Passengers and 9 Aircraft Pallets (463L)

Question 8

Where can Atlas Land?

Answer 8

either prepared runways/strips or on semi-prepared austere landing strips

Question 9

What crew does an Atlas always carry?

Answer 9

two-pilots and a WSOp Crewman (along with any specific mission specific crew

Question 10

How can Atlas deliver loads?

Answer 10

Either through conventionally landing and offloading, or through parachute/gravity extraction

Question 11

how would parachutists exit A400m? How many paratroopers can it hold?

Answer 11

it can hold 116 fully equipped troops, and they will exit from the dedicated parachute doors on either side of the fuselage

Question 12

what power plant does the Atlas feature?

Answer 12

EuroProp International TP400

Question 13

what is the shaft horsepower of Atlas’s engines

Answer 13

11000

Question 14

what is the max range of Atlas without a maximum cargo load?

Answer 14

4100 NM (7593km)

Question 15

what is the top speed of Atlas?

Answer 15

400 kts (741 km/h)

Question 16

What allows the Atlas’ excellent low-level performance?

Answer 16

moderatley swept wings + turboprop engines give it an advantage over C-17 at low alt (which has Turbo fans)

Question 17

What allows the Atlas to out-perform Hercules?

Answer 17

the more modern airframe alongside the more efficient and more powerful turboprops allows it to fly higher and faster than Hercules (whilst still maintain the tactical capability of the Hercules airframe w/ a bigger payload)

Question 18

How many Atlas’ are currently in RAF service?

Answer 18

20, with another 2 waiting to be delivered, and a potential order for a 23 later in the decade

Question 19

what roles can Atlas serve in, other than tactical/strategic air lift?

Answer 19

Paratroop drops
Full aeromedical capability since 2018
The Air Landed Aircraft Refueling System (ALARS)

Question 20

what did Atlas first do in August 2022?

Answer 20

Air-to-Air refuel over the South Pacific

Question 21

Which organisation will benefit from Atlas’ Aeromedical capability?

Answer 21

Tactical Medical Airwing (specifically MERT - Medical Emergency Response Team- and DARTS -Deployable Aeromedical Response Team Squadron)

Question 22

what does MERT stand for

Answer 22

Medical Emergency Response Team

Question 23

What does DARTS stand for?

Answer 23

Deployable Aeromedical Response Team Squadron

Question 24

what features does Atlas have that assist it in aeromedical capability?

Answer 24

Sea-level Cabin pressure - lung puncture and head traumas dont have to contend with the added element of extreme cabin pressurisation or lack thereof

room for 66 low/med dependency patients strechers

and room for 4 high dependency CCAST patients

also fully integrated with the ATI (Air Transferable Insulator) for highly contagious patients

Question 25

what does CCAST stand for?

Answer 25

critical care air support team

Question 26

Which operations has A400M recently been deployed on?

Answer 26

Op Pitting
Op Coldstare (Mount Pleasant and South Georgia + Sandwich Islands - patrolling protected seabeds, photographing ice flows)
operating the air bridge from Falklands
OP Broadshare