The 330 and FSTA program is another Govt lemon.

14 airframes to replace all the existing AAR and AT assets.

When will they get time to service the poor things?

Lucky me too !
 

I knew I was one of the lucky ones when I got my wings in 1950 (Prentice/Harvard) and then went on to fly such "fast" types as Various Vampires, Meteors, Venom FB1s and Canberras (also various). I was also a bit jealous when I left of those about to get the new kit (like Jags, Phantoms and Buccaneers) that "policy" prevented "my" generation from getting.*
But it's even more sad/angry-making when I read these posts and see what's happened since ...
You're right, Beagle ! (and I think yours was/is a good generation after mine).:cool:

*PS Not to mention TSR2 ... (NOT, I said !!!).:{

What is the latest in the KC-30? Has it done wet offloads with the boom AND drogues?

If not, what is the time scale on these?

Cheers

P R E S S R E L E A S E

FSTA WINGS TAKE FLIGHT

Broughton, UK , 25 February 2009 – AirTanker announces the completion of the first set of Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) wings today. Witnessed by Quentin Davies MP, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, these wings will be loaded into a Beluga transport aircraft at Airbus in the UK's Broughton facility for their onward journey to Bremen, Germany, for final equipping (which includes the fitment of the high lift devices) and then Toulouse, France, for final assembly.

The FSTA fleet of 14 new Airbus A330-200s will replace the RAF’s TriStar and VC-10 aircraft, under a £13 billion PFI deal signed on 27 March 2008. The aircraft – which will be owned and operated by AirTanker under the terms of the deal - will undertake air to air refuelling and passenger air transport tasks. The aircraft will enter service in 2011, to serve for three decades.

Witnessing the wings leaving Broughton, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies MP said:

“Today’s wing ceremony marks a significant stage in the life of the Future Strategic Air Tanker and is good news for the RAF and good news for industry and UK jobs.

These state-of-the-art tanker aircraft will provide an important contribution to operations, enabling the RAF to continue its essential air to air refuelling tasks, as well as providing more reliable and economical transport for our personnel, delivering them to the heart of our operations around the world.”

Phill Blundell, AirTanker CEO, said:

“We are all delighted to see the completion of this early milestone in the delivery of the FSTA programme. Everyone has worked extremely hard to ensure that we meet our targets and we are all very excited to see the first aircraft taking shape.

“The FSTA programme will provide the MOD and the RAF with the most advanced transport and refuelling equipment, representing a step-change in performance. The new Airbus A330 FSTA fleet will deliver unrivalled levels of capability, and AirTanker Services, working with the MOD, will put the new fleet and service in place.”

The wings will still need modifying if they want to put pods on them. So they are not 'FSTA' wings per say.

You know, I think they know that......:rolleyes:

The AAR pods on the KC30A / A330 MRTT are installed on the outboard engine pylon points of the common A330 / A340 wing.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...rnet/zxzxz.jpg

There is no need for a bespoke FSTA wing per se!

According to Air Tankers own figures it will be 2014 before they will be able to provide an AAR service to the RAF. That is 15 years after the Invitation to Tender was issued. Good thing there is no hurry!

Pictures too!!
 

France closing on structure of tanker deal: AirTanker

So now the French are in and have seen through the PFI idea - always wondered where Scoffham went to. :suspect:

Wonder how the French like being addressed as 'Shag'?

AAR service?
 

When the first airframe arrives in 2011, will it be a passenger ac or have the tanker bits fitted and actually be able to provide a tanker service?
I was led to believe that the first one will only be a pax jet and we won't have any FSTA tankers until 2014ish!

Art Field, perhaps I should point him to this thread?

It was the RAAF who 'saw through' the PFI concept. I understand it was described, quite accurately, with the usual mildly-spoken antipodean epithets......:D

The C135FR is to have a significant upgrade programme to keep it in service until the A330 MRTT is available to take over.

Somehow I don't quite see the French choosing the KC-767A.........:D

My question is not as stupid as you think BEagle.
I was talking to someone involved with AirTanker the other week and they were of the view the first airframe will indeed be delivered as a fully fledged tanker, quite contrary to the AirTanker websites timeline.

Has the C-130J been cleared for AAR yet ?And are there any thoughts on a `J` tanker for the Tactical roles,such as Herk-Herk/Chinook/Merlin, with outboard pods and a `scab` pod on the fuselage like the IL-76/C-160,and use the fuselage tanks from the Vc10 inside ? or would that be too much to consider ?

The J Tanker is not possible due to the T&Cs of the Airtanker contract.

AKA a stitchup

Unfortunately the pods are not hung on the outboard engine pylon points of an A330 wing because there aren't any. Neither is the wing strengthened at that point (why would you want un-necessary weight?). The wings are the same in size and shape only. There are considerable modifications to be done at the rib 26 position before the pods and pylons can be fitted.

Well, that's interesting. Old documents indicated that A340 wings would be modified for FSTA by installing pods, rather than engines, on the outboard pylon points.

However, perhaps now that A340-200/300 production is all but complete, that 'simple' concept is no longer in the frame - and A330 wings are now required?

But, as I say, it is a long time since I was given that information.

Interested to know your sources for that info Saintsman. I've read elsewhere that the A330 MRTT and derivatives thereof are specifically being built with A340 wings, so that they will have the hardpoints and plumbing in-place.

Is it time to open the debate about what it should be called?

A330 KC Mk 1?

I can't see the point of making up a different name to add to the model number; it wasn't done for the VC10 or HS125. Even if the RAF give it a name, it will always be known as the A330 because that's what the rest of the world call theirs.

Does anyone else remember it initially being touted as having the A340 centre-body gear to alleviate ACN/PCN issues? Or am I just dreaming?