Hexcel's composites take to the sky in the A400M maiden flight

Hexcel congratulates Airbus on the first flight of the A400M military transport plane on 11th December 2009, in Seville, Spain.  Hexcel's composite materials are used extensively for the A400M for their superior strength, toughness and weight-saving ability.

The A400M has the first carbon fibre composite wing for a transporter aircraft, with wing skins and stringers manufactured using HexPly® carbon fibre/epoxy prepregs from Hexcel.  Other A400M structures made with Hexcel prepregs are parts of the empennage and a number of secondary structures including fairings.  Hexcel's HexWeb® engineered core honeycomb components are also used in several of the sandwich structures.

The photo shows the A400M rudder spar that Airbus provided as a display part for the opening of Hexcel’s prepreg plant in Nantes, France last year.  Hexcel materials are also used for A400M engine parts, including the rotor blades.