No Sky, it is actually desirable to have as many different opinions as possible to avoid a cosy thing called "Groupthink." So, don't be shy to post your opinions. Healthy debate is much more desirable than a lot of yes-men nodding their heads in unison, which is rather comical. Some leg-pulling from time-to-time cannot be resisted "peace".
It is difficult to compair aircraft and proclaim that x is the best because it depends on what your requirements are. If you want to drop a guided bomb on a specific target 300 km away, it is illogical to argue that a B52 is better than a Gripen or a Mig just because the B52 can haul more bombs further.
Maybe, compairing the An-70 with the A400M, the An-70 is better if they are intended for the same purpose, I don't know. Apart from performance, other things like reliability, availability of spares, operating cost, ease of maintenance, adaptability, etc. also plays a role. Can the An-70 also be configured for multiple purposes like air-to-air refueling as easlily as the A400M? Then again, it seems as if the chances are that the An-70 might not even be produced. Here are some stats from Wikipedia that proclaims that for a 20-tonne payload, the operational distances for the two aircraft are almost the same, keeping in mind that the actual stats will be different from these stats since I am sure that one can't rely on stats plastered all over the show on websites:
An-70 Crew: 3-5 Capacity: 300 troops or 206 wounded Payload: 47 tonnes (2.25g) (103,620 lb (2.25g)) of cargo Length: 40.7 m (133 ft 6 in) Wingspan: 44.06 m (144 ft 7 in) Height: 16.38 m (53 ft 9 in) Empty weight: 66,230 kg (146,000 lb) Loaded weight: 108,860 kg (240,000 lb) Max takeoff weight: 145,000 kg (2.25g) (319,725 lb (2.25g)) Powerplant: 4× Progress D-27 propfans, 10,350 kW (14,000 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 780 km/h (420 knots, 485 mph) Range: 6,600 km (3,600 nm, 4,100 mi) with 20 tonnes of cargo Ferry range: 8,000 km (4,320 nm, 4,970 mi) Service ceiling: 12,000 m (40,000 ft) Rate of climb: 24.9 m/s (4,900 ft/min)
A400M Crew: 3 or 4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster) Capacity:
37,000 kg (82,000 lb) 116 fully equipped troops / paratroops, up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel Length: 45.1 m (147 ft 10 in) Wingspan: 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in) Height: 14.7 m (48 ft 2 in) Empty weight: 70 tonnes (154,000 lb) Max takeoff weight: 141 tonnes (310,852 lb) Powerplant: 4× EuroProp International TP400-D6[34] turboprop, 8,250 kW (11,000 hp) each Total Internal Fuel: 50.5 tonnes (111,333 lb) Max. Landing Weight: 114 tonnes (251,000 lb)
Performance
Cruise speed: 780 km/h (420 kt, 485 mph Mach 0.68 - 0.72)
Initial Cruise Altitude: at MTOW: 9,000 m (29,000 ft)) Range: 3,298 km (1,780 nmi) at max payload (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A)
Range at 30-tonne payload: 4,540 km (2,450 nmi) Range at 20-tonne payload: 6,390 km (3,450 nmi) Ferry range: 8,710 km (4,700 nmi) Service ceiling: 11,300 m (37,000 ft) Maximum Operating Altitude: 12,000 m (40,000 ft) Tactical Takeoff Distance: 980 m (3,215 ft) (aircraft weight 100 tonnes, soft field, ISA, sea level) Tactical Landing Distance: 770 m (2,526 ft) (as above) Turning Radius (Ground): 28.6 m
_________________ Stay foolish; stay hungry
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