A330 AAR Boom Goes AWOL

[NoFaultFound]

It would appear a boom has fallen of MRTT this week

Airbus Military investigates A330 in-flight boom detachment (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-military-investigates-a330-in-flight-boom-detachment-376316/)

NFF:ooh:

[NutLoose]

I wonder if it managed to be A Sonic Boom as it whistled past.... :E


I'll get my coat..

[BossEyed]

Nutloose, you old rogue. (sp?)

[uffington sb]

I thought they were hose and drogue equipped. They don't look like booms to me.

[Vick Van Guard]

You would have thought Flight could have made a bit more of an effort with their illustration.

[hoodie]

It's a UAE aircraft, as in the incident, and you can that it has a boom. What's wrong with that?

http://www.flightglobal.com/Assets/GetAsset.aspx?ItemID=47382 :8

[D-IFF_ident]

It's a UAE aircraft, as in the incident, and you can that it has a boom. What's wrong with that?

Because it currently (allegedly) doesn't? :}

[cornish-stormrider]

boom boom boom boom boom boom, an homage to messr Bald Rick :E and his definitive work - the german guns!

if the boom does fall in the forest and there is no-one to hear it, does it make a sound?

[NutLoose]

And after the first boom boom I thought you were going to say Basil Brush.

[chopper2004]

I guess sales of the MRTT will be booming in light of this :=:sad::ok:

It be boom time soon :)

[Willard Whyte]

It's like a John Lee Hooker tribute hereabouts.

[chopper2004]

Any former boomers in the crew?

[BEagle]

ANOTHER A330MRTT boom detachment :eek: ???

To misquote Oscar Wilde:

"To lose one boom, Señor Airbus, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose another looks like carelessness."

[brakechute]

It was not lost, just temporarily misplaced!

[Tankertrashnav]

hoodie - I must admit I didn't see the boom either when I looked at the pic - I suppose that the concept of a tanker fitted with both systems is pretty unusual, and as the hoses were deployed I didn't noticed the boom tucked away. Does this version have a centreline hose on a(n) HDU as well? Looks as though it has from the pic.

Could have been worse - Spain has had scarier bits of military hardware dropped on it in the past

1966 Palomares B-52 crash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Palomares_B-52_crash)

[Clockwork Mouse]

Looks as though our procurers made a sound, and fortunate, decision in going for drogues only.

[minigundiplomat]

I thought Gordon Brown announced an end to busted booms
.
.
.
.
.
or was it boom and bust
.
.
.
.
.
I'll get my coat

[TBM-Legend]

when was the last time you heard of a boom "falling" off a Boeing KC-97, KC-135 or KC-10 now? If it ain't Boeing, I'm not going...:ok:

[greenhornet]

How did this one come off, all on it's own?

[Arm out the window]

Maybe it was on a promise, having heard someone singing "Boom boom boom, let's go back to my room..."

[BEagle]

More information (plus picture of the wrong variant - it shows a Voyager KC3) here:

EADS Tanker Loses Boom Over Spain (http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_09_11_2012_p0-494036.xml)

Tankertrashnav, the KC-10 has had both systems for at least 25 years now - and some have wing pods as well.

Boeing-lovers seem to overlook the KC-767I buffet and flutter farce, forgetting that the KC-767 wing hose system took years to develop and still has significant limitations - although admittedly no bits fell off during trials......

[Baron 58P]

Who was it said "Boom Boom and awaaaaaaay!!?

[ORAC]

Defense News: Refueling Boom Falls off Airbus A330 Tanker During Test Flight (http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120911/DEFREG02/309110001/Refueling-Boom-Falls-off-Airbus-A330-Tanker-During-Test-Flight?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE)

.....LONDON — An Airbus Military A330 tanker’s refueling boom fell off during a test flight over Spain, Airbus said.

The plane, scheduled to be delivered to the United Arab Emirates later this month, was flying in a region between Madrid and Portugal when the incident happened at 7:30 p.m. local time Sept. 10.

