vio was selected to supply the propellergearbox for the TP400-D6 engine, cho-sen to equip the A400M, the future Eu-

ropean military transport aircraft.The propeller gearbox is a very complex moduleand needs demanding state-of-the-art technologi-cal requirements, especially in terms of weightand efficiency. It will be the largest propellergearbox ever developed in the western world. The A400M was designed according to re-quirements specified by the Air Forces from theseven countries participating in the project (Ger-many, Belgium, Spain, France, Luxembourg, theUnited Kingdom and Turkey). The aircraft, pow-ered by four TP400-D6 turboprop engines, willcover tactical, logistical and humanitarian trans-port missions, satisfying the requirements ofmodern peacekeeping operations.The A400M will be able to transport loads upto 37 tons (cargo version) or 120 fully equippedmilitary personnel. It will be capable of coveringa distance of about 3,550 nm with a 20-tonload, at a speed of 422 kn.The TP400-D6 is a three-shaft turboprop enginein the 10,000 s.h.p. class. Airbus Military SASwill handle the management, development andmanufacture for the A400M programme, whilethe engine is under the responsibility of Euro-prop International (EPI), a European Consortium

A

comprising Industria de Turbo Propulsores, MTUAero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma Mo-teurs. The participating nations have ordered180 aircraft, leading to an engine deliverystream close to 750 units, including spares.The first engine test successfully took place inthe third quarter of 2005; currently, testing ofthe engine is ongoing.The first Type Certificate Standard (TCS) powergearbox was delivered in November 2006 andthe Flight Test Bed (FTB) in December 2006.The first engine (TCS) flight was carried out on 17December 2008 on the Lockheed Martin C-130KFTB aircraft. The FTB activities covered the initial53 flight hours by December 2009.The first A400M flight took place in December2009 at the Airbus Military Base in Seville,Spain. In April 2010, the second aircraft alsojoined the flying programme. To date, the firstaircraft has already completed 66 flight hours

TP400-D6Military aviation

Propeller gearboxfor the TP400-D6, the

engine selected for theA400M power plant

Tp400_2010 22/06/10 09:50 Pagina 3

during 15 flights, and is now based atToulouse, France. The third and fourth A400Maricrafts are expected to fly by the end of2010.Avio developed a second propeller gearbox stan-dard named propeller gearbox standard TCSNEB (New Engine Baseline), which differs fromthe TCS for the introduction of the brake optionand taking into account new load requirements.Currently, the Redesign Engine Mount System(REMS) propeller gearbox will supersede theTCS NEB configuration. The new REMS PGBwill increase the structural capability of theFront Engine Mount System (FEMS) and assessthe impact on the PGB due to the revision of theengine oil system and air system.The first of 5 PGB prototypes with the REMS stan-dard, requested for the power rig and enginebench test, will be delivered by December 2010.

Propulsion in the sky, space and sea

Via I Maggio, 99 - 10040 Rivalta di Torino - Torino (Italy) - Tel. +39 011 0082111

www.aviogroup.com

Main propeller gearboxcharacteristics•power: around 8,000 kW•output torque: around 100 kN*m•gear ratio: around 9.5:1• very high power density and efficiency• reliability similar to “best-in-class”

gearboxes for commercial turboprops

Architecture and technologiesBased on two reduction stages.First stage Off-Set design and second stageplanetary system.The gearbox incorporates the best of ourtechnologies, proven through:• technology readiness programmes• field experience on turboprop and helicopter

gearboxes.

Tp400_2010 16/06/10 15:55 Pagina 2