"Paul Scott" wrote in message

Tom Anderson wrote:

I understand that the MoD has contracts like that with defence
suppliers, ie BAe, where instead of buying N aircraft (or whatever)
outright and then making separate maintenance arrangements to keep M
of them flying, they just contract with the manufacturer to make M
aircraft available at all times. The manufacturer then has
flexibility as to how they do that, and of course can coordinate
manufacturing, repair, replacement, etc. Seems to be a popular and
clever model; i can't say how well it works in practice.

Apparently the new RAF refuelling aircraft are basically a normal
Airbus (with big tanks in the cargo hold) which the contractor can
lease out on the open market, e.g. at weekends when the RAF is shut.
Extended range Ryanair flights in 'austerity' seating with limited
luggage perhaps?

I don't know if all of the A330s will be fitted with the refuelling
gear -- one assumes they will. If so, this adds to the weight. I assume
that there must also be some sort of control panel, etc, for the
operation of the refuelling equipment, which presumably takes space in
behind the cockpit area. So, they're not exactly standard A330s.

I'm wondering if they will be used as cargo aircraft when not being used
by the RAF, rather than to carry pax? And will the RAF also use them
for carrying pax, as they do with the old VC-10s and Tristars? In
effect, they may be used more as troop transporters than as refuellers
(unlike the USAF, the RAF can't affordf dedicated fleets of both types).