Peak strength of the tanker force?
As we prepare for the introduction of the Airbus Voyager, my mind turned to how 14 aircraft will replace all of those VC10s and TriStars.
OK, there are fewer now, as the VC10s have been retired as they came up for majors, and I guess that we need fewer tankers than when the FSTA requirement was drawn up, but despite the greater capability of the A330 tanker, sometimes you need hoses in the sky, and 14 aircraft seems a slender force (especially given that five of them will be only available for 'surge').
So what was the peak strength of the tanker and strategic tanker force?
36 tankers and three transports?
26 VC10
13 C1K ex C1 converted between 92-96
5 VC10 K2 ex Gulf Air Standard converted between 82-87 wfu 2000-2003
4 VC10 K3 ex EAA Super converted between 82-87
5 VC10 K4 ex BA Super converted between 90-??
(one C1K written off before all the C1K/K4 conversions complete?)
Six TriStar tankers and three transports
2 K1 ex BA Tri* 500
4 KC1 ex BA Tri* 500
2 C2 ex PAA Tri* 500
1 C2A ex PAA Tri* 500
Four Hercules
4 Hercules C1K
And what is it now? No Hercs, no VC10 K2s, leaving what, nine C1K, four K3, and two K4, plus the TriStars? Or less?
Last edited by Jackonicko; 19th Oct 2011 at 11:24.