First A-330 delivered?
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It is being named Voyager.
Or is it tied in to the US Banks Voyager fuel cedit card LOL
I would have thought the 'fishnet stocking' brigade from Whitehall would have called 'her' the VOYEUR KC Mk1 
....or BiStar KC Mk1
....or BiStar KC Mk1
Last edited by TBM-Legend; 19th Apr 2011 at 14:43.
Red On, Green On
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From BBCi:
"It is twice the size of a Lancaster bomber ...
It can refuel another aircraft in the air with 100,000 litres of fuel, more than the amount contained by two large petrol tankers.
The Ministry of Defence said it can refuel at a rate of 5,000 litres per minute, compared with a pump at a garage that delivers fuel at 40 litres per minute."
No mention of those eternal units of comparison, the football pitch and the London bus. How far would the big red public transporter travel on the contents of the Voyeur, for example?
"It is twice the size of a Lancaster bomber ...
It can refuel another aircraft in the air with 100,000 litres of fuel, more than the amount contained by two large petrol tankers.
The Ministry of Defence said it can refuel at a rate of 5,000 litres per minute, compared with a pump at a garage that delivers fuel at 40 litres per minute."
No mention of those eternal units of comparison, the football pitch and the London bus. How far would the big red public transporter travel on the contents of the Voyeur, for example?
Red On, Green On
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How big in comparison with Wales?
Think of all the pies the drivers and the WSOp, sorry, conductor could eat during such a trip
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Airborne Artist
I have used viamichelin.com to survey the route you describe for your Routemaster bus trip around the coast & borders of Wales, and would respectfully advise you that there are numerous low bridges that will give you the first Routemaster Cabrio version.
(mustabinanav)
I have used viamichelin.com to survey the route you describe for your Routemaster bus trip around the coast & borders of Wales, and would respectfully advise you that there are numerous low bridges that will give you the first Routemaster Cabrio version.
(mustabinanav)
I hope it turns out better than the Chinook purchases!
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Well considering the first Chinooks we bought had a cobbled up system to fit a couple of old Andover Ferry tanks into the cabin, this is already streets ahead. Still you could use a Chinook as a Harrier GPU..... Not that that is is needed anymore either..... 
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Can I ask why it was not delivered to Brize Norton and put straight into service?
It would appear that all the pre-delivery testing will now start and the actual delivery date is some considerable time in the future. Why is it being "delivered" if it needs more than pre-flight checks?
It would appear that all the pre-delivery testing will now start and the actual delivery date is some considerable time in the future. Why is it being "delivered" if it needs more than pre-flight checks?
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To allow the RAF to write the operating manual and work out the best way to use it and also the limitations on it in service. There is a difference between acceptance checks and in service usage, the book now has to be written on that for the various types it will encounter in its service life... I would think the initial testing would have covered very few types.
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To allow the RAF to write the operating manual and work out the best way to use it and also the limitations on it in service.
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It would appear that it isn't just the RAF's largest aircraft ever, it will also be the lowest flying one.
From the RAF website (future capability)
From the RAF website (future capability)
Specifications
Engines: 2
Thrust: 72,000lbs each
Max speed: 648kph
Length: 193ft
Max altitude: 0ft
Span: 198ft
Aircrew: 3
Engines: 2
Thrust: 72,000lbs each
Max speed: 648kph
Length: 193ft
Max altitude: 0ft
Span: 198ft
Aircrew: 3
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Whatever happened to concurrent activity?
To allow the RAF to write the operating manual and work out the best way to use it and also the limitations on it in service.
If you've still to work out the best way to use it and what it's limitations are then it sounds like you're still at the specification stage of the project.
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Timeline Questions
Nice to see that there's real progress with the A330 tanker/transport, but what's the timeline from now on?
How long will it take for Cobham to "get up to speed" ?
How long will it take for the Boscombe Down team to get their writings done ?
How long will it be before AirTanker has the means to do its job, and what's the date for the delivery of the last aircraft in this order??
How long do the sturdy TriStars have to flog on before their complete retirement ?
Is Airbus Military capacity limited ?
As the main A330 line moves up to a 9/month rate, could the delivery rate of the Tanker/Transport version be accelerated, or is it constrained by a combination of Toulouse, Madrid/Seville and Cobham?
As so often I get the impression that "decisions to do" are mistaken for "Mission Accomplished".
As I wrote at the start, it is good to see some progress ... ... but there's a heck of a way to go still.
PS. Given that an earlier Voyager by Mr. Rutan did a REALLY long flight and enjoys its retirement on display, will the MoD's naming specialists now add a "II" to the name it has chosen ?
How long will it take for Cobham to "get up to speed" ?
How long will it take for the Boscombe Down team to get their writings done ?
How long will it be before AirTanker has the means to do its job, and what's the date for the delivery of the last aircraft in this order??
How long do the sturdy TriStars have to flog on before their complete retirement ?
Is Airbus Military capacity limited ?
As the main A330 line moves up to a 9/month rate, could the delivery rate of the Tanker/Transport version be accelerated, or is it constrained by a combination of Toulouse, Madrid/Seville and Cobham?
As so often I get the impression that "decisions to do" are mistaken for "Mission Accomplished".
As I wrote at the start, it is good to see some progress ... ... but there's a heck of a way to go still.
PS. Given that an earlier Voyager by Mr. Rutan did a REALLY long flight and enjoys its retirement on display, will the MoD's naming specialists now add a "II" to the name it has chosen ?
Last edited by Jig Peter; 19th Apr 2011 at 15:35. Reason: Add PS