Xeque
3rd May 2008, 06:43
I really don't know what to make of this. It comes from The Cargo Letter and it's (I'm told) repeated at http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc45/ but I haven't located the direct reference yet.
***Biggest Honeymoon Secret Ever? ....... as starting in Sept. newlyweds can start their dream trip on a Royal Air Force mid-air refueling plane, and the chances are they will be blissfully unaware of their luck. Britain's military is leasing a fleet of aerial tankers from a private consortium led by Airbus parent EADS in a landmark outsourcing deal. The converted A330 passenger jets can carry 60 tons of fuel to refuel up to 4 fighters or else serve as transporters carrying 300 troops & their equipment. Officials involved in the project say some of the jets will also double as charter planes for tourists to earn their keep whenever they are not needed to serve the front line. Because new jetliners are more efficient than the decades-old VC-10s & Tristars they replace, there will be enough space for fuel for refueling in the aircraft's main tanks as well as a fully fitted cabin interior for passengers. With a plain livery, most passengers should be unaware their ordinary looking charter jet may have seen action over Afghanistan or Iraq on -- hopefully -- separate missions. The long-range, wide-body A330-200 model on which the tankers are based has a maximum range of 12,500 km or 6,750 nautical miles. With one of its ordinary airline users, it flies daily from France to holiday & honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean.
Can anyone throw any light upon this odd story? It is well past April 1st isn't it?
***Biggest Honeymoon Secret Ever? ....... as starting in Sept. newlyweds can start their dream trip on a Royal Air Force mid-air refueling plane, and the chances are they will be blissfully unaware of their luck. Britain's military is leasing a fleet of aerial tankers from a private consortium led by Airbus parent EADS in a landmark outsourcing deal. The converted A330 passenger jets can carry 60 tons of fuel to refuel up to 4 fighters or else serve as transporters carrying 300 troops & their equipment. Officials involved in the project say some of the jets will also double as charter planes for tourists to earn their keep whenever they are not needed to serve the front line. Because new jetliners are more efficient than the decades-old VC-10s & Tristars they replace, there will be enough space for fuel for refueling in the aircraft's main tanks as well as a fully fitted cabin interior for passengers. With a plain livery, most passengers should be unaware their ordinary looking charter jet may have seen action over Afghanistan or Iraq on -- hopefully -- separate missions. The long-range, wide-body A330-200 model on which the tankers are based has a maximum range of 12,500 km or 6,750 nautical miles. With one of its ordinary airline users, it flies daily from France to holiday & honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean.
Can anyone throw any light upon this odd story? It is well past April 1st isn't it?