20230715 (80)_ZM421_Airbus_A400M_Atlas_C1
The European joint project A400M seen here in RAF service in the static at RIAT. This large turboprop transport is in currently in service with the RAF and Belgian, French, German, Spanish and Turkish air forces. Most of those also operate the C-130 for specialist roles such as special forces transport or for smaller and rougher airfields (indeed some long-time avoiders of the C-130 have recently invested in it despite having A400Ms) but the RAF has abandoned its 56 year Hercules user status despite recently selecting its C-130s for the rescue of British citizens from Sudan rather than the larger and faster A400Ms.
20230715 (80)_ZM421_Airbus_A400M_Atlas_C1
The European joint project A400M seen here in RAF service in the static at RIAT. This large turboprop transport is in currently in service with the RAF and Belgian, French, German, Spanish and Turkish air forces. Most of those also operate the C-130 for specialist roles such as special forces transport or for smaller and rougher airfields (indeed some long-time avoiders of the C-130 have recently invested in it despite having A400Ms) but the RAF has abandoned its 56 year Hercules user status despite recently selecting its C-130s for the rescue of British citizens from Sudan rather than the larger and faster A400Ms.