Air Transportation: Replacing Missing A400Ms

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April 9, 2010:  France has bought eight CN-235 transports, as a stopgap measure because of the delay in delivery of the larger A400M transports. The CN-235s were jointly developed by Spain and Indonesia. These two engine transports will cost about $38 million each. The 16 ton CN-235 can carry five tons of equipment, or 40 passengers, and stay in the air for about eight hours per sortie. Range is 3,500 kilometers. Cruise speed is about 380 kilometers an hour. France already has 19 CN-235s. The first A400Ms are not expected to enter French service until 2014.