The TP400 power-plant developed for the A400M by EuroProp International (EPI) took to the air for the first time on 17th December 2008 on the Lockheed C-130K flight test-bed. The TP400 is installed on the inner left engine mount of the C-130K which is otherwise powered by three of the usually four Allison T56 turbopropellers The aircraft took off at 10.44 local time from Cambridge airfield (UK) where Marshall Aerospace, which is conducting the flight test-bed trials, is based, and touched down at 11.59 local time. The flight lasted one hour and 15 minutes. During the flight, various flight characteristics such as aircraft basic handling and TP400 response at a thrust equivalent to the maximum power generated by each of the other T56 engines were tested to satisfaction in several aircraft configurations up to a speed of 165kts and an altitude of 8,000ft. This was a first step in the aircraft envelope opening. It will allow progress towards the completion of the approximately 50 flight test hours planned to reach sufficient maturity for the engine itself. Once this is achieved and sufficient maturity and satisfactory integration is also reached for the global propulsion system, it will be able to subsequently fly on the A400M.
"The termination of the contract is due to extensive cost escalation and the supplier's failure to deliver the aircraft within the stipulated timeframes," he told a media briefing following Wednesday's regular Cabinet meeting.
The original cost of acquiring the eight military airlift planes was R17-billion, but going ahead with the deal would now mean paying in the region of R40-billion due to cost increases, he said.
The R2,9-billion already paid would be refunded to the National Treasury as per the contract provisions.
There would be no penalties for cancelling the contract, because of the delays in the delivery deadlines stipulated in the contract, Maseko said.
The cost escalation would have placed an unaffordable burden on the taxpayer at a time when the national fiscus was under pressure due to the economic downturn.
Maseko said the decision followed a review of the contract by the ministries of defence, finance, trade and industry, science and technology, and public enterprises.
The South African Air Force would now have to go back to the drawing board to reassess its current airlift capacity and needs.
The cancellation might affect South Africa's peacekeeping missions in Africa, Maseko said.
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