Mr B,
I don't believe that the RAF Airbus tanker will be capable of onloading fuel from another tanker.
Indeed it won't - and in this sense it's a backwards step.
More interestingly, buying the whole PFI nonsense contract out should be on the table for the SDSR on the basis that FSTA PFI is cr*p value for money, and that we should buy the bl**dy jets.
If this (entirely sensible) decision is made, then the reservist crew issues could go away in a hurry.
S41