 |
| A Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft is pictured refuelling a Tornado GR4 during trials by Qinetic. The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance. Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub. Photographer: Qinetic via MoD |
 |
| A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft. The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance. Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub. Photographer: Qinetic via MoD |
 |
| A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft. The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance. Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub. Photographer: Qinetic via MoD |
 |
| A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft. The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen
Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to
the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract
signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the
service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new
purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport
hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD |
 |
| A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft. The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance. Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub. Photographer: Qinetic via MoD |
Wow.
The size of this tanker is pure dee crazy.
The USAF lucked into the right decision. If they had picked the A-330 like all the Air Bus apologist had recommended then the infrastructure costs alone would have caused the USAF to go bankrupt. Some are blaming Air Force woes on the stealth fighter force.
That couldn't be further from the truth.
What the USAF is facing is in essence the block obsolescence of several different classes of airplanes at the same time. If anything, the fighter force while not perfect is at least going to be recapitalized. Every other type of airplane is in jeopardy. And thats the shame of it.
You are aware that the A330 is not much bigger than the KC-10, right?
ReplyDeleteIt's a large aircraft certainly but an excellent solution as a refueller nonetheless and great for smaller air forces that can only afford a small number of them, like the RAAF for instance...
ReplyDelete