Book Review of
Atlas A400M
In Service With Air Forces Around the World
Author: Duke Hawkins
HMH Publications
ISBN: 978-2-931083-09-3
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $35.00
ISBN: 978-2-931083-09-3
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $35.00
The Airbus A400M Atlas is a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military (now Airbus Defence and Space) as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Transall C-160 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
The A400M is sized between the C-130 and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III; it can carry heavier loads than the C-130 and is able to use rough landing strips. Along with the transport role, the A400M can perform aerial refueling and medical evacuation when fitted with appropriate equipment.
The A400M's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 from Seville Airport, Spain.
Between 2009 and 2010, the A400M faced cancellation as a result of development programme delays and cost overruns; however, the customer nations chose to maintain their support for the project. A total of 174 A400M aircraft had been ordered by eight nations by July 2011. In March 2013, the A400M received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. The first aircraft was delivered to the French Air Force in August 2013.
SPECIFICATIONS;
Role: Strategic/tactical airlift / Aerial refueling
Manufacturer: Airbus Military / Airbus Defence and Space
First flight: 11 December 2009[1]
Introduction to service: 2013
Status: In service
Primary users: German Air Force, French Air and Space Force, Spanish Air Force, Royal Air Force
Produced: 2007–present
Number built: 110 as of 30 November 2021
THE BOOK:
iHMH Publications is based in Belgium.
This book is soft-cover of 140 pages in 9” x 9 ¼” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of an A400H flying over a lake. It is overall bare metal with a black nose. It shows Luftwaffe: on its sides.
The back cover shows another A400H parked on a runway at night. Too dark to make out any markings on it.
The book contains 297 color photos (including the cover arts). These photos show every inch, inside and out of A400H’s.
These photographs show A400H’s carrying markings for: The Royal Air Force, many for Luftwaffe, the Luxembourg Armed Forces, the Belgian Air Force, the Turkish Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the Armee de L’Air.
The last page of the book shows black and white cover arts of other HMH Publications books:
Jaguar, F-15 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Mirage 2000, Fulcrum, Tornado, Viggen, Hornet, C-130 Hercules, Mirage F1, Harrier II, Mig-31 Foxhound, Mirage III, Skyhawk, Phantom II, SIAI Marchetti SF-260, Sukhoi SU-25 Frogfoot, Alpha Jet and this book- A400M.
Announced as COMING SOON is book titled Aircraft Carrier Juan Carlos 1.
One great photo album on this aircraft. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a model of this aircraft and to aviation historians alike.
I wish to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of HMH Publications and all of their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
The A400M is sized between the C-130 and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III; it can carry heavier loads than the C-130 and is able to use rough landing strips. Along with the transport role, the A400M can perform aerial refueling and medical evacuation when fitted with appropriate equipment.
The A400M's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 from Seville Airport, Spain.
Between 2009 and 2010, the A400M faced cancellation as a result of development programme delays and cost overruns; however, the customer nations chose to maintain their support for the project. A total of 174 A400M aircraft had been ordered by eight nations by July 2011. In March 2013, the A400M received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification. The first aircraft was delivered to the French Air Force in August 2013.
SPECIFICATIONS;
Role: Strategic/tactical airlift / Aerial refueling
Manufacturer: Airbus Military / Airbus Defence and Space
First flight: 11 December 2009[1]
Introduction to service: 2013
Status: In service
Primary users: German Air Force, French Air and Space Force, Spanish Air Force, Royal Air Force
Produced: 2007–present
Number built: 110 as of 30 November 2021
THE BOOK:
iHMH Publications is based in Belgium.
This book is soft-cover of 140 pages in 9” x 9 ¼” page format.
The cover art shows a color photo of an A400H flying over a lake. It is overall bare metal with a black nose. It shows Luftwaffe: on its sides.
The back cover shows another A400H parked on a runway at night. Too dark to make out any markings on it.
The book contains 297 color photos (including the cover arts). These photos show every inch, inside and out of A400H’s.
These photographs show A400H’s carrying markings for: The Royal Air Force, many for Luftwaffe, the Luxembourg Armed Forces, the Belgian Air Force, the Turkish Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the Armee de L’Air.
The last page of the book shows black and white cover arts of other HMH Publications books:
Jaguar, F-15 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Mirage 2000, Fulcrum, Tornado, Viggen, Hornet, C-130 Hercules, Mirage F1, Harrier II, Mig-31 Foxhound, Mirage III, Skyhawk, Phantom II, SIAI Marchetti SF-260, Sukhoi SU-25 Frogfoot, Alpha Jet and this book- A400M.
Announced as COMING SOON is book titled Aircraft Carrier Juan Carlos 1.
One great photo album on this aircraft. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a model of this aircraft and to aviation historians alike.
I wish to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the North American distributor of HMH Publications and all of their titles can be viewed on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.