13-04-2025
Edinburgh locals awestruck as RAF military transport aircraft arrives in capital
A huge RAF warplane touched down in Edinburgh on Sunday morning, with keen aviation enthusiasts lining up with their cameras.
The Airbus A400M Atlas arrived at Edinburgh Airport from its base at Brize Norton before taking off once more shortly before 1pm, heading for Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland.
Ray French was among those eagerly waiting with their cameras to snap pictures of the rare spectacle as he captured the aircraft as it began its descent into Edinburgh Airport.
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The Atlas entered operational service with the RAF back in 2014, with its role primarily dedicated to providing tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift assistance alongside the Hercules and C-17 fleets.
Describing the aircraft online, the RAF says: "Atlas (Atlas C.1 A400M) has the ability to carry a 37-tonne payload over 2,000nm to established and remote civilian and military airfields, and short unprepared or semi-prepared strips.
"Capable of operating at altitudes up to 40,000ft, Atlas also offers impressive low-level capability.
"It will accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops; vehicles; helicopters, including a Chinook; mixed loads, including nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or combinations of vehicles, pallets and personnel, up to a payload of 37 tonnes.
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"Loads are delivered by parachute, gravity extraction from the aircraft's rear ramp (influenced by the cargo's own weight), or by landing. Paratroops will be dropped from the aircraft's dedicated paratroop doors, or from the rear ramp.
"The Atlas (Atlas C.1 A400M) is operated by two pilots and a Weapons Systems Operator (Crewman) (WSOp (Cmn))."
