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See inside the Airbus A400M Atlas military plane made famous by Tom Cruise that can carry helicopters and land on beaches

September 1, 20240

Pete Syme/Business Insider

The heavy airlifter has received 178 orders from 10 nations. Germany’s 53 orders top the list, followed by France’s 50. The UK and Spain have also ordered more than 20.

It’s the same type of plane that Tom Cruise hung off during a fearsome stunt for “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation.”
In April, British armed forces used the A400M to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza.

AS1 Niran Lewis/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

From Cyprus, it flew 11 missions and dropped a total of about 110 metric tons of aid to civilians in Gaza.

The RAF also used the A400M during the 2021 Kabul evacuation.

It’s also capable of air-to-air refueling and fighting fires.
The A400M’s ramp.

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By contrast, the C130-J Super Hercules favored by the US Air Force can only do 1,800 nautical miles with a payload of 15 metric tons.

Stepping on board, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the Atlas.
The interior of an A400M.

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It’s versatile and can carry nine pallets of cargo along with 54 passengers.
A close-up of rollers on the floor.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

We were specifically warned not to step on the rollers because they’re designed to send payloads out the back of the plane.

Seats are attached to the sides of the plane.
British forces during Operation Pitting.

Leading Hand Ben Shread/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

During Operation Pitting, 3,538 people were evacuated in 30 successful missions — a maximum of 218 in one flight.

Sutton said that the military would attach straps normally used for cargo across evacuees’ laps to give some form of protection.

“They will be taken out in relative comfort,” he added. “It’s not British Airways at that point, but they get out.”

Underneath the cockpit at the front of the plane is the loadmaster’s station.
The stairs leading up to the cockpit.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

Technology here includes a heads-up display and fly-by-wire controls.
An overview of the A400M flight deck.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

“The aircraft makes it easy,” he said. “All pilots have to do is think about the mission, not the flying, which is a beautiful thing.”

“You can take this jet fast or you can take it low; you can be tactical with it,” he added. “We prefer it that way. It’s safer for us to be down doing that kind of work, and it’s just a pleasure to fly.”

The A400M has 12 landing gears that provide huge capabilities.
An A400M landing at Pembrey Sands beach in Wales.

Cpl Aaron J Stone/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

The RAF conducts training drills at Pembrey Sands in Wales.

“We close it off to the public, the tide goes out, and that is where the aircraft lands,” Sutton said. “That is a soft surface with an aircraft that is potentially up to 123 [metric tons] in weight. We don’t train at that, but we are capable of that.”