Posted on 01/26/2011 8:59:09 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The Airbus Military A330 MRTT has successfully passed fuel to receiver aircraft using the Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU) for the first time – meaning that all of the aircraft's refuelling systems have now been demonstrated.
In a three hour 10 min sortie from Getafe near Madrid on 21st January, the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft (FSTA) variant for the UK Royal Air Force conducted a series of “wet contacts” with two F-18 fighters of the Spanish Air Force.
Contacts were successfully performed with both fighters at an altitude of around 15,000ft and at speeds from 250kt to 325kt.
The FRU is a hose and drogue similar to those fitted under the wings, but with a higher rate of fuel transfer, and which is also developed and supplied by Cobham of the UK.
The full complement of refuelling systems which can equip the A330 MRTT, and which have now all been demonstrated, consists of: the FRU, the underwing hose-and-drogue, and the Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), plus the Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) used to receive fuel from another tanker.
(Excerpt) Read more at defpro.com ...
I didn't even know that Airbus HAD a military.
Must be some European Union thing.
Airbus Military is a subsidary of Airbus. Their headquarters are in Spain
This is the A330 MRTT for the RAF. It doesn’t have a refueling boom.
Come to think of it, neither does the Aussie MRTT
*Snicker*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.