The first complete empennage consisting of the Vertical and Horizontal Tailplanes (VTP and HTP) is in the final stages of assembly. Consisting of an 11 x 9 metre vertical fin and a 67sq metre horizontal stabiliser, the all-composite empennage incorporates components manufactured by CTRM, Airbus Military’s programme partner in Malaysia. The A400M’s empennage will be the biggest T-tail structure yet incorporated into a European transport aircraft.
Integration of the first VTP is taking place in Stade, Germany, where the rudder has been assembled and trials with a dummy HTP have been carried out. Four more VTPs are being equipped and a further three are in production.
Two HTPs have now been produced at the Tablada facility near Seville. One is undergoing tests at the FAL, the other being sent to Getafe to join the other elements of A/C 5000 in the static test rig.