Luftwaffe qualifies A400M for aerial refuelling

Dr Andreas Zeitler THE LUFTWAFFE has qualified its A400M for air-to-air refuelling with the service’s Tornado and Eurofighter combat aircraft. During August, Luftwaffe A400M 54+09 visited Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge und Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (WTD 61, Bundeswehr Technical Centre for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment) at Manching to undertake qualification work from the Bavarian base. This aircraft is currently the only Luftwaffe example equipped for aerial refuelling with two hose units installed under the wingtips (see Luftwaffe takes on first A400M