Shiny new expensive tanker, anyone

[Sir George Cayley]

Nice photo,

Photos: Airbus A330-243 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Airbus-A330-243/1880020/M/)

What's it going to refuel?

Sir George Cayley

[Tankertrashnav]

Other Airbus 330 - 243s? ;)

[Jollygreengiant64]

Foreigners.

[NutLoose]

Looks good

Rumour mil has Airbus already working on a successor for the RAF for post SDSR 2012

EADS Global Website - Press (http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/press.8d764849-d439-475b-93b3-3cc9a7d2ba20.70472f39-dd6f-4428-a792-91d82cb9791b.html)

See, I knew the defence budget for the A400 would produce something usable..


Wheels: spoke design mimics the unique A400M eight-bladed scimitar propeller design;

[Trim Stab]

Foreigners.


I'd imagine FAF must be high on their list - they have a large but ancient tanker fleet.

[hello1]

If it starts in the morning when you turn the key, it will be worth every penny.

[D-IFF_ident]

I'm not a professional - but it looks to me like the boom has fallen off! ;)

[Big Tudor]

Quite a novel situation. The RAF getting an aircraft type that is still in service and still being produced! ;)

[stumpey]

Serious question. Are any of the UAV/Drone things in flight refuel-able? What about those on the drawing board?

Or is it easier to just land and launch another?

[fltlt]

Here you go Stumpey, it's coming:

Proteus and Global Hawk Simulate HALE Refueling (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A7e1d004f-b338-44d7-906d-e943d65d88fc)

[kappa]

Asking as one who flew USAF SE before the days of air refueling, what is the rocket-like device mounted under the wing?

Photos: Airbus A330-243 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Airbus-A330-243/1880020/M/)

[Load Toad]

This looks like a wonderful way to create chemtrails. Keep up the good work.

[Runaway Gun]

The "rocket-like device" under the wing is either:

a) Jet Assisted Take Off Thrust Enhancer
b) Emergency Miniature Propellor Thruster for EFATO
c) Refuelling Pod.

[BEagle]

Quite a novel situation. The RAF getting an aircraft type that is still in service and still being produced!

As someone once said at AFTS "It'd be nice to fly something of which Airfix still make a model".

[Wrathmonk]

getting

I remember this time last year people using the word 'getting' in relation to Nimrod MRA4 .....

[Tankertrashnav]

b) Emergency Miniature Propellor Thruster for EFATO (Engine Failure After Take-Off)



We used to get remarks such as "How much thrust do you get from those itty-bitty propellors" when landing away in the States.

How we laughed (the first time we heard it)!

Load Toad We also used ours for making chem-trails - but I'm not really supposed to talk about that ;)

[stumpey]

Thanks Fltlt.

"Pushing fuel up hill". Why do things the simple way when with a lot of public money you can eventually do it a much harder way? :ugh: