Approx 5 of the FSTA will be capable of being fitted with FRUs for centre line refuelling.

The A330 as made by Airbus has effectively the same wing as the A340. The basic plan of bolting the pods where the 1 & 4 engine would go almost worked but the engineering was slightly more complicated than first thought.

Sponsored Reserves
 

Flashdance

The first UK Sponsored Reserves were set up in 2000 using legislation under Reserve Foreces Act 1996, by moving a RAF VR unit within a specialist department of the MoD civil service to become RAFR as SRs. Since then, both Army and Royal Navy have used SRs. (The RN Roll on Roll Off ships being an example.)

All the information you need is in JSP567 & AP3392 Vol 7, including a chapter on SRs. Most other chapters in this fine tome also applicable to SRs.

The SR concept does work, most of the time, but needs very careful managing to ensure there is not a conflict of interests between "head office" priorities and the boys and girls on the coal face in uniform.

Experience has shown that some SRs are used fully on operations, taking on roles and duties out side of their specific "job" as would be expected of any other regular or reserve airman or officer of that rank. Other companies SRs however, are employed in different ways, and when in uniform are only allowed to do the specific job / role the MoD has contracted their employer to do. This may also place restrictions on the locations / situations they can be deployed to. This is no reflection on the boys and girls doing the job, just the differing nature of the SR contracts that can be very different between one company and the other.

A330 Tanker - Yes Please!
 

As an ex-330 driver, I would have been only too glad to have the opportunity to fly as a reserve doing that sort of job. Unfortunately, I'm now too old.

My question is why wasn't the 330 pressed into service as a tanker much, much sooner. Carrying 110 tonnes of fuel and with a MTOW of 270 tonnes, it could probably carry 300 plus pongos as well.