For the first time, the new TP400 engine for Airbus A400M military cargo aircraft was tested in an open test cell connected to the enormous propeller - 8 blades and about 5.5 metres diameter. The test was carried out in Istres (Marseilles, France) at the Snecma base.

The mechanical transmission is designed, developed and produced by Avio.
This is a fundamental subsystem as it transfers 11,000 HP from the engine to the propeller. The mechanical transmission is one of the three most innovative elements, underlined Josè Massol, Managing Director of EPI (the Consortium constituted by ITP - Spain, MTU - Germany, Rolls-Royce - Great Britain and Snecma Moteurs - France), during the presentation of the test in Istres to the representatives of the European governments, partners in the Programme, and representatives of Occar, Airbus Military, EASA and the EPI Shareholders. The other technological state-of-the-art elements are the architecture of the three-shaft engine and the control system. The new A400M military cargo aircraft will have a maximum weight at take-off of 130 tons.

Avio, who is involved in the engine programme in spite of the non-participation of Italy in the Group of nations financing the new aircraft, signed the contract in 2003 with EPI, taking on the responsibility of the largest power transmission ever produced in the western world, from the design, development and production to the in-service support.

A contract worth, during the whole life cycle, about 300 million euros.

The TP400 is an expression of the best European technologies and responds to the high standards required by the Air Forces as regards standard life, reliability and availability in a military operational environment. At present, the production of 750 engines is envisaged for 180 A400Ms, which have already been ordered by the Nations taking part in the Consortium. Finally, the possibility of export is very attractive, as confirmed by contacts that are already underway.

Source: Avio
Picture provided and copyrighted by EPI Europrop International
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