KC-30 Boom comes off.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Victoria
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KC-30 Boom comes off.
From Defence Media
An in-flight incident occurred during a training flight for Airbus Military staff, involving an Australian KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft.
The aircraft was being operated by Airbus Military Corporation. No Australian personnel were on board the MRTT at the time of the incident.
The incident resulted in the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT, which fell into the sea.
Both aircraft suffered some damage but returned safely to their home airfields.
Project AIR 5402 will supply five MRTT aircraft to the Australian Defence Force. Design, development and testing of the prototype aircraft is being undertaken by Airbus Military at its facilities in Madrid, Spain.
Airbus Military and the relevant European military airworthiness authorities will have the lead responsibility for investigating the incident.
Australian Defence experts will participate in the investigation process.
An in-flight incident occurred during a training flight for Airbus Military staff, involving an Australian KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft.
The aircraft was being operated by Airbus Military Corporation. No Australian personnel were on board the MRTT at the time of the incident.
The incident resulted in the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT, which fell into the sea.
Both aircraft suffered some damage but returned safely to their home airfields.
Project AIR 5402 will supply five MRTT aircraft to the Australian Defence Force. Design, development and testing of the prototype aircraft is being undertaken by Airbus Military at its facilities in Madrid, Spain.
Airbus Military and the relevant European military airworthiness authorities will have the lead responsibility for investigating the incident.
Australian Defence experts will participate in the investigation process.
More information here: Boom or bust! – RAAF KC-30 loses boom | Australian Aviation Magazine
Fortunately both aircraft recovered safely and no-one was injured.
Sources say preliminary reports suggest the boom's probe snapped off near the F-16's receptacle, causing the boom to spring up and strike the underside of the KC-30, possibly snapping off one of its two guiding fins and causing it to oscillate wildly until it snapped off at the pivot point.
The boom departed the aircraft and fell to the ocean below.
The boom departed the aircraft and fell to the ocean below.
Fortunately both aircraft recovered safely and no-one was injured.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Aylesbury
Age: 58
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds like a bit of a lucky escape, particularly for the F16. Thank heaven there was no injuries.
ORAC I think has a point though. Boeing will be all over this like a rash.
ORAC I think has a point though. Boeing will be all over this like a rash.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For clarification the complete boom did not fall off, it was near the receiver. This has happened on a number of other tankers before normally caused at night by incorrect closing speed.
Also for clarification, the KC-767 also has had a partial boom loss when one aircraft was unable to retract the boom in flight and had to land with the boom extended.
Also for clarification, the KC-767 also has had a partial boom loss when one aircraft was unable to retract the boom in flight and had to land with the boom extended.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 45 yards from a tropical beach
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The article is badly written. As I understand it, the initial fault lay with the American built F16, which precipitated the fracture on the tanker's bit of kit. It has happened many times before, and will doubtless happen again.
It's one very good reason why most tanker 'Tracks' are conducted over the high seas.
It's one very good reason why most tanker 'Tracks' are conducted over the high seas.
Zeke, incorrect. I understand that after the initial failure, the KC-30A boom became uncontrollable, struck the rear of the tanker, detached completely, then fell into the sea.
Last edited by BEagle; 21st Jan 2011 at 07:58.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Worldwide
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BEagle, that was a "possibility" or "speculation" put forward by the magazine "Australian Aviation" in their article.
All they have confirmed, which is exactly what their source, the Australian DoD confirmed, is that they boom had a partial failure, and it was that part that failed and departed.
EADS has the whole incident on video, and both aircraft landed safely.
All they have confirmed, which is exactly what their source, the Australian DoD confirmed, is that they boom had a partial failure, and it was that part that failed and departed.
EADS has the whole incident on video, and both aircraft landed safely.
Well, I'm sure the truth will eventually emerge. However, I think you'll find that the boom certainly did strike the tanker and became completely detached after the Portuguese F-16 moved clear - although the intial failure was the loss of the boom nozzle.
Last edited by BEagle; 21st Jan 2011 at 09:39.
Guest
Posts: n/a
completely detached after the Portuguese F-16 moved clear
Not what you want to have in close formation with you and I bet he's glad he's back in the mess bar!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Witney UK
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Most unfortunate but could happen now and again. As I sit in my study I see on a shelf a probe tip obtained from a customer many moons ago. After all the procedure, boom or drogue, is a deliberate (one hopes) controlled high speed collision between two aircraft with all the momentum that that involves. Even the strongest system will be tried beyond the limit sometime.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,578
Received 435 Likes
on
229 Posts
Did it fall fast enough to become a sonic boom?
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Midlands
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's one very good reason why most tanker 'Tracks' are conducted over the high seas
Think you'll find the majority of the French and USA refuelling tracks are over land..............