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A400 EC-406

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james143611
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A400 EC-406

Post by james143611 » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:41 am

Hello all,

I've taken up military spotting in the past year or so and have the Military Markings 2017 book by Howard J Curtis.

I've recently started to backdate some sightings from past shows, and I have A400 EC-406 logged at Fairford RIAT 2015.

Thing is I don't know where EC-406 is in the book, does it exist in that book? If so could someone point to where I can find it please?


James.

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LTFT5
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by LTFT5 » Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:23 am

Hi,
The book you are using will only list UK aircraft with a military serial, i.e. those in service with the Royal Air Force/ Navy etc.
The serial you have is now ZM401, but flew as a demonstrator under EC-406, the book will not list the Airbus registrations.
In short EC-406 is now registered as ZM401 as it now fly's for the Royal Air Force after being delivered in Feb 2016.
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

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Freeman Lowell
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by Freeman Lowell » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:59 am

Confusion arises as the manufacturer of the A400M uses the registration series EC-XXX (where XXX represents numerals) as test registrations which, in some cases can be used more than once. EC-406 at Fairford in 2015 was and (still is) c/n 006.
EC-406 c/n 016 became ZM401.
So, the aircraft you saw was a manufacturers operated aircraft and,as LYFT5 says, will not be in Howard’s book.
Freeman
It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see.

Davef68
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by Davef68 » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:22 am

Have a look here - EC-401 has been used a lot!

https://www.planespotters.net/productio ... irbus/A400

(EC- is of course the Spanish Civi Registration prefix, which is normally a letter combination, so presumably Airbus has the numeric ones as the aviation equivalent of trade plates!)

james143611
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by james143611 » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:07 pm

Ah thank you! I have seen it as ZM401 didn't realise that was that one. There was me like an idiot looking under 'Spain' for it!

Out of interest I assume the non-EU stuff is just selective stuff? I noticed the Wedgetail that was at RIAT last year is missing (but the other ones are there). Theres a couple of odd bits not in there either (Kawasaki P-1's assuming they are still about though)

POL
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by POL » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:31 pm

james143611 wrote:Ah thank you! I have seen it as ZM401 didn't realise that was that one. There was me like an idiot looking under 'Spain' for it!
That's the point, you haven't.

The EC-406 that you've seen is a different one to the one that is now ZM401.

Supra
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by Supra » Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:38 pm

Freeman Lowell wrote:Confusion arises as the manufacturer of the A400M uses the registration series EC-XXX (where XXX represents numerals) as test registrations which, in some cases can be used more than once. EC-406 at Fairford in 2015 was and (still is) c/n 006.
EC-406 c/n 016 became ZM401.
So, the aircraft you saw was a manufacturers operated aircraft and,as LYFT5 says, will not be in Howard’s book.
Freeman
Soooo, 'LTFT5' is correct about not being in the Book & the Fairford 2015 iteration being MSN 006 & remaining operated by Airbus Military! Glad that's all cleared-up then. :whistle:
Was EC406 MSN016 ever seen at a Public Event before becoming ZM401??
Therefore, unless you've seem ZM401 in those actual markings subsequently, you haven't seen this airframe before? ;)
EDIT- AS stated by EGVP.

james143611
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by james143611 » Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:23 pm

Oh I see sorry, got confused with the post further up.

Supra - so cn 006 is still with Airbus?

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bizfreeq
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Re: A400 EC-406

Post by bizfreeq » Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:37 pm

Yes
Cheers
Mark



If our airforces are never used, they have achieved their finest goal.
— General Nathan F. Twining

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