Airbus Military's second production example of the A400M is now entering final assembly at the company's San Pablo site near Seville, Spain, with aircraft MSN8 destined for delivery to the French air force next year.
The nose and fuselage sections for MSN8 are pictured on the final assembly line, with Airbus Military saying that other major assemblies for the transport have also arrived within the past few weeks. "The integration of the wings and central wing-box for this aircraft began in February," the airframer says.
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France will be the launch operator of the Europrop International TP400-D6-engined A400M, with its first example, MSN7 having entered final assembly last November. Airbus Military is due to deliver the aircraft to the nation's air force before the end of March 2013.
Production work on the A400M is eventually expected to increase, to see the completion of about 30 aircraft a year for France and other buyers Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the UK.
Source: Flight International
