Thu, Sep 02, 2010
Indoor System Trials Completed, First Flight Planned Next
Month
Indoor testing required prior to first flight of the first A330
MRTT Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) for the UK Royal Air
Force has been completed . It has been rolled out of its
hangar at Airbus Military's Getafe, Madrid facility to continue
with the out-door tests, such as fuel trials and others.
Once all trials are successfully completed, the aircraft will be
handed over to the Flight Test Team for First Flight which is due
in the first part of September. The aircraft has been converted
from a basic A330-200 airframe by Airbus Military. Following the
flight-test program it will be delivered late next year to the
AirTanker consortium responsible for operating the aircraft on
behalf of the UK Royal Air Force.
Airbus received an STC from EASA in March for the MRTT, and
modifications include all equipment to provide the aerial refueling
capability for a full range of receiver aircraft - from fighters to
large transports. This includes the totally new fly-by-wire Aerial
Refueling Boom System (ARBS) developed by Airbus Military, the
under-wing hose and drogue refueling pods, the refueling operators'
console in the cockpit area, as well as other mission-specific
military avionics and systems.
File Photo
The UK's FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft) program
involves the acquisition of 14 A330 MRTT-based tanker/transports
for the RAF. With a service entry planned for 2011, the new
aircraft will progressively replace the country's fleet of aging
VC-10 and TriStar refueling aircraft.
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