Voyager: AT Aircraft Only??
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Ah, so APART from no wing pods and no centre HDU (or whatever name they're calling it now), it's the RAF's canine's gonads when it comes to Tanking.
Makes you proud doesn't it?
MOD(PE) lives!
Makes you proud doesn't it?
MOD(PE) lives!
Dengue_Dude,
It also has an AT role, arguably more important and relevant at the moment.
It also has an AT role, arguably more important and relevant at the moment.
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Dengue_Dude,
It also has an AT role, arguably more important and relevant at the moment.
It also has an AT role, arguably more important and relevant at the moment.
They don't seem to be in a hurry to use it in the AT role thus relieve the pressure on the venerable (now) Trimotor.
I realise that's probably naive, but we are SO good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
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quote / she fly's with no wing refueling pods
Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager ZZ330 8th April 2012 - YouTube / unquote
Why would she fly with wing pods if she's not doing an AR mission? pods are taken off / added as per the mission
I understand that the current AT charters (Monarch etc) will need some sort of cancellation period before Voyager can get going with any real AT work... just seen her blast off from Brize heading North, another crew training sortie i'd guess
Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager ZZ330 8th April 2012 - YouTube / unquote
Why would she fly with wing pods if she's not doing an AR mission? pods are taken off / added as per the mission
I understand that the current AT charters (Monarch etc) will need some sort of cancellation period before Voyager can get going with any real AT work... just seen her blast off from Brize heading North, another crew training sortie i'd guess
Base Crew Training
Shouldnt need much of that to enter service in the Transport role. In the civil world modern Level D simulators allow crews to progress from Sim to Line Training with no Base flying required. (Applies to pilots previously qaulified on jets, as presumably the initial Voyager crews are experienced ex Tri/VC10 etc.)
To add to cyrilranch's vid (thanks for that), here's Airbus' official photo
And here's what Airbus says about it
Offered without comment.
airsound
And here's what Airbus says about it
The Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport has made its maiden flight in service with the UK Royal Air Force yesterday April 8th.
Known as the Voyager in RAF service, the aircraft took off from RAF Brize Norton for a training sortie around the United Kingdom to allow the AirTanker crew to familiarise themselves with the aircraft and achieve the first part of the Voyager crew training schedule.
The Voyager aircraft was delivered by Airbus Military to AirTanker, the company formed to operate and support the Voyager for the UK Ministry of Defence under the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft programme, at the end of last year.
The Voyager aircraft represents a new standard in tanker/transport technology and will provide the RAF with the world ́s most advanced air-to-air refueling, passenger transport and aeromedical capability. As a modern and efficient aircraft, the Voyager is quieter and more fuel-efficient than any other aircraft currently based at RAF Brize Norton – the RAF ́s primary transport/tanker base.
Airbus Military has to deliver 14 converted aircraft to AirTanker, of which two have already been converted from the basic A330-200 in Getafe and another two are in conversion at Cobham facilities in the UK. The Voyager has military and civil certification and the service will operate aircraft on both the military and civilian registers.
Antonio Caramazana, Programme Director Airbus Military Derivatives, said: “It is a proud day for everyone involved with the A330 MRTT programme to see the Voyager in service with the RAF. We look forward to many years of successful operation of the aircraft by AirTanker.”
Phil Blundell, Chief Executive of AirTanker said: “The aircraft is a magnificent airframe which combines efficiency, effective tasking capability and reliability. The programme brings together the best of the civilian aviation industry with military operational expertise and will offer an innovative and multi-functional capability to meet the demands of the 21st Century.”
About the A330 MRTT
The Airbus Military A330 MRTT is the only new generation strategic tanker/transport aircraft flying and available today. The large 111 tonnes/ 245,000 lb basic fuel capacity of the successful A330- 200 airliner, from which it is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refuelling missions without the need for any additional fuel tank. The A330 MRTT is offered with a choice of proven air-to-air refuelling systems including an advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System, and/or a pair of under-wing hose and drogue pods, and/or a Fuselage Refuelling Unit.
Thanks to its true wide-body fuselage, the A330 MRTT can also be used as a pure transport aircraft able to carry 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes/99,000 lb. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). To-date, a total of 28 A330 MRTTs have been ordered by four customers (Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom), with one (Saudi Arabia) having already placed a repeat order.
Known as the Voyager in RAF service, the aircraft took off from RAF Brize Norton for a training sortie around the United Kingdom to allow the AirTanker crew to familiarise themselves with the aircraft and achieve the first part of the Voyager crew training schedule.
The Voyager aircraft was delivered by Airbus Military to AirTanker, the company formed to operate and support the Voyager for the UK Ministry of Defence under the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft programme, at the end of last year.
The Voyager aircraft represents a new standard in tanker/transport technology and will provide the RAF with the world ́s most advanced air-to-air refueling, passenger transport and aeromedical capability. As a modern and efficient aircraft, the Voyager is quieter and more fuel-efficient than any other aircraft currently based at RAF Brize Norton – the RAF ́s primary transport/tanker base.
