Bae 146 Tanker
Bae 146 Tanker,
I have just seen some videos of the 146 in fire-fighting trials -http://www.tronosjet.com/firefighting.php
Not that it is that exciting.
However, it did remind me of the ill fated attempt to produce a variant of the aircraft as an A-A refuelling tanker. A quick check via google and it seems it was only a paper study.
Anyone remember if it was it ever seriously considered?
I imagine it would have been fairly useful as a backup to the VC-10s and Tristars during the cold war. As a fire-fighter it apparently can carry 3000 US gallons of water, so I would have expected it would have carried enough fuel to seriously extend the endurance of a 4 ship CAP, or the range of a 4 ship of muds.
I have followed the 767/A330 debate with interest –especially the argument that the 767 is too small. Having said that I think the 146 would have been a useful capability, halfway between a full size tanker and buddy-buddy tanking
I’d be interested in any thoughts.
TR