Sat, Nov 28, 2009
Fuel Simultaneously Transferred To Two Fighter Aircraft
The A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT) has performed
the first simultaneous fuel transfer with its all-digital
hose-and-drogue system, fueling two fighter aircraft at the same
time.
The hose-and-drogue fuel transfers occurred on November 18
during a flight test sortie that utilized both the A330
MRTT’s left and right under-wing pods. In total, the A330
MRTT conducted 11 simultaneous airborne refueling contacts with two
NATO F/A-18 fighters and transferred more than 25,000 lbs of
fuel.
The latest refueling milestone was performed by the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) A330 MRTT, and follows recent daytime
and nighttime refueling operations utilizing the aircraft’s
advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), as well as previous
fuel transfers using the wing-mounted hose-and-drogue refueling
systems. As a result, both refueling systems on the A330 MRTT have
now been demonstrated through flight tests, confirming the
aircraft’s maturity in preparation for the startup of
deliveries to international customers beginning in 2010.
“Operational flexibility and demonstrated robust mission
capability are essential requirements for a military refueling
aircraft,” said Ralph D. Crosby, Jr., Chairman of EADS North
America. “This latest program success is further evidence
that the A330 MRTT is ready to meet the demanding operational
requirements of next-generation military tankers, including those
of the U.S. Air Force as part of the Northrop Grumman KC-45
team.”
The RAAF A330 MRTT is nearly identical in configuration to the
Northrop Grumman KC-45 Tanker, and uses the same refueling systems.
As with the KC-45, Australia's A330 MRTT incorporates the Airbus
Military state-of-the-art ARBS with all-electric, fly-by-wire
controls, plus the two digital hose-and-drogue pods under the
wings. The ARBS can deliver fuel at 1,200 gallons per minute. This
mix of boom and pod refueling technologies ensures the A330 MRTT
and KC-45 can rapidly and safely transfer fuel to all types of
receiver aircraft during a single mission without reconfiguration.
In addition, the wing-mounted pods allow for simultaneous
multi-point refueling. The KC-45 also will include a centerline
hose-and-drogue fuselage refueling unit.
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