March 18Mar 18 13 hours ago, brabus said: Absolutely. Multiple countries already using A330 tankers, it’s the best gas passer I’ve ever taken gas from, and it’s not a Boeing. We are retarded for not having done this years ago. The MRTT (A330 tanker) carries eight 463L pallets (four in the bottom aft lobe and four in the bottom forward lobe). It also doesn't carry ISU-80/90s due to the height restrictions in the lower cargo lobes. The KC-46 carries 10 463L pallets centerline, 18 463L pallets side-by-side, has aero medevac litters in all jets, etc. The USAF isn't buying tankers just to refuel like the KC-135 originally was built for.
March 18Mar 18 The MRTT (A330 tanker) carries eight 463L pallets (four in the bottom aft lobe and four in the bottom forward lobe). It also doesn't carry ISU-80/90s due to the height restrictions in the lower cargo lobes. The KC-46 carries 10 463L pallets centerline, 18 463L pallets side-by-side, has aero medevac litters in all jets, etc. The USAF isn't buying tankers just to refuel like the KC-135 originally was built for. True but in defense of the MRTT it carries more passengers, 290+ vs 50+ for the 46, 110+ in a contingency configuration.Just my two cents, the correct answer is both of them for the USAFSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
March 20Mar 20 Preach on Mini https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/03/theres-tanker-sized-gap-vision-air-forces-future/403589/ We need this team with a catchy acronym, Future Air Refueling Team or FART if you will… 46s as the foundation and -330 MRTT+ for distance with -390s for ACE.
March 21Mar 21 18 hours ago, Clark Griswold said: Future Air Refueling Team or FART if you will… Their specialty is passing gas.
March 22Mar 22 If Boeing get the NGAD then LM gets the NGAS, NG can get the F/A-XXSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
March 23Mar 23 NGAS might draw the short straw… https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/08/uncertain-future-usaf-ngas/#
March 23Mar 23 Hopefully that means there’s a different solution or these future planes all have long legs. The -135 fleet is pretty old. Hilarious how much the AF relies on the cold war era aircraft.
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