Originally Posted by
mike1964
Reading this with interest, but I wonder whether this is a huge capacity reduction, compared to say 40 years ago when the RAF's transport fleet was round 55 Hercules, 20 VC10s of various types (some with maindeck tanks so very little transport capability vs AAR). Admittedly 6 TriStars came along soon after, but even so... Sure, more aircraft back then, but in terms of total payload/range for the transport fleet?
It doesn't matter how good an aircraft is, it can't be in two places at once & is it cost effective to use an A400 for a load that the Hercules would previously have carried?