An Airbus Military spokesman said it was “too early” to give any indication as to the cause of the mishap. The spokesman said Airbus had “advised the Royal Australian Air Force as a precautionary measure to stop using the boom until further investigations had taken place.”..........

The UAE aircraft was flying at 27,000 feet conducting a series of tests, including deploying the boom, when the system fell away at the point where it links to the fuselage..........

The Airbus Military crew manning the A330 was deploying the boom when it fell from the fuselage, people familiar with the incident said........

[Tankertrashnav]

Beagle - thanks for the info. As the last time I trailed a hose was in November 1976 you will have to forgive my ignorance about what to me is still a modern aircraft ;)

[charliegolf]

After the first one, they might have twigged that, 'pushing it into the hole, really hard', is not an engineering norm. Rather, a big nail or a couple of pop rivets might do a better job. I always think that the goop you put round the bath is better than nothing, but it has to have time to dry.

They can feel free to use my ideas.

CG

[greenhornet]

Airbus had “advised the Royal Australian Air Force as a precautionary measure to stop using the boom until further investigations had taken place.”..........

Very nice of Airbus, but RAAF has never used the boom. The RAAF probably noticed issues when the first one fell off a RAAF owned jet during Airbus testing, but as the boom is not yet certified on the RAAF KC-30 they have never lowered it from boom stowed position in flight.

[BBadanov]

yes gh, you are right.

A39-001 (the boom incident with Port F-16) is still in CASA_Spain/Airbus_France having the boom fitted and brought up to final configuration. Was to be delivered in December.

Meanwhile, the other 3 'accepted' jets (002,3 and 4) are in service with 33SQN undergoing OT&E, but not with the boom, just AT and drogue. 005 is still with QDS in BNE I think, for delivery shortly.

[BEagle]

BBadanov, has there been any PR release about how well the Commonwealth's new tanker/transport jet fared during EX. PITCH BLACK?

[Yeller_Gait]

The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed its newest aircraft, the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, to RAAF Base Townsville for Exercise Pitch Black 12.

This deployment is the first multi-national exercise for the KC-30A, which is designed to perform airborne refuelling.

[/URL]

[url]http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2012/aug/0810.htm (http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2012/aug/0810.htm)

From what I remember, the tanker was flying every day during PB12 doing the job it was supposed to.

Y_G

[Trackmaster]

005 departed Brisbane more than a month ago for Spain for final acceptance tests.

[ShyTorque]

After the first one, they might have twigged that, 'pushing it into the hole, really hard', is not an engineering norm. Rather, a big nail or a couple of pop rivets might do a better job. I always think that the goop you put round the bath is better than nothing, but it has to have time to dry.

They can feel free to use my ideas.

CG

CG, Your engineering talents were wasted.

Thankfully. :ok:

What's wrong with black bodge tape, anyway? We always carried a roll or two for the nose bay.....

[NutLoose]

Wouldn't happen on a UK one... Gordon Brown clearly said he had got rid of the Boom/Bust cycle


I'll get my coat

[ShyTorque]

Not forgetting plastic tie-wraps. You need one of those to hang up the roll of bodge tape.

And you need a bit of black bodge tape to hold the tie-wraps in a bundle.

[sycamore]

S-T, only if you fly Pumas...S-K and Gaz use `speed-tape`..under the control of a SNCO(competent)..

[ShyTorque]

Why would they need "speed" tape on a Sea King? Surely, Sellotape would be quick enough at those speeds. ;)

[NoFaultFound]

Found this, text not English I'm afraid, but the picture shows the damage to the back of the jet... And a picture paints etc!

Un Airbus Military A330 MRTT pierde la pértiga de repostaje en vuelo | Fly News (http://fly-news.es/militar/airbus-military-a330-mrtt-pertiga-repostaje-perdida-extremadura/)

NFF

[Yeller_Gait]

From the link in the previous post ...


