See inside the Airbus A400M Atlas military plane made famous by Tom Cruise that can carry helicopters and land on beaches

Pete Syme,Taylor RainsSep 1, 2024, 18:09 IST

The Airbus A400M can airdrop payloads and land on beaches.AS1 Niran Lewis/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence; Cpl Aaron J Stone/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Airbus A400M Atlas is a military aircraft featured in a Tom Cruise stunt.</li><li>The UK's Royal Air Force has used it to send humanitarian aid to Gaza and evacuate civilians from Kabul.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-airbus-a400m-atlas-military-cargo-plane-tom-cruise-2022-1">Airbus A400M Atlas</a> is a military aircraft used by 10 countries, mostly in Europe.A versatile airlifter, it competes with <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/c-130j-30-air-force-slideshow-2019-7">Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules</a>.For some the Atlas might be most recognizable as <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-cruise-best-stunts-all-time-ranked-2022-5">the plane Tom Cruise hangs off</a> during a stunt in "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation."However, there is much more to it than that. The A400M can transport helicopters or more than 200 people, as in the 2021 Kabul evacuation. It can land on beaches or short runways and, thanks to air-to-air refueling, fly across the world.At July's <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neither-boeing-nor-airbus-won-this-years-farnborough-airshow-2024-7">Farnborough Airshow</a>, Business Insider had the chance to learn more about the A400M with a tour led by a pilot from the UK's Royal Air Force.

An Airbus A400M operated by the UK's Royal Air Force was on display at the Farnborough Airshow.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

It's the same type of plane that Tom Cruise hung off during a fearsome stunt for "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation."

Tom Cruise at the film's Times Square premiere in 2015.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic via Getty Images

The RAF has used it for missions like sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

In April, British armed forces used the A400M to airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza.AS1 Niran Lewis/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

It's also capable of air-to-air refueling and fighting fires.

Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets line up behind an A400M to refuel.Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images

With a 20-metric-ton payload, the A400M can fly 3,450 nautical miles.

The A400M's ramp.Pete Syme/Business Insider

Stepping on board, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the Atlas.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

It can transport a payload of up to 37 metric tons and has a volume of 12,000 cubic feet.

The interior of an A400M.Pete Syme/Business Insider

It's versatile and can carry nine pallets of cargo along with 54 passengers.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

The floor has rails and rollers to move cargo, and tie-down rings to secure payloads.

A close-up of rollers on the floor.Pete Syme/Business Insider

Seats are attached to the sides of the plane.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

In situations like Operation Pitting, the 2021 Kabul evacuation, far more people can be carried.

British forces during Operation Pitting.Leading Hand Ben Shread/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

Underneath the cockpit at the front of the plane is the loadmaster's station.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

For me, the highlight of the tour was seeing the flight deck upstairs.

The stairs leading up to the cockpit.Pete Syme/Business Insider

Technology here includes a heads-up display and fly-by-wire controls.

A first-person view from the A400M pilot seat.Pete Syme/Business Insider

Flt Lt Lawrence Sutton praised the flying experience of the A400M.

An overview of the A400M flight deck.Pete Syme/Business Insider

The A400M has 12 landing gears that provide huge capabilities.

Pete Syme/Business Insider

These allow the plane to land on worn-out runways or even beaches.

An A400M landing at Pembrey Sands beach in Wales.Cpl Aaron J Stone/Courtesy of UK Ministry of Defence

I drove Honda's $43,000 CR-V Hybrid. It's one of the finest compact SUVs money can buy.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

See inside the Airbus A400M Atlas military plane made famous by Tom Cruise that can carry helicopters and land on beaches

An Airbus A400M operated by the UK's Royal Air Force was on display at the Farnborough Airshow.

It's the same type of plane that Tom Cruise hung off during a fearsome stunt for "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation."

The RAF has used it for missions like sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

It's also capable of air-to-air refueling and fighting fires.

With a 20-metric-ton payload, the A400M can fly 3,450 nautical miles.

Stepping on board, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the Atlas.

It can transport a payload of up to 37 metric tons and has a volume of 12,000 cubic feet.

It's versatile and can carry nine pallets of cargo along with 54 passengers.

The floor has rails and rollers to move cargo, and tie-down rings to secure payloads.

Seats are attached to the sides of the plane.

In situations like Operation Pitting, the 2021 Kabul evacuation, far more people can be carried.

Underneath the cockpit at the front of the plane is the loadmaster's station.

For me, the highlight of the tour was seeing the flight deck upstairs.

Technology here includes a heads-up display and fly-by-wire controls.

Flt Lt Lawrence Sutton praised the flying experience of the A400M.

The A400M has 12 landing gears that provide huge capabilities.

These allow the plane to land on worn-out runways or even beaches.