As to the VC10/Tristar I was under the impression there are 16 VC10s(although I’m working on old info and IIRC they’ve begun to retire the fleet before replacements arrive so Charlie’s 14 is probably right) and 9 Tristars (3 of which are not tankers). Either way a considerable amount more than there will be in replacements
I was wrong too – just checked my figures and there are 15 (I was a C1K short. There were 16 until August 2009, when ZD242 was retired)
the 14 quoted above for MRRT rings a bell and prompts my own question; is there any chance of the RAF opting for another 4 or so more? 14 isn’t enough by about half, the alternative being to buy refueling kits for the some of the A400s (or a non-linear, non-sensical alternative being to retire 30% of the fleet so there are enough tankers to go around, surely the Call-me-Dave’s wont be as bad as labour?)
I’m sure if you threw enough money in the right place they could provide more tankers. Frankly, there will be enough A330, considering their servicability compared to VC10/Tristar.
As for the A400M, any attempt to convert these would break the terms of the FSTA agreement, in that FSTA is the only MoD operated tanker once it has achieved full operating capability.
As for the “Call me Daves” – don’t forget that a certain secret Oxfordshire AAR/AT base is in Dave’s constituency!
A330 MRRT was a mistake, a little bit more cash and thought would have gone a long way, RAF could host a fleet of 767s with various different missions, 4-5 JSTARS type(ignoring the fact ASTOR was a couple of years before FSTA), 18-20 tankers, 3 ELINT and later perhaps 6 767 Wedgetail derrived AEW and if you’re that way inclined theres always Blair Force One. Would not work with A330 due to increased costs, theres no way of fitting it into any dreamable budget (it’d take a fair chunk more to stretch this far) with lower chances of any international collaberation.
I think a lot has to be read into the fact unlike others, the A330 will be 50:50 tanker transport. In fact a member of AirTankers opponent consortium said to me that even though they offered (second hand) 767s, in his opinion, the best solution was the A330-200 converted to use the A340’s central undercarriage bogey.
Another question on the subject of airlift: the Globemasters; a couple of years ago there were plans to bring total numbers upto 8, did that plan die and if not is it now too late?
No it didn’t; I suspect any further orders will be as cashflow allows in a tightening budget. There were strong rumours recently that a seventh may be signed for soon.
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