Originally Posted by
ancientaviator62
IIRC,
the tanker always had 4 internal tanks. It was the PLR 2/4 mods that varied the tanks. As sycamore says they were
routinely operated at 20000 lbs above the normal T/O weight. I would noot have bought an ex RAF tanker but I assume they are still giving good service. View from my 'office'.
In the latter days of their lives, fatigue on the Tankers was monitored more precisely than any aircraft in the fleet. My (limited) understanding is that instead of using TOW multiplied by the load factor to produce Fatigue Index, we monitored AUW and recorded it, plus the fatigue meter reading, at every change of flight profile, as a result, there was plenty of life left in the Tankers before they were withdrawn from service,