A RAAF KC-30 with its refuelling hoses deployed. (EADS)
Airbus Military says it has completed all the flight tests required for the daylight certification of the wing-mounted Cobham 905 hose-and-drogue refuelling system on its A330 MRTT, clearing the way for formal military certification of the system from Spain’s INTA certification authority.
Tests included manoeuvring in an expanding flight envelope to verify the aircraft’s handling qualities with the hose-and-drogue deployed, both in free-flight and when hooked up to Spanish air force EF-18 fighters.
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“Following civil certification of the A330 MRTT on 17th March 2010, the completion of this flight test phase is a further major step towards final military certification of the aircraft,” Airbus Military Head of Derivatives, Antonio Caramazana, said.
Airbus Military says it is also well advanced in testing of the MRTT’s Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), which will be completed shortly.
The RAAF will take delivery of its first of five KC-30A MRTTs later this year.
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