Indoor System Trials Completed, First Flight Planned Next Month

Indoor testing required prior to first flight of the first A330 MRTT Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) for the UK Royal Air Force has been completed . It has been rolled out of its hangar at Airbus Military's Getafe, Madrid facility to continue with the out-door tests, such as fuel trials and others.

Once all trials are successfully completed, the aircraft will be handed over to the Flight Test Team for First Flight which is due in the first part of September. The aircraft has been converted from a basic A330-200 airframe by Airbus Military. Following the flight-test program it will be delivered late next year to the AirTanker consortium responsible for operating the aircraft on behalf of the UK Royal Air Force.

Airbus received an STC from EASA in March for the MRTT, and modifications include all equipment to provide the aerial refueling capability for a full range of receiver aircraft - from fighters to large transports. This includes the totally new fly-by-wire Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS) developed by Airbus Military, the under-wing hose and drogue refueling pods, the refueling operators' console in the cockpit area, as well as other mission-specific military avionics and systems.

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The UK's FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft) program involves the acquisition of 14 A330 MRTT-based tanker/transports for the RAF. With a service entry planned for 2011, the new aircraft will progressively replace the country's fleet of aging VC-10 and TriStar refueling aircraft.

FMI: www.airbus.com