RAAF A330 MRTT progress
They're all tankers! They also have a config that is similar to the QF domestic layout but nothing approaching what the PM has on the 737.
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Keg, are you sure of that? I heard the tanker fit was to be dropped from at least two to save money and those two aircraft would be transports only and fitted with VIP suites (which, truth be told, will probably cost as much as the *** tanker fit).
Another seriously "kruddy" decision by the current (misnamed) government if it turns out to be true.
Another seriously "kruddy" decision by the current (misnamed) government if it turns out to be true.
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All five KC30A's will be delivered in the full tanker config. At this stage none of the aircraft will be used in a dedicated VIP role. There was speculation that another two A330's would be leased to replace the two BBJ's (there was a clause to end the BBJ lease at an earlier date) but this did not happen.
There was speculation of being able to add a small VIP section to the KC30A's but I do not believe that this has been ordered or looked at seriously.
There was speculation of being able to add a small VIP section to the KC30A's but I do not believe that this has been ordered or looked at seriously.
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Or have they ???
Airbus Industrie’s A330-200F has been granted type certification today by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) following a successful 200-hour flight-test campaign. The trials were performed by two aircraft, covering both engine types on offer: Pratt and Whitney’s PW4000 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 700.
The aircraft’s certified payload capability of 70 tonnes is one tonne greater than expected
A derivative of the A330-200 passenger model, the dedicated freighter aircraft was certified through an amendment to the existing A330-200 EASA Type Certificate granted to Airbus in 1998. The EASA award will be followed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification.
The A330-200F features an optimised fuselage cross-section, offering flexibility to carry a wide variety of pallet and container sizes. The aircraft offers 30 per cent more volume than any freighter in its class, and is based on the proven A330 platform, for which Airbus has over 1,000 orders and already more than 650 aircraft in service.
Give it time!!
Thread Starter
Airbus Military A330 MRTT Refuels 2nd A330 MRTT
Airbus Military has for the first time demonstrated in flight 'buddy' refuelling between two A330 MRTT aircraft
(May 17, 2010) -- To-date three such flights have been performed, the latest one being part of the certification flight trials. This type of operation further illustrates the capability of the new-generation A330 MRTT tanker to refuel any kind of large receiver, even wide-body aircraft like another A330 MRTT or receiver aircraft with complex aerodynamics such as the E-3 AWACS tested in February. It also demonstrates the capability of the aircraft as a receiver and means that the A330 MRTT is now both the largest aircraft to have refuelled an A330 MRTT and the largest to have received fuel from it.
The two aircraft used for these flight trials were the first two A330 MRTTs built for the Royal Australian Air Force. They are both now being used in the final stages of the certification programme due for completion in the next months.
During the flights, performed over the Gulf of Cadiz in southern Spain, fuel was passed from the refuelling aircraft's Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) to the receiving aircraft's Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI).
Programme director Airbus Military Derivatives, Antonio Caramazana, said: "This latest flight demonstrates the ability of the A330 MRTT to refuel a true widebody aircraft and to conduct buddy-buddy refuelling between two tankers, which is a vital enabler for even longer range deployments."
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
LMSuperHercules, do you know why the -200F has the "fairing" around the nosewheel?
(May 17, 2010) -- To-date three such flights have been performed, the latest one being part of the certification flight trials. This type of operation further illustrates the capability of the new-generation A330 MRTT tanker to refuel any kind of large receiver, even wide-body aircraft like another A330 MRTT or receiver aircraft with complex aerodynamics such as the E-3 AWACS tested in February. It also demonstrates the capability of the aircraft as a receiver and means that the A330 MRTT is now both the largest aircraft to have refuelled an A330 MRTT and the largest to have received fuel from it.
The two aircraft used for these flight trials were the first two A330 MRTTs built for the Royal Australian Air Force. They are both now being used in the final stages of the certification programme due for completion in the next months.
During the flights, performed over the Gulf of Cadiz in southern Spain, fuel was passed from the refuelling aircraft's Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) to the receiving aircraft's Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI).
Programme director Airbus Military Derivatives, Antonio Caramazana, said: "This latest flight demonstrates the ability of the A330 MRTT to refuel a true widebody aircraft and to conduct buddy-buddy refuelling between two tankers, which is a vital enabler for even longer range deployments."
Source : Airbus, an EADS N.V. company (Paris: EAD.PA)
LMSuperHercules, do you know why the -200F has the "fairing" around the nosewheel?
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longer nose gear to keep freighter floor 'flat' during loading/unloading.
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Can I just get something straight here:
- the conversion from standard A330 to KC30A MRTT is being done at the Qantas Conversion Centre in Brisbane;
- testing is being carried out in Spain.
So does the conversion being done in Brissy, include the ARBS and pods?
If so, that would mean flying the 'green' aircraft from Toulouse to Brissy, fitting it out, then flying it back to Spain.
Bit of a waste of avgas?
(Later edit)
Got my own answer from Australian Aviation.
