RobK From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 3932 posts, RR: 19 Posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 3159 times:
Greetings all,
I received info a while ago (for my www.aircraft-deliveries.com website) from an Airbus source that A330 serial 871 is allocated to the USAF. Now I don't follow military transport threads and/or news as it/they don't interest me and therefore thought nothing of it, but I've since been informed by one person that this is "impossible", while others have said "is this really true, because it's big news if so?".
Can anyone confirm that the USAF do have an A330 on order please?
USAF336TFS From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1411 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 3147 times:
To the best of my knowledge, the USAF has not ordered any frames from either NG/EADS nor Boeing.
336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB
Quote: "The UK Ministry of Defence has finally given the green light to a private finance initiative deal worth about £13 billion ($26 billion) to equip the UK Royal Air Force with a new fleet of 14 Airbus A330-200-based tanker-transports from 2011 - two years later than originally planned."
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3097 times:
I'd suggest the Airbus may have been building a demonstrator or prototype on speculation. Boeing I believe did the same on the lease deal and now has a half finished KC-767 in storage at PAE.
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NBGSKyGod From United States of America, joined May 2004, 595 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (5 years 11 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2797 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 3): I'd suggest the Airbus may have been building a demonstrator or prototype on speculation. Boeing I believe did the same on the lease deal and now has a half finished KC-767 in storage at PAE.
I would have to agree with this, it is a possible DEMO aircraft to show the USAF the capabilities of the aircraft, we will see if it is equipped with a refueling boom rather than just the "probe and drogue" system.
"I use multi-billion dollar military satellite systems to find tupperware in the woods."
USAF336TFS From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1411 posts, RR: 53 Reply 5, posted (5 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2626 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 3): now has a half finished KC-767 in storage at PAE
True, but the new USAF tanker will be based on an "advanced derivative of the future 767-200 Long Range Freighter", therefore that existing prototype will be either highly modified (doubtful) or not used at all (more likely).
IIRC, NG/EADS will base their USAF offering on the A330F which has not been built yet. As was stated above, it's more likely a frame built for the UK MoD.
336th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2259 times:
Quoting RobK (Reply 6): Seems it is true after all! With due credit to Rik Anderson for pointing out the link to me
Wow!! Somebody took on a fair bit of risk. I wonder what the plan is for aircraft should Northrup Grumman not get the contract? Is somebody else in the market for a boom type tanker?
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LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (5 years 11 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2249 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 7): Is somebody else in the market for a boom type tanker?
The RAAF is. The first RAAF A330 tanker is already flight testing in Getafe. These tankers are due to enter service in 2009, so if NG/Airbus don't win the USAF contract, they could still sell those aircraft to the RAAF.
Columbia107 From Gibraltar, joined Aug 2004, 356 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1820 times:
Quoting Solnabo (Reply 9): I really hope USAF give green light for military A332, more suitable than 762/3 *to small* or 772 * to big*
Doubtful for the following reasons:
1. It will not be able to operate from a number of airfields due to their length. The A332 requiring longer runways.
2. The 762 is not too small but just the right size for the USAF's requirements as regards available ramp space in most US bases and is able to take-off from the airfields refered to in item 1 above.
3. Jobs. Boeing will generate employment for 40,000 plus in the US alone whilst the A332 will only generate some 12,000 jobs.
4. The USAF's specification requirements are fully met by the 762 whilst the A332 offers a number extras but at a price.
Saintsman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 2065 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1759 times:
Quoting Columbia107 (Reply 11): 3. Jobs. Boeing will generate employment for 40,000 plus in the US alone whilst the A332 will only generate some 12,000 jobs.
MCIGuy From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 1936 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1746 times:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The brass at ACC will never let themselves be at the behest of the French and German goverments for hardware. It's just not going to happen folks, period.
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