Posted on 03/16/2011 9:05:57 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
PICTURES: Airbus Military completes first A330 tanker flight for Saudi Arabia
By Craig Hoyle
Saudi Arabia's first A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) has made its first flight in modified form, touching down on 15 March at the end of a 4h 15min sortie.
Conducted from Airbus Military's Getafe site near Madrid, the debut comes ahead of the company's planned delivery of the Royal Saudi Air Force's first of six aircraft late this year.
© Airbus Military
"The crew reported that the aircraft, its systems and two General Electric CF6 engines performed entirely satisfactorily," says Airbus Military. The company has previously flown modified A330 MRTT aircraft for Australia (three) and the UK (two), and is also modifying its first unit for the United Arab Emirates.
Now equipped with underwing hose and drogue refuelling pods and an advanced refuelling boom system, the aircraft was modified by Iberia Maintenance engineers and technicians. The conversion work totalled some 140,000 man hours over a period of 16 months, the company says.
“It is a great satisfaction for us to have successfully completed a project which is certainly the biggest challenge we have ever faced in the transformation of aircraft,” says José Luis Ruiz de Castañeda, Iberia’s executive vice-president maintenance and engineering
(Excerpt) Read more at flightglobal.com ...
The robe is missing! Whip the infidel!
Wonder if Boeing will deliver ours before 2020?
I am impressed the tail and boom stayed on for the whole flight.
The wings should be higher up. Duh.
I have a question.
Why does Saudi Arabia need in-air refueling capabilities?
I thought the same thing.
The US (Boeing) is not allowed to market tankers to the Kingdom precisely because it will destabilize the region and not benefit US national security in the region.
However, the French have no limitation.
bttt
FOr the same reason we need tanker support for our aircraft in the gulf region.
Sustained combat air patrols...
And they need to mount sustained CAP for what reason again?
As I see it, this is a sign of one of two things:
1. They want to buy nice toys. OK, I get that. I’m a guy too, and I like expensive, noisy toys.
2. They don’t think the US is a trustworthy partner, and they feel a need to develop a military capability to project force in the region without the US.
If the US is not allowed to market tankers out there, how come the Saudis operate tanker variants of the C-130 and E-3??
And both these links says the Saudis selected the Airbus tanker over the Boeing offering.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2007/gb20070618_692470.htm
The Saudis still need the US-they are negotiating for a massive arms deal including scores of fighters, helicopters and possibly warships. The tanker deal was given to Airbus since it offered a newer plane capable of offloading more fuel compared to Boeing’s earlier KC-767 model.
Why does Saudi Arabia need in-air refueling capabilities?They don't.7 posted on 03/17/2011 03:06:12 by NVDave
The US (Boeing) is not allowed to market tankers to the Kingdom precisely because it will destabilize the region and not benefit US national security in the region.
My lying eyes done deceive me again. I hate it when that happens.
However, this photo is real:
Serious answer — because US fighter-bomber jets are designed to take off with maximum bomb load and a light fuel load, then add fuel in flight. The Saudis fly F-15s and need to have some extra fuel when the bomb the rebels in Bahrain.
Bahrain shares a border with Saudi Arabia and is probably just bigger than Saudi Arabia’s biggest cities. You don’t need aerial refuellers to bomb a place like that. Even Israel is within range of their bombers based at Tabuk.
The F-15S and European Tornado aircraft have good range as it for these targets. The tankers were mainly purchased with Iran in mind which explains why the first ones were purchased from Boeing in the early 80s.
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