PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Air-Refuelling Systems Advisory Group 2010
Old 6th Apr 2010, 22:30
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BenThere
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The thing is, BEagle, the US should have an American tanker. It's a strategic system and control needs to be in house. If Europe builds a better tanker, buy it for Europe and accept my sincere congratulations on your success. For me, I'd rather take what we can get domestically and work with it.

The issue of maneuver limitations is less important than the organic sourcing.

While it's true Boeing delivered the first -135s in 1955, they have managed the program over the years and kept them updated and flying. That is ongoing and current experience Airbus doesn't have.

I flew KC-135s for 27 years. I fly A320s for a living now. I know the difference. I would rather have had a KC-135 in the dicey scenarios I've seen in tanker operations than an Airbus, though I agree the A320 (therefore the A330 as well) is a marvelous machine.
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