Ground runs commence for TP-400 engine flying test bed

The second week of June saw the first ground run of the A400M's TP-400 engine fitted to the Marshall-owned C-130 Hercules Flying Test Bed (FTB). After overcoming some technical difficulties due to unforeseen integration problems, the 10,000 shaft horsepower engine was run up for the first time in Cambridge, UK on June 10th.

Although not part of the contractual obligations, the FTB programme has been devised by Airbus Military as a risk mitigation exercise within the overall engine development programme.

Marshall Aerospace, with whom the contract for the FTB programme has been placed, has made extensive modifications to their C-130 in order to accommodate what is the most powerful turboprop engine yet produced in western Europe.

These modifications concern both the airframe and systems and include considerable revision of the Aircraft Operating Instructions and the Aircrew Manuals to encompass the procedures for operating the aircraft with two different engine and propeller types simultaneously.

The ground runs will enable engineers to test and measure engine start, nacelle ventilation, intake distortion, and engine noise and vibration levels. The results will also serve to clear the new Ratier-Figeac / Hamilton Sundstrand propeller for flight.