On what date did the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft make its first flight?

The Airbus A400M military transport aircraft made its first flight on 11 December 2009.

The prototype departed from Seville, Spain, where final assembly of the aircraft takes place. The flight began the test programme for a turboprop transport designed to combine strategic range with tactical airlift capability.

The A400M was developed for several European nations and is powered by four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop engines. It is larger and faster than many tactical transports while remaining capable of operating from relatively short or unprepared runways.

The first flight date is sometimes mixed up with later certification and delivery milestones. The aircraft entered operational service with the French Air and Space Force in 2013, several years after the prototype’s initial flight.