MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

RAF biggest ever aircraft transport and tanker begins testing in UK

Voyageur is schedule to replace the ageing VC 10 and Tristar, which can be seen stationed at Falklands’ MPA

The Royal Air Force largest ever aircraft with a 60 metre wingspan and nearly 60 metres long arrived in the UK for the first time this week, the MOD has announced. The new future strategic tanker aircraft (FSTA) has also been named publicly by the RAF as Voyager.

Voyager, a dual role air to air tanker and transport aircraft, will replace the long serving VC-10 and Tristar that have been closely linked to Falkland Islands MPA and Air Bridge from Brize Norton.
Voyager has a considerable capability boost, able to carry 291 troops over 6,000 miles and to air to air refuel other aircraft with 100,000 litres of fuel, greater than two large petrol tankers.

MOD pictures show the aircraft at the MOD’s airfield at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, which will play host to two of the Voyager aircraft during an intensive program of testing and trials that will continue into next year. On the ground and in the air, the aircraft will be tested in the refuelling role, with Tornado, Sentry, Typhoon and Hercules aircraft. Voyager can refuel aircraft at a rate of 5,000 litres per minute, a garage forecourt petrol pump delivers fuel at 40 litres per minute.

Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium in 2008. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.

Based on the Airbus A330-200 airliner, the Voyager will be flown by RAF pilots and RAF engineers will be involved in maintenance alongside civilian colleagues. Major aircraft assemblies are being manufactured in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, commented:
“The arrival of the first Voyager aircraft in the UK marks an important milestone in the process that will see the Royal Air Force equipped with the best available air-to-air refuelling capability, with the first due in service by the end of the year. Recent events in Libya and the ongoing requirement for air to air refuelling over Afghanistan, clearly demonstrate the essential role that air-to-air refuelling plays in getting our aircraft to where they are needed.”

Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, responsible for combat support, Air Vice Marshal Phil Osborn, said: “As we have seen over the last few weeks, an effective tanker and transport force is an essential ingredient to this era of expeditionary warfare. Over the next few years Voyager will join the versatile A400M transport, C-17 strategic airlifter and well-proven Hercules transport aircraft to form an RAF fleet that can handle any task that comes its way in the future. I look forward to a successful trials programme that will keep the aircraft on track for delivery at the earliest opportunity”. (MoD).-