- the conversion from standard A330 to KC30A MRTT is being done at the Qantas Conversion Centre in Brisbane;
- testing is being carried out in Spain.
So does the conversion being done in Brissy, include the ARBS and pods?
If so, that would mean flying the 'green' aircraft from Toulouse to Brissy, fitting it out, then flying it back to Spain.
Bit of a waste of avgas?
(Later edit)
Got my own answer from Australian Aviation.
Last edited by Taildragger67; 19th May 2010 at 09:51. Reason: Found my answer after a search
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Bolty McBolt and TBM-Legend have it correct .....
To overcome the standard A330's nose-down body angle on the ground, the A330F uses a revised nose landing gear layout. The same A330-200 leg is used, however its attachment points are lower in the fuselage, requiring a distinctive blister fairing on the nose to accommodate the retracted nose-gear. This provides a level deck for cargo loading.
To overcome the standard A330's nose-down body angle on the ground, the A330F uses a revised nose landing gear layout. The same A330-200 leg is used, however its attachment points are lower in the fuselage, requiring a distinctive blister fairing on the nose to accommodate the retracted nose-gear. This provides a level deck for cargo loading.
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Taildragger - Aircraft 3, 4 and 5 will be delivered straight to AMB from BNE...that is, if QDS is cleared to install LAIRCM as per US ITARS rules, otherwise a trip to the US may be required.
Aircraft 2 will be the first delivered (October?), followed by 3 (December?), and after all its orange wiring has been removed, 1 (April 011?). 4 and 5 will follow at roughly six month intervals after that.
Jethro - almost...still some issues with the boom to be sorted but they're not far off now.
Aircraft 2 will be the first delivered (October?), followed by 3 (December?), and after all its orange wiring has been removed, 1 (April 011?). 4 and 5 will follow at roughly six month intervals after that.Jethro - almost...still some issues with the boom to be sorted but they're not far off now.
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Jethro,
EASA awarded EADS a civil supplemental type certificate for the A330 MRTT mid march this year.
Airbus Military awarded civil certification from European Authority
The STC covered the A330 modifications including the boom, enlarged cockpit with the Military Air Refuelling Console/Advanced Vision System, tanker flight control laws, and the universal aerial refuelling receptacle slipway.
The issue of the STC means the tanker works. What the aircraft is doing now is the military flight testing, which covers things which are not covered by civil regulations/procedures.
EASA awarded EADS a civil supplemental type certificate for the A330 MRTT mid march this year.
Airbus Military awarded civil certification from European Authority
The STC covered the A330 modifications including the boom, enlarged cockpit with the Military Air Refuelling Console/Advanced Vision System, tanker flight control laws, and the universal aerial refuelling receptacle slipway.
The issue of the STC means the tanker works. What the aircraft is doing now is the military flight testing, which covers things which are not covered by civil regulations/procedures.
Evertonian
...and means that the A330 MRTT is now both the largest aircraft to have refuelled an A330 MRTT and the largest to have received fuel from it
...well derrr!
One day, a capability gap due to continuous procurement cock ups is going to bite Australia on the ass.
Having no tankers for your tactical fighters in a regional skirmish could be game changing.
And it's the irony of it all too. Forty years after its introduction and probably around the time retirement. The F111 finally has an air to air refueling capability.
It's all very silly and and all very Australian.
Having no tankers for your tactical fighters in a regional skirmish could be game changing.
And it's the irony of it all too. Forty years after its introduction and probably around the time retirement. The F111 finally has an air to air refueling capability.
It's all very silly and and all very Australian.
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Project of Concern...
KC-30 remains on Projects of Concern list, AP-3C ESM added | Australian Aviation Magazine
Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare have added the AP-3C Orion’s Air 5276 Phase 8B ESM upgrade program to the list of ‘Projects of Concern’, while Project Air 5402 to acquire five Airbus Military KC-30 tanker/transports remains on the list, despite the aircraft recently gaining Spanish military certification.
Air 5402 is running more than 18 months late, with the main focus of the project now on addressing further schedule risk, and to keep working with contractor Airbus Military to ensure delivery and acceptance of the first two aircraft by the end of the year.
“I toured the aircraft conversion centre in Brisbane last week and was briefed on progress,” said Minister Clare. “Our focus is now on working with Airbus Military in Spain on developmental activities to support timely completion of testing and supporting activities.”
Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare have added the AP-3C Orion’s Air 5276 Phase 8B ESM upgrade program to the list of ‘Projects of Concern’, while Project Air 5402 to acquire five Airbus Military KC-30 tanker/transports remains on the list, despite the aircraft recently gaining Spanish military certification.
Air 5402 is running more than 18 months late, with the main focus of the project now on addressing further schedule risk, and to keep working with contractor Airbus Military to ensure delivery and acceptance of the first two aircraft by the end of the year.
“I toured the aircraft conversion centre in Brisbane last week and was briefed on progress,” said Minister Clare. “Our focus is now on working with Airbus Military in Spain on developmental activities to support timely completion of testing and supporting activities.”