Airbus Military has to deliver 14 converted aircraft to AirTanker, of which two have already been converted from the basic A330-200 in Getafe and another two are in conversion at Cobham facilities in the UK. The Voyager has military and civil certification and the service will operate aircraft on both the military and civilian registers.
Antonio Caramazana, Programme Director Airbus Military Derivatives, said: “It is a proud day for everyone involved with the A330 MRTT programme to see the Voyager in service with the RAF. We look forward to many years of successful operation of the aircraft by AirTanker.”
Phil Blundell, Chief Executive of AirTanker said: “The aircraft is a magnificent airframe which combines efficiency, effective tasking capability and reliability. The programme brings together the best of the civilian aviation industry with military operational expertise and will offer an innovative and multi-functional capability to meet the demands of the 21st Century.”
About the A330 MRTT
The Airbus Military A330 MRTT is the only new generation strategic tanker/transport aircraft flying and available today. The large 111 tonnes/ 245,000 lb basic fuel capacity of the successful A330- 200 airliner, from which it is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refuelling missions without the need for any additional fuel tank. The A330 MRTT is offered with a choice of proven air-to-air refuelling systems including an advanced Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System, and/or a pair of under-wing hose and drogue pods, and/or a Fuselage Refuelling Unit.
Thanks to its true wide-body fuselage, the A330 MRTT can also be used as a pure transport aircraft able to carry 300 troops, or a payload of up to 45 tonnes/99,000 lb. It can also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). To-date, a total of 28 A330 MRTTs have been ordered by four customers (Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom), with one (Saudi Arabia) having already placed a repeat order.
airsound
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XV 277
Good point - but why on Easter Sunday or any other Sunday come to that? The new FY started on Friday anyway. I know - it was to prove to the inmates of Cartoon town how quiet it is. Not that they'd notice over the drone of another 6 hour Herc engine run!
1106
Good point - but why on Easter Sunday or any other Sunday come to that? The new FY started on Friday anyway. I know - it was to prove to the inmates of Cartoon town how quiet it is. Not that they'd notice over the drone of another 6 hour Herc engine run!
1106
Last edited by Type1106; 9th Apr 2012 at 18:42. Reason: New thought
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Matter of interest, if the pods can be shucked when not needed, is there a software fix for the outer ailerons or some other way of achieving the same wing relief as with pods?
Or is it the other way around, WITH pods the flight controls software is tweaked?
Must change all the performance data too, LRC with pods would be quite significantly different without, I'd suspect etc etc
Oh my head is so full of Ess aitch eye tee . . .
Or is it the other way around, WITH pods the flight controls software is tweaked?
Must change all the performance data too, LRC with pods would be quite significantly different without, I'd suspect etc etc
Oh my head is so full of Ess aitch eye tee . . .
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Stab in the dark here dengue, but on modern FMS there is usually a drag index/additive value which can be modified. Baseline jet with no extras (aerials, panels removed, no pods) will be 0, with additives for each variation from standard.
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Danke Herr Kokinelli,
I appreciate the input, just raises questions in my head.
Erroneously, it appears, I assumed the 'fit' would remain the same whatever role it was being used in.
In my extreme ignorance, I'm wondering where all my taxes are going . . .
I appreciate the input, just raises questions in my head.
Erroneously, it appears, I assumed the 'fit' would remain the same whatever role it was being used in.
In my extreme ignorance, I'm wondering where all my taxes are going . . .
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Why would she fly with wing pods if she's not doing an AR mission? pods are taken off / added as per the mission
Normally, "Freight" on an airliner goes into the "Hold" - normally under the floor through a large cargo door, or two, each big enough to accept normal freight pallets.
Freight does not normally get onto the Passenger Deck.
Normal Cargo Doors are normally mounted on the Left (Port) side for normal airline loading/unloading operations.
Tristars were only normal to begin with but were modified to not being normal by being capable of outsized freight movement - and C17's can do that now.
I would imagine that the big doors and the passenger decks were only used as a normal routine because they were there and someone had paid for the equipment to lift things up and put things through the door.
Most the "Freight" I saw carried on Tristar Decks could have fitted into baggage holds but the equipment to load them effectively didnt appear to be available at all stops?
Freight does not normally get onto the Passenger Deck.
Normal Cargo Doors are normally mounted on the Left (Port) side for normal airline loading/unloading operations.
Tristars were only normal to begin with but were modified to not being normal by being capable of outsized freight movement - and C17's can do that now.
I would imagine that the big doors and the passenger decks were only used as a normal routine because they were there and someone had paid for the equipment to lift things up and put things through the door.
Most the "Freight" I saw carried on Tristar Decks could have fitted into baggage holds but the equipment to load them effectively didnt appear to be available at all stops?
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1. AAR Pods don't work = Pods removed = no use in AAR role
2. DAS not fitted = no use in theatre AT role
1 + 2 = no use at all except on 'charter' type tasks = £10.7 bn toy
Annual charter bill approx £100m so (£10.7bn / £100m) gives 107 years before we make our money back
wtf...
2. DAS not fitted = no use in theatre AT role
1 + 2 = no use at all except on 'charter' type tasks = £10.7 bn toy
Annual charter bill approx £100m so (£10.7bn / £100m) gives 107 years before we make our money back
wtf...