A400M, made its first ever landing in Filton last Thursday the 24th of March, after a brief airshow over the airport. My 
first impression...? It is a beautiful machine...more than what I though...and more than what it looks in pictures...! I saw it before, once I was in Toulouse , but walking around it, and underneath the wings, seeing it just 10 meters away from you that almost you can touch it, it is more tasty, there is more time to appreciate the all the details and how good it looks like and actually it is. And how actually big the tail is! I feel always very proud when our planes come to Filton. It does not happen very often unfortunately, but that also mean that those few event are quite special! A400M is the first 
military aircraft designed and produced by Airbus. It’s FAL is in Seville, Spain. Here in Filton we produce and assemble the wings, in the same building where the Concorde, few years back, was assembled. Even though I haven’t worked at this programme, many of my friends have and are still working hard on it, during the ongoing flight test campaign. It’s a big challenge and a big effort for them and for all Airbus, but it will payoff eventually. I am certain of it. And I must say they are doing a great job.
