The Royal Air Force is cutting its hard-pressed tanker fleet by three aircraft, provoking an angry reaction from tanker aircrew at RAF Brize Norton.
The move, which will reduce the Vickers VC-10 fleet from 19 to 16 aircraft, also means the disbanding of 10 Squadron on 14 October, one of the RAF's longest-serving and most distinguished units. Most of its air and ground crew will join the single remaining tanker squadron, 101 Squadron.
Six crews are to be transferred to what the UK MoD calls "the more efficient Tristar aircraft", allowing the TriStars to fly an extra 2,000 flying hours annually. The VC-10 fleet will be cut prematurely by one C1K and two K4 models.
The scrapping of these aircraft may help to provide spares for the remaining VC-10s, helping extend their lives pending the long delayed introduction of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA), which is to be acquired via an innovative private finance initiative (PFI) service contract.
The move has provoked anger and astonishment from RAF tanker aircrew, who point out that while the "more capable" Lockheed Martin TriStar has impressive range and endurance, and is a more efficient transport aircraft, its single-point refuelling system means that it can only refuel one aircraft at a time, while the type has suffered from poor serviceability and is more limited in the number of airfields from which it can operate.
At its peak, the combined VC10/TriStar fleet could put 60 hoses into the sky simultaneously, but will soon be able to provide no more than 20. Five VC 10 K2s were withdrawn from use and scrapped earlier in the decade in what one senior officer described as an "extraordinarily short-sighted attempt to save the cost of a few major overhauls."
These were the RAF's most efficient tankers, and their loss had a major operational impact.
The use of two- or three-point tankers is extremely advantageous when refuelling tactical fast jets, and many trail routes are difficult in a single-hose tanker, if more than two receivers are to be trailed. There is, for example, no single hose plan for tanking three Jaguars from the Azores to Canada with a single tanker.
Typically
"When you are in a typically overloaded and underpowered British fast jet, two hoses rule! Trying to get a pair - let alone a four-ship - through a single hose is a nightmare. Our jets don't suck fuel fast enough!" said one RAF tanker 'customer'.
The RAF's tanker fleet is already very heavily tasked, and has been frequently called upon to support US Navy and other allied aircraft during coalition operations. The reduction in tanker numbers will thus have a significant effect on the US forces, as well as UK and NATO assets.
The FSTA contract has still not been signed, and insiders suggest that there will be at least a four or five-year delay before the in-service Date. With typically sardonic wit, RAF aircrew suggest that FSTA now stands for 'F***ing Short of Tankers Again'.
Flight Daily News understands that the availability of VC-10s may not be adversely affected by the withdrawal of the three aircraft, since the existing 207m Javelin availability contract covering BAE CS&S management and support for major and minor (third-line) servicing provided via DARO at St Athan is to be extended via a new 40m contract covering second-line servicing. BAE have already leveraged cost savings and increased availability from a reduced-size Nimrod force via similar availability contracts.
The move, which will reduce the Vickers VC-10 fleet from 19 to 16 aircraft, also means the disbanding of 10 Squadron on 14 October, one of the RAF's longest-serving and most distinguished units. Most of its air and ground crew will join the single remaining tanker squadron, 101 Squadron.
Six crews are to be transferred to what the UK MoD calls "the more efficient Tristar aircraft", allowing the TriStars to fly an extra 2,000 flying hours annually. The VC-10 fleet will be cut prematurely by one C1K and two K4 models.
The scrapping of these aircraft may help to provide spares for the remaining VC-10s, helping extend their lives pending the long delayed introduction of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA), which is to be acquired via an innovative private finance initiative (PFI) service contract.
The move has provoked anger and astonishment from RAF tanker aircrew, who point out that while the "more capable" Lockheed Martin TriStar has impressive range and endurance, and is a more efficient transport aircraft, its single-point refuelling system means that it can only refuel one aircraft at a time, while the type has suffered from poor serviceability and is more limited in the number of airfields from which it can operate.
At its peak, the combined VC10/TriStar fleet could put 60 hoses into the sky simultaneously, but will soon be able to provide no more than 20. Five VC 10 K2s were withdrawn from use and scrapped earlier in the decade in what one senior officer described as an "extraordinarily short-sighted attempt to save the cost of a few major overhauls."
These were the RAF's most efficient tankers, and their loss had a major operational impact.
The use of two- or three-point tankers is extremely advantageous when refuelling tactical fast jets, and many trail routes are difficult in a single-hose tanker, if more than two receivers are to be trailed. There is, for example, no single hose plan for tanking three Jaguars from the Azores to Canada with a single tanker.
Typically
"When you are in a typically overloaded and underpowered British fast jet, two hoses rule! Trying to get a pair - let alone a four-ship - through a single hose is a nightmare. Our jets don't suck fuel fast enough!" said one RAF tanker 'customer'.
The RAF's tanker fleet is already very heavily tasked, and has been frequently called upon to support US Navy and other allied aircraft during coalition operations. The reduction in tanker numbers will thus have a significant effect on the US forces, as well as UK and NATO assets.
The FSTA contract has still not been signed, and insiders suggest that there will be at least a four or five-year delay before the in-service Date. With typically sardonic wit, RAF aircrew suggest that FSTA now stands for 'F***ing Short of Tankers Again'.
Flight Daily News understands that the availability of VC-10s may not be adversely affected by the withdrawal of the three aircraft, since the existing 207m Javelin availability contract covering BAE CS&S management and support for major and minor (third-line) servicing provided via DARO at St Athan is to be extended via a new 40m contract covering second-line servicing. BAE have already leveraged cost savings and increased availability from a reduced-size Nimrod force via similar availability contracts.
Source: Flight Daily News
