Baroque
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,991
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Post by Baroque on May 19, 2014 18:56:58 GMT 1
...the airframes to be modified to MRTT specifications (previous owner, age, number of cycles and flight hours ...). We don't know if it's a new order or a previously announced one. Wait, I thought MRTTs are all new builds as the wings are somewhat slightly different with regards to the plumbing etc. Am I missing something here?  |
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Post by Jkkw on May 20, 2014 4:33:33 GMT 1
...the airframes to be modified to MRTT specifications (previous owner, age, number of cycles and flight hours ...). We don't know if it's a new order or a previously announced one. Wait, I thought MRTTs are all new builds as the wings are somewhat slightly different with regards to the plumbing etc. Am I missing something here? Yes, I too am pretty (99%) sure that MRTTs are all new builds. www.janes.com/article/38085/airbus-awards-a330-mrtt-conversion-contract |
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on May 20, 2014 9:28:49 GMT 1
I also believed all MRTTs were new-built, yet Flightglobal writes a different story. "Iberia’s technical management teams have handled similar conversions for the Royal Saudi Air Force. The first aircraft from an initial trio of A330 MRTTs for Riyadh was handed over to its air force in February 2013, with deliveries now complete. A follow-on batch of three tankers has previously been described as due for delivery due late this year. ...... Conversion to the military role requires the complete internal dismantling of the aircraft’s cabin, installation of structural alterations and mission-specific equipment". |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959 
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Post by s543 on May 20, 2014 10:56:16 GMT 1
IT is all very peculiar. One would guess that it is cheaper to built a new plane and let this wait for some customer. The question is in what stage of production is this change done ? It might be that the interior is not yet installed ? How long does it take to produce completely new plane ? A lot of unknowns  |
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Baroque
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,991
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Post by Baroque on May 21, 2014 0:20:52 GMT 1
Just dug a little deeper and found a bit of info on the conversion... That's basically it. I don't think there's any literal "stripping of the cabin" and it might have been a misinterpretation.  |
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on May 21, 2014 0:50:08 GMT 1
I come to the conclusion that the MRTT "conversions" do not involve any used airframe.
They seem to use the phrase with a different meaning : taking delivery of a regular airframe on the TLS FAL, and then performing the completion work to make the aircraft a MRTT - a multi-role aircraft that has been designed to be converted as needed to perform either tanker or military transport missions.
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XWB
in service - 11 years
Posts: 16,115
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Post by XWB on May 21, 2014 8:16:51 GMT 1
That's how I understand it as well.
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959
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Post by s543 on May 21, 2014 9:00:54 GMT 1
And it is also makes logical sense.  |
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mjoelnir
in service - 2 years
Posts: 4,089
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Post by mjoelnir on May 21, 2014 10:32:31 GMT 1
Just dug a little deeper and found a bit of info on the conversion... That's basically it. I don't think there's any literal "stripping of the cabin" and it might have been a misinterpretation. RAF does not use the main deck for freight. The conversion gets a bit more extensive if the main deck goes to convertible to freight. Than the floor gets changed and a cargo door is added. I do not know what air force is buying exactly what, but the possibilities for different versions is extensive. Main deck cargo, no main deck cargo possible. Flying refueling boom, no refueling boom. Center, instead of boom, probe and drogue. Probe and drogue two pieces on the wings in A340 outboard engine position and they are detachable. And than there are the different defensive suits and other military equipment. On the RAF version everything connected to refueling seems to be removable and the frames can be used as "normal" passenger frames. |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959
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Post by s543 on May 21, 2014 11:41:20 GMT 1
Fine mjoelnir - what you say is that there are: field made-unmade alterations - no problem there more alterations before delivery - but basically all are common in the "normal" frame - 330-200 or 330-200F AB produces a frame personal or F and it goes to "conversion" workshops. |
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