22 August 2016, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England — During one of the hottest summers ever recorded in Europe for over 150 years, with current temperatures always well above 30°C (86°F), Airbus Defence and Space has successfully demonstrated the capability of the A400M to operate on a sand runway – the last of three unprepared types of surface on which the aircraft is due to be certified by the EASA.
The on-going tests using the development aircraft MSN002 took place over a three week period this August on a specially constructed airstrip at the former RAF station in Woodbridge, East Anglia. A final week of tests is expected to include operations at increasingly higher weights. The A400M demonstrated excellent performance in taxying manoeuvres, such as U-turns, and during take-off and landing on the 1,600m (5,250ft) strip. These tests followed earlier successful results on the gravel surface last year at Ablitas in Spain and a grass runway at Écury in France.
The photo shows MSN002 EC-402 — one of three A400M prototypes still active, along with MSN004 and 006 — taking off from Woodbridge. Constructed in 1943 as a RAF military airfield during WW2 to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Nazi Germany it was later used by the USAF during the Cold War being the primary home for the 81st Fighter Wing (under various designations) until 1993 when the last A-10s left the base.
Since 2006, Woodbridge airfield has been split up and the two parts officially renamed as Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks. Woodbridge Airfield is used by the British Army Air Corps aircraft for training and Rock Barracks are home to the newly formed 23rd Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the Royal Engineers corps.
