RAAF KC30 completes first C17 Boom trial

[MarkR]

Finally looks like the boom can be used:

The first air-to-air refuelling from an RAAF KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to a United States Air Force (USAF) C-17A Globemaster III occurred on February 10 over Edwards Air Force Base in the United States.

The five-hour sortie saw 39 contacts between the KC-30A and C-17A aircraft. During these contacts approximately 6,800 kilograms of fuel was transferred to the C-17A via the KC-30A’s Advanced Refuelling Boom System (ARBS).

http://airforce.gov.au/News/Air-Force-KC-30A-successfully-refuels-C-17A-for-the-first-time/?RAAF-mnt5n+IU8cg/rng2DY8PdJwHk3XyYz6s

[Bob C]

Hi Mark

I'm not 100% sure but I think the boom has already been cleared for ops and is used to refuel E7As (Wedgetails) in the Middle East - there may have been photos on the Defence website. And I think a variety of aircraft have been cleared for refuelling by boom, the C17A being the latest to undergo trials.

Cheers

Bob

[Greg Hyde]

AA ran the story as well

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/02/raaf-kc-30-completes-first-refuelling-of-a-c-17/

From what I read, it was first USAF C17 refuelled by a RAAF KC-30A.

I would of thought RAAF KC-30A to RAAF C17 would already be happening on a regular basis.

Did Boeing & Airbus have a flyoff for the KC-46 contract or was it paper based ?

[MarkR]

Hi Mark

I'm not 100% sure but I think the boom has already been cleared for ops and is used to refuel E7As (Wedgetails) in the Middle East - there may have been photos on the Defence website. And I think a variety of aircraft have been cleared for refuelling by boom, the C17A being the latest to undergo trials.

Cheers

Bob

Hi Bob

That is correct, the wedge tail has used the boom in the ME on trial. And of course the first refuel was where they struck trouble with a F16, in the form of the boom detaching form the aircraft.

[MarkR]

From what I read, it was first USAF C17 refuelled by a RAAF KC-30A.

I would of thought RAAF KC-30A to RAAF C17 would already be happening on a regular basis.

It is the first refuel from the boom of any C17, makes sense to do it with a crew and aircraft that is used to it in terms of the USAF.

[Kent Broadhead]

A
Did Boeing & Airbus have a flyoff for the KC-46 contract or was it paper based ?

Paper, especially if you include the lobbying, inquiry and further lobbying when the consortium including Airbus originally won the contract.

[MarkR]

Paper, especially if you include the lobbying, inquiry and further lobbying when the consortium including Airbus originally won the contract.

KC46 only came into existence in 2011, while the MRTT contract for the RAAF was signed with EADS CASA in 2008. The KC767 clearly doesn't meet the needs of the RAAF or the US, while going for the updated KC46 would have meant being at the back of a long queue, given it only did its first refuel test last month of any aircraft.

The fact the aircraft have significant commonality with civil QF variants is a bonus, especially interior wise.

[Kent Broadhead]

KC46 only came into existence in 2011, while the MRTT contract for the RAAF was signed with EADS CASA in 2008.

Cheers Mark. The Kc-46 debacle will make an interesting case study of political influence in US military procurement :) Outside the US it has always read as a case of Boeing and its supporters spitting the dummy when not selected.

MRTT the right decision for Australia.

[Greg Hyde]

I totally agree that the MRTT considering Boeing could only offer a 1980's B767 airframe to base the KC-46.

That's why the ex-RAAF B707 Omega tankers are still operational in the US.

[Greg Hyde]

RAAF KC-30 refuels a RAAF C-17 for the first time

The RAAF has conducted air-to-air refuelling trials between a KC-30 MRTT tanker transport and one of its own C-17 Globemaster transports for the first time.

The two-hour sortie took place off the Queensland coast in late April and saw the 33 Squadron KC-30’s ARBS boom make “a number” of contacts with the 36 Squadron C-17, a Department of Defence statement released on Thursday says, and follows the successful refuelling trials between a RAAF KC-30 and a US Air Force C-17 earlier this year.

The KC-30’s ongoing boom testing and clearance program is being run by the RAAF’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) in cooperation with 33 Squadron.

“Our testing uses a team of ARDU flight test aircrew (test pilots, flight test engineers and flight test system specialists) along with pilots and aerial refuelling operators from the operational squadrons working together on the program,” ARDU commanding officer Wing Commander Daniel Rich said in the statement.

“Our testing program is not just of benefit to the RAAF but, through close cooperation with the United States Air Force flight test system, this clearance activity will also provide a meaningful contribution across allied test and evaluation activities.”

The KC-30 is already cleared to conduct boom refuelling of other KC-30s and the E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/05/raaf-kc-30-refuels-a-raaf-c-17-for-the-first-time/