The Airbus Military A400M has today completed a challenging series of tests to determine the lowest speed at which it can take-off - known as minimum unstick speed of Vmu.
During the test performed at Istres in France, the aircraft's nose was raised until a special "bumper" fitted to the rear fuselage struck the ground at the maximum pitch-up angle of 13deg. In the close-up photo, sparks can be seen flying from the bumper as it drags on the runway.
