The five aircraft that are to form the 'surge capability' are candidates for a Voyager C1 designation?ZZ338 arrival completes the RAF Voyager core fleet
by Jon Salmon | May 29, 2014
AirTanker has today [29 May 2014] taken delivery of ZZ338, the ninth aircraft delivered under the Future Strategic Tanker Transport (FSTA) RAF Voyager programme - completing the core fleet.
Flying into RAF Brize Norton this afternoon, the militarily converted Airbus A330-200 joins the seven strong Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet now based at RAF Brize Norton.
This includes two two-point capable and five three-point capable tankers, in addition to the aircraft operated by AirTanker on the Civil Aircraft Register as part of the programme from the Oxfordshire airbase.
ZZ334, a three-point tanker, has completed the military conversion programme and is currently in Spain as part of the UK’s commitment to support the A400M flight test programme.
Phil Blundell, CEO, AirTanker said, “The arrival of the ninth aircraft means that the RAF now has access to the most capable tanking and air transport fleet in Europe
“We will continue to work in partnership with the RAF to refine this service, however, the delivery of the ninth Core fleet aircraft into RAF Brize Norton, nonetheless represents a sizeable achievement.”
A three-point tanker, ZZ338 comes with an upgraded fuselage refuelling unit (FRU) and will begin operations with the RAF once transferred to the Military Aircraft Register (MAR).
Alongside its tanking role, Voyager is able to perform air transport and aeromedical evacuation simultaneously, carrying up to 291 passengers or 40 stretchers, providing a step-change in capability.
The fleet has to date flown a total of 9,750 hours and carried over 172,000 passengers. In its tanker role, Voyager has offloaded over 4,000 tonnes of fuel to receiver aircraft in 230 sorties, including in support of Typhoon and UK air defence.
AirTanker secured clearance to begin air-to-air refuelling operations with Typhoon and Tornado in summer 2013, followed by the start of operations in support of the Afghanistan air-bridge in December.
The FSTA contract will see the delivery of 14 aircraft to the RAF, including the nine-strong core fleet and a five aircraft ‘surge capability’.
When not required by the RAF this surge fleet capability is available to AirTanker for release, with its agreement, for other purposes. This could include release to the civil market, less its military equipment or to partner nations in a military capacity with the MOD’s agreement.
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B Baggage
C Cargo
M Mail
CMB Comb (B/C/M)
DIP Diplomatic Mail
W Weapons
BA Body Armour
FAK Flyaway Kit
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Oddly enough, today I was wondering how the accounting for inter-air force fuel costs worked.
Chris
Given the number of aircraft in service and entering service with the RAF, which are fitted with flying boom receptacles (C17, P8, Wedgetail and Airseeker/Rivet Joint - although on images I've found of these do not show a receptacle), I am surprises that a version of Voyager with flying boom receptacle hasn't been procured.
Plus it only seems good manners to be able to refuel USAF aircraft in our airspace.
That'll be the Thomas Cook fleet - ahem - RAF reserve fleet.behold a white elephantWe've Done It - Reservists Delight as Voyager Becomes a Record Breaker | Royal Air Force
A new world record was set by the Voyager aircraft for the fastest ever flight between the UK and the Falkland Islands.www.raf.mod.uk
Saying that, there should be some handy bargains around in the second hand aircraft market if the MOD wanted to do a rerun of the purchase of the Tristars post Falklands.
Why 2nd hand? Just buy some Max. Fly them with drogues and convert the MTT with booms.Saying that, there should be some handy bargains around in the second hand aircraft market if the MOD wanted to do a rerun of the purchase of the Tristars post Falklands.
There were also the rather strange hermaphrodite used by the French AF, which was a KC135 with a flying boom with a drogue deploying from it.
Another Aerospace Deal of the Century!
I must admit I struggled to retain objectivity when I discussed the Voyagers in On Atlas' Shoulders and merely quoted the Chair of the PAC.
The Voyager, and its PFI financing in particular, came in for severe criticism when it emerged that the aircraft would not be fitted with the defensive countermeasures that would be required if the type were to go in harm’s way, unlike the version bought for the Royal Australian Air Force. Further criticism, of its finances and the PFI deal, came about when it was revealed by the UK’s Public Accounts Committee that the MoD had no idea if the aircraft represented good value for money!
Committee Chair, Margaret Hodge MP, stated that ‘Throughout the project the MoD has lacked the robust financial and performance data needed to make sensible decisions.’
I could have gone full-on Rowley Birkin and got stuck into the lack of booms, flying Geordies to Cancun, lack of countermeasures, one Voyager costing the same as a fleet of converted 767s, go all Private Eye on PFI contracts etc etc but as Hood says, it was all contracted pre-Afghanistan, nobody has a crystal ball and the past is another country (with a very strange fauna).
There's a book in Voyager and Atlas (another programme for which I just use quotes) but nobody would buy it.
I'd be interested in Alertken's thoughts on Voyager and Atlas...
I'll get me coat.
Chris)
During my time at YYC (Calgary International), I got to see every one of the Voyagers that the RAF uses. Most of them had lots of lumps & bumps on them, like this below. Any idea what they do ?