RAF A330 MRTT makes maiden flight
Airbus Military has announced that the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has completed its first flight in RAF service on 8 April, 2012.
The flight saw the aircraft, known as the Voyager in RAF service, take off from RAF Brize Norton for a training sortie around the UK to allow the AirTanker crew to familiarise themselves with the aircraft and achieve the first part of the Voyager crew training schedule.
The Voyager aircraft was delivered by Airbus Military to AirTanker, the company formed to operate and support the Voyager for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) under the Future Strategic Transport Aircraft programme, at the end of last year.
Airbus Military said the aircraft will provide the RAF with the world´s most advanced air-to-air refuelling, passenger transport and aeromedical capability. As a modern and efficient aircraft, the Voyager is quieter and more fuel-efficient than any other aircraft currently based at RAF Brize Norton – the RAF´s primary transport/tanker base.
Airbus Military has to deliver 14 converted aircraft to AirTanker, of which two have already been converted from the basic A330-200 in Getafe and another two are in conversion at Cobham facilities in the UK. The Voyager has military and civil certification and the service will operate aircraft on both the military and civilian registers.
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