Have there been any pictures published of the layout of the proposed FB-22 ?

I kind of agree, I can’t remember the exact number of VC-10, and Tristar they currently operate but it must be about 25. In future 9 plus 5 spare A330’s doesn’t sound enough. However, they can always add extra airframes on the end of the order. Its interestsing though that when you visit the Airtanker website, there is lots of info on there, but the one thing they don’t mention is the number of airframes they will provide, so maybe its not yet cut and dried.

What is sure though is that some small nation will be getting themselves a nice bit of capacity when the Tristars come on the market, or will they go to a private air to air fuelling operator ?

If I was a pilot, I might be a little worried by this phrase (from the original report)

“This plane is a good plane in the opinion of all its pilots, if not the best in its class,” said the chief executive of Dassault Aviation, Charles Edelstenne, in April.

Most chief Execs normally tend to be very bullish about their products, but clearly not this one. Perhaps this lost something in the translation

No doubt Rolls Royce and the UK government will be asked to cough up some money to pay for some of the development. You will recall that the continuation of the second engine programme was one of the UK governments main targets in the last few months, so that will no doubt mean that they are forced to put their money where their mouth is