ACTUALIZACIÓN
Airbus Military ya ha localizado y recuperado la pértiga.

La ruptura se produjo a 27.000 pies.



What have the inflight rations got to do with the boom falling off?

Y_G

[Tankertrashnav]

This version will obviously be of interest to the Scottish Air Force, should they go independent, yeller gait ;)

[pontifex]

Tankertrashnav,

I wonder if we ever flew together.

[BEagle]

Does one gather that yet another RAAF KC-30A nearly parted company with its boom recently.....??

How's the serviceability of the others - and the spares support....:\

[air pig]

The UAE one in Almeira had its boom firmly attached when I saw it last week, but it was on the ground.

[brokenlink]

YG - 27000 pies?, wonder the thing got airborne in the first place!

[BEagle]

The UAE one in Almeira had its boom firmly attached when I saw it last week, but it was on the ground.

Rumour has it that, although it moved rapidly and uncontrollably to both lateral limits, it did actually remain attached this time.....:uhoh:

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

the system fell away at the point where it links to the fuselage..........

Nutloose!:suspect:

Where were you on or about the 10th September? and it had better be good...

[smujsmith]

As an aside, we in the hamlet of Pig on't Hill, were treated to Her Majesties Voyager accompanied by 3 Tornado's, making lots of noise at about 4000 ft yesterday (26 June). Nice to see, and I took it that they had been off refuelling somewhere ?

Smudge

[Indicating Full]

Smuj,

What you saw was probably the Italian 767 which had spent the night at Brize.

Hope it made you feel proud anyhow.

IF

[mini]

What scenario makes it necessary for the UAE to need three tankers for anyway?

[BOAC]

WW3 perhaps?

[D-IFF_ident]

Good point mini. They probably need 7.

:)

[smujsmith]

Indicating Full,

Thanks for that mate, it had the usual howl of the Voyager descending towards Brize, quickly drowned out by the "rage" of the three Tonkas. At my age knowing one "airliner" from another is getting to be hard work:eek:

Certainly, anything with a Royal Air Force roundel on it, gets a full beam of pride from me (no, facetious nous intended). Thanks again for that info.

Smudge

[TEEEJ]

Smudge,

See following for images of the Italian KC-767 and Italian Tornados landing at Brize.

Flickr: Dan Partlett's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/danpartlett/with/9138402108/)

[falcon10]

Heard this plane was/is doing regular runs to the west coast USA from UAE-UK Do they do training out there?

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

The four RAAF KC-30s in service at AMB are not using the boom and probably wont until next year. If one were to have come close to separating, it may have been on 001 which remains in Spain with Airbus...

[BEagle]

The four RAAF KC-30s in service at AMB are not using the boom and probably wont until next year.

And how are they getting on with the Mission Planning System now? Working fine, is it?

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

I can neither confirm nor deny that, but I especially can't confirm it! :oh:

[rjtjrt]

A question. From the figures I can find, standard empty weight plus max fuel takes the MRTT up to max Take Off Weight.
Is that correct?
John

[BEagle]

AiM used to quote a typical AAR OEW for the A330MRTT (including 6 crew, pods, boom and mil. avionics) of 124849 kg. Given an MTOW of 233000 kg, that means a maximum of 108151 kg of fuel at take-off.

However, the Voyager doesn't have the heavy boom, so it's probably just possible to carry 111 tonnes of fuel given the typical OEW.....

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

the Voyager doesn't have the heavy boom


Nor does the A330MRTT:E

[rjtjrt]

Next question
According to Wiki
A330-200 - MTOW is 240,000kg
A330 MRTT - MTOW is 233,000kg.
Why the difference?

[alisoncc]

Probably the row of canons down each side

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3065/5867365273_852f533088_z.jpg

[ian16th]

Allison,

When these go off, do they go BOOM! BOOM! BOOM?

Just asking, before i get my coat :rolleyes: