Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 The RAF is to be equipped with a fleet of Airbus A330 in-flight refuelling aircraft. See full story here: http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?story...EDE3DCED0633485 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 About time they orgamised a replacement, but only 14 airframes!!! (BBC web page info). How do they intend to support all the taskings required?? Seems like my beloved RAF is still shrinking Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 (edited) http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080327/tpl...-b64c7e7_1.html http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080327/tbs-...-549cbb6_1.html Someones sums do not add up. Check the dollar value to airframe number ratio for both orders.......... Edited March 28, 2008 by entlim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 About time they orgamised a replacement, but only 14 airframes!!! (BBC web page info).How do they intend to support all the taskings required?? Seems like my beloved RAF is still shrinking Christian To be fair, at the moment we have 16 active VC10s. Well, actually we have 16 VC10s. At any time several of these are undergoing fairly major servicing, and more are unservicable, so maybe on any day on 4 or 5 culd be available. Add to this the Tristars who do very little AAR now, and 14 aircraft, on a contract which I'm sure has penalties for lack of availability of airframes where required, and I'm sure the 14 will be adequate. I hope at some stage the powers that be will start thinking about preserving a couple of airframes (a couple of C1Ks and K3 ZA150, considering it's the youngest VC10). Put one back at Cosford at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I hope at some stage the powers that be will start thinking about preserving a couple of airframes (a couple of C1Ks and K3 ZA150, considering it's the youngest VC10). Put one back at Cosford at least. And one at Brize as a gate guard!!!! Brize must be the only operational station that doesn't have a gate guard and I think a 10 would be an awesome GG. Perhaps get rid of that silly car park on the left as you turn in off the Carterton - Brize road. Or over the little chef main gate!! Start the campaign now I say. The 'naysayers' will be difficult to win round, and then the IPT will be moaning about the loss of income from the scrap metal!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 To be fair, at the moment we have 16 active VC10s. Well, actually we have 16 VC10s. At any time several of these are undergoing fairly major servicing, and more are unservicable, so maybe on any day on 4 or 5 culd be available. Add to this the Tristars who do very little AAR now, and 14 aircraft, on a contract which I'm sure has penalties for lack of availability of airframes where required, and I'm sure the 14 will be adequate.I hope at some stage the powers that be will start thinking about preserving a couple of airframes (a couple of C1Ks and K3 ZA150, considering it's the youngest VC10). Put one back at Cosford at least. I know, I just remember a RAF of a few years ago (when I was in) with bases and aircraft. When the post Cold War defence reviews started I remember somebody saying wise words, something like "Those in power had better listen and be carefull otherwise we will end up with an RAF like the Norwegian Air force; excellent equipment and people but too small to be capable of extended operations". As the RAF shrinks I cant but think this is happening... Just like to make it VERY CLEAR that I am not Noggie bashing, I like 'em alot and had mucho fun on NATO Ace exercises and others, just repeating something I heard... Infact I'm going to have a chat with a Noggie right now! Happy modelling Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Commenting on the announcement, Phil Blundell, CEO of AirTanker, said: “This is a major step forward for the MOD and AirTanker. Cobblers - not a good deal for the RAF at all - good a/c to select agreed, but military aircraft as important as this should be owned and maintained by the RAF and not treated like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Check the dollar value to airframe number ratio for both orders.......... To be fair, the contracts aren't comparable in that respect. The American's are buying airframes, we are buying a full package - lease of airframes, support, simulators etc. And one at Brize as a gate guard!!!! Brize must be the only operational station that doesn't have a gate guard and I think a 10 would be an awesome GG. Perhaps get rid of that silly car park on the left as you turn in off the Carterton - Brize road. Or over the little chef main gate!! Start the campaign now I say. The 'naysayers' will be difficult to win round, and then the IPT will be moaning about the loss of income from the scrap metal!! I did mention a Brize gate guard elsewhere, but not here! Where to put it, and how to get it there would be another matter. Sadly most places I could think of are playing fields - and with the RAF being run by Force Development and PTIs, I can't see them giving up half a footie pitch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete 'o' probe Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 (edited) No matter how you dress it up its doomed to failure you wait and see. An over complicated and horrendously expensive PFI that we will be paying for years to come. Edited March 28, 2008 by Pete 'o' probe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I'm with you Pete. If we stay flying at our current rate than we are going to need all 14 frames all of the time. How much is that going to cost us? 3rd Party Revenue? That will be us then!! The programme has become a shadow of its former self. 14 aircraft to replace the 25 jets we currently have? It doesn't add up. I believe that the quote from a senior RAAF officer when they assessed PFI was that it stood for "Pommie F*****g Idiots" or something along those lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I believe that the quote from a senior RAAF officer when they assessed PFI was that it stood for "Pommie F*****g Idiots" or something along those lines. and who can blame them for that thought process - should be changed to LiKO AF, work that one out for yourself, but it's political! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I'm with you Pete. If we stay flying at our current rate than we are going to need all 14 frames all of the time. How much is that going to cost us? 3rd Party Revenue? That will be us then!! The programme has become a shadow of its former self. 14 aircraft to replace the 25 jets we currently have? It doesn't add up. I'm sure there's a back up plan though... ...not! Having said that, with the AAR terms of the contract the only fall back would surely be to charter more of the AT to civvy land. With A400M and C130 coming to Brize (and potentially more C17s than those already ordered) they can't have too much more space left either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Finally, wasn't this supposed to have been agreed four years ago? We should just buy the bloody aircraft and have done with it.Get out of the A400M and buy C-17's as well while we're at it. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete 'o' probe Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 (edited) Finally, wasn't this supposed to have been agreed four years ago? We should just buy the bloody aircraft and have done with it.Get out of the A400M and buy C-17's as well while we're at it.Stephen Yes on all accounts, how much do you think has been spent already and not a frame to show for it IPT have a lot to answer for. I wonder how many fingers have been in the till and noses in troughs. No other rational major western power has gone this far down the road are thay all wrong? Edited March 28, 2008 by Pete 'o' probe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 The smart thing to do would be to jump on board the US's new tanker programme, more units built would equal a lower unit price. And seeing as they are our allies and we're most likely going to continue on inter-service operations with them, a common airframe would be an added bonus. But then again it is the Government, MoD etc we're talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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