Air-Refuelling Systems Advisory Group 2010
 

Any PPRuNers going to ARSAG 2010 in Orlando next week?

I wish I can but my boss doesn't pay the bill! cheap bast***!

Likewise. Was all set to go last year, but the funding was pulled. DIFF was trying to get over for it if I remember ?

DIFF will be there - and can PM a list of other attendees to those who need to know... :ok:

There will only be one member of the Royal Air Force/MOD attending. Travel will be by self-drive MT fitted with large tyres (AKA floatation Devices) for the wet bits. The attendee will be taking his/her own sandwiches. Tap water is to be taken with meals. There will be no requirement for alcohol, newspapers or toothpaste.

Cancel all that, apparently the MOD has taken up the offer of a webcam feed instead.

STH

And there's me just about to say the attendee is lucky they're going at all ;)

Probably a monochrome webcam at that....on the cheapest cost low bandwidth system the MoD piggy bank will allow.

On second thoughts, can you really imagine a webcam link being permitted by the no-you-can't MoD IT-plods?

Hey Beags, getting there again you jammy swine. Do you get a meal out of FRA as we did at Dayton back in the 80's? I think we were talking about replacing the Fun Bus even then, much talk but little water has flown since then.

Hi Arters, yes indeed so! How are you keeping, old chum?

Oddly enough, I happened to bump into the ex-FRL chap you lot shamed into giving you a slap up meal in Dayton the other day. Roger now works at EASA in Cologne - I hadn't seen him since 1974!

I don't think that Cobham's corporate hospitality budget is quite so generous these days - but I might mention it to a chap who'll be there!

The ageing Vickers FunBus isn't seen (or heard....) quite as often these days - hopefully one day the RAF AAR force will get their hands on a nice new A330MRTT or few......:hmm:

FSTA
 

First two now back on their wheels after structural mods in the hangars at Getafe, painted and looking rather splendid actually. Hyd, fuel, electrics now underway.

FSTA
 

The Centreline Hose and Drogue system is looking a bit sexy on the production line as we speak :ok:

Jesus, I've heard it all now! Hopefully no-one's going to 'plug in' before the inaugural receiver aircraft...

Easy Street - You have no appreciation of engineering design and excellence.. its all about tits and ar5e to you isn't it..?? :p


Come to think of it.. he has a point..

Certainly the 80x-series centreline system looks rather more elegant than the dear old Mk 17! But won't aircrew miss that Hoovermatic ledex rotary switch clanking away in the HDU control panel.

Watching the groundcrew testing a Mk 17 was always...interesting. And ideally viewed from a safe distance!

One presumes that the design elegance extends to a better motor control system than direct-on-line starting a 3-ph motor straight from the AC busbars - that always caused the load meters to dance somewhat merrily!

'Sexy'? I think that's stretching the imagine somewhat.....:\

But an 80x-ser in the back of a C-27J would surely turn it into a pretty useful helicopter / light attack fighter tanker? Perhaps in the KC-390 as well?

BEagle,

KC-390 doesn't have a centreline requirement :confused: However I agree the 80-x in the C-27 could offer a pretty useful tactical tanker.

As for the new "easy on the eye design".. I could explain to you but I'd have to kill you. :}

The KC-390 images I've seen all show a probe - I'd love to watch them prodding against a wing hose.... :suspect:

Maybe those fine Wimborne chaps should persuade the Brazilians that "Sir really should consider our 'sexy' 80-x kit - t'would suit you Sir, ooh, really it would, Sir!"

Can't believe I've just included 'Brazilian' and 'sexy' in the same post...:ooh: A bit early in the day for that sort of thing!

I can go one better Mr B, I have just had one of our commercial officers in to see me, and she is both of those.. Brazilian and Sexy.. never too early in the day!!

You are right the KC-390 does have a probe, but as I said, the AAR requirement is for Wing Pods only, so I haven't a clue what they intend to refuel it from.. Maybe they'll buy A400M..:}:}

Well, just about back in the time zone after getting back from ARSAG...

The joys of international airport faffs (90 min late out of Frankfurt, thanks to a security flap) and 2 hours from arriving at the gate at Orlando until leaving the airport. No fault of the US Homeland Security, just the dozy idiots who, despite hours on their flights, hadn't bothered to have the right forms filled out and ready....:mad: Nett result was that we missed the cockers P to which we'd been invited by those very nice people at Cobham.... But the First Class upgrade from Lufthansa had been pretty generous on the flight over...:ok:

Good to see so many familiar faces from the past! Of great interest were the EADS and Boeing stands.

Airbus Military gave a couple of good presentations, including a summary of the A330MRTT flight test progress which is going very well. Some honest facts and figures too. The FSTA looked good in the photos, hopefully it won't be long before it is airborne in the AAR role.

The JASDF gave a very good brief on their KC-767J, which is now operational. The Italians still 'hope' to get their KC-767I 'soon'. The Boeing presentation glossed over the passenger and payload issues of the yet-to-be-flown KC-767A and was almost a 'made for TV' version of the far better Japanese presentation, with a glossy video tacked on. The video still didn't show 2 receivers in contact taking fuel together, we all noted, whereas the A330MRTT video certainly did.

The KC-767A has now sprouted huge winglets. It isn't known which of the exisiting KC-767 deficiencies these are supposed to fix - the runway performance requirements or the pod/pylon aerodynamics and wing flutter......:hmm: They've also taken the significant risk of including the 7-late-7 flight deck displays on the KC-767A...:ooh:

Despite the recalcitrant AV system which caused problems for all those of us who gave presentations, this was an excellent gathering of the AAR clan and much useful work was done - or will develop as a result.

Well we are glad the Japanese got their tanker but, correct me if I'm wrong, the Italian Air Force wasn't supposed to be the launch costumer for the KC-767 Dream Tanker. So far, for all of the italian tanker pilots it is still a dream.
Did Boeing discuss when are they planning to deliver it?
What are the real problems with that plane?
I'll bet a beer Boeing will deliver the tanker first to USAF then to IT.AF!

"The Boeing KC767A - Building Yesterday's tanker; Tomorrow!"

;)