A400M, which developed in cooperation with the European countries, increase its abilities in line of the “multirole platform” term.
The French DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement / General Management of Armament) announced on 20 August that the A400M multi-role transport aircraft conducted wet contact with a helicopter for the first time. Thus, the platform will be certified another of its capabilities in the field. In the campaign to be carried out on 20-31 August, A400M test aircraft registered in the Airbus inventory, will conduct fuel transfer trials with an H225M Caracal utility helicopter belonging to the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air / ALA), at different speed, altitude and ambient conditions and flight envelopes, will be subjected to a program to test parameters such as contact, separation and fuel transfer.
The company announced in September 2019 that the two platforms completed dry-contact tests. Air-toar refuelling, which is a very demanding process, that requires higher capability and attention for helicopters. The process, which is carried out by combining rotary-wing aircraft with probe equipment with the refuelling basket released from the aircraft at a safe distance, includes many risks. Due to the nature of aeroplanes, refuelling is conducted during forwar movement. The helicopter provides speed control by directing the rotor towards to front. In this orientation called “Trim”, a risky situation such as the blades cutting the supply hose in case of the rotor trimmed too much. In addition, the main rotor blades, which collect the static electricity in the air during the rotational movement, are another element that creates a danger during the transfer of the highly flammable fuel.
The A400M, which does not have a refuelling boom, provides fuel transfer to compatible aircraft with two hose-drum units attached to the outer wing stations.
