UK orders Boeing E7...
News article in Air International states that 'Air International understands that the RAF variant will use one of the longer fuselage versions (of the 737), possibly the 737-800ERX" (same as P-8).
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Very harsh on the lads. The effort that has gone into getting that platform sorted is staggering, regardless of the outcome.
It’s done more than it’s fair share over its time in service TT.... No different the Nimrod demise only this time, they won’t be waiting 10 years for an inferior replacement...!
It’s done more than it’s fair share over its time in service TT.... No different the Nimrod demise only this time, they won’t be waiting 10 years for an inferior replacement...!
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Bunto
From a pedantic spotter PoV the "E-7" marketing name is annoying. The next in the official MDS sequence is actually E-12, but no US service has applied for that since none use this derivative.
Boeing should really have known that since the original E-7 was a 707 derivative, later redesignated EC-18B.
The E-7 designation for Wedgetail was nothing to do with Boeing, but came about from ideas and research within 2SQN RAAF. The original E-7 aircraft was a one-off experimental aircraft that never went into operational service, and hence, E-7 seemed a good choice. Approval was sought and gained from the US to use the designation officially, but by the time that approval was granted, we had bought 2000 Squadron Prints with the E-7A designation on it, and the name was in common use!
Y_G
Originally Posted by El Bunto
From a pedantic spotter PoV the "E-7" marketing name is annoying. The next in the official MDS sequence is actually E-12, but no US service has applied for that since none use this derivative.
Boeing should really have known that since the original E-7 was a 707 derivative, later redesignated EC-18B.
The E-7 designation for Wedgetail was nothing to do with Boeing, but came about from ideas and research within 2SQN RAAF. The original E-7 aircraft was a one-off experimental aircraft that never went into operational service, and hence, E-7 seemed a good choice. Approval was sought and gained from the US to use the designation officially, but by the time that approval was granted, we had bought 2000 Squadron Prints with the E-7A designation on it, and the name was in common use!
Y_G
They are going for the long body, because they aren't going to mess this up. They are in for the long haul.
It is going to be a proper fit out, the full kit. They are already calling for tenders.
It is going to be a proper fit out, the full kit. They are already calling for tenders.
Last edited by golder; 13th May 2019 at 17:18.
In a letter to the defence select committee, Stuart Andrew, minister for defence procurement, states that only three of the aircraft will be new-build examples. “Boeing has sourced two 737NGs from the commercial market and secured a further three production slots on [its] Seattle production line in 2021 and 2022 to meet our needs,” he says.
Modification of the airframes is due to be performed by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge.
DAILY MAIL tomorrow
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Modification of the airframes is due to be performed by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge.
Remember the ZD949 fiasco:
October 2006 - Marshall Aerospace is awarded a £22M contract to upgrade the RAF TriStars' avionics and FMS including a 'glass cockpit' as the 'MMR upgrade'. This should have been a relatively low-risk programme as it used elements of the C-130 cockpit upgrade already underway for the RNAF.
November 2007 - ZD949 arrives at Cambridge for the trial installation with a planned completion date of Q3 2008 at which time the second TriStar would begin conversion.
2008 came and went.
2009 came and went.
January 2010 - ZD949 finally makes its first flight with the MMR upgrade.
October 2010 - SDSR indicates that the TriStar will start to leave RAF service in 2013; TriStar MMR programme is to be discontinued.
December 2010 - After 100 hours of flight test, ZD949 finally passes MoD review and is due to be back in service in Spring 2011.
2011 - Due to the change in out-of-service date now planned for the TriStar and with the A330MRTT due in service by the end of the year, ZD949 remains at Cambridge in a pristine state under 'storage' and is to be 'reduced to spares' - a euphemism for being scrapped - as it would be too expensive to convert it back to its original state.
October 2011 - A330MRTT now 'Voyager' fails to meet release to service date; now expected to be 'sometime in January 2012'.
January 2012 - Voyager still not in service.
February 2012 - Voyager still not in service.
March 2013 - Voyager still not providing an AAR service; 3 x VC10 have to stagger on until Sep 2013.
September 2013 - VC10 retired, but Voyager still not providing a complete AAR service.
March 2014 - TriStar retired, but Voyager still not providing a complete AAR service.
May 2014 - ZD949 finally scrapped having never been returned to RAF service during a wasteful, expensive 7 year programme.
November 2007 - ZD949 arrives at Cambridge for the trial installation with a planned completion date of Q3 2008 at which time the second TriStar would begin conversion.
2008 came and went.
2009 came and went.
January 2010 - ZD949 finally makes its first flight with the MMR upgrade.
October 2010 - SDSR indicates that the TriStar will start to leave RAF service in 2013; TriStar MMR programme is to be discontinued.
December 2010 - After 100 hours of flight test, ZD949 finally passes MoD review and is due to be back in service in Spring 2011.
2011 - Due to the change in out-of-service date now planned for the TriStar and with the A330MRTT due in service by the end of the year, ZD949 remains at Cambridge in a pristine state under 'storage' and is to be 'reduced to spares' - a euphemism for being scrapped - as it would be too expensive to convert it back to its original state.
October 2011 - A330MRTT now 'Voyager' fails to meet release to service date; now expected to be 'sometime in January 2012'.
January 2012 - Voyager still not in service.
February 2012 - Voyager still not in service.
March 2013 - Voyager still not providing an AAR service; 3 x VC10 have to stagger on until Sep 2013.
September 2013 - VC10 retired, but Voyager still not providing a complete AAR service.
March 2014 - TriStar retired, but Voyager still not providing a complete AAR service.
May 2014 - ZD949 finally scrapped having never been returned to RAF service during a wasteful, expensive 7 year programme.
