A330 MRTT Flight Test Programme progresses at a fast pace
Madrid, 28 January 2008
Flight-testing of the A330 MRTT, the first production aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), has continued at a fast pace and initial handling and performance evaluation are as predicted.
All aerodynamic tests for the A330 MRTT have been completed successfully, as well as testing of handling quality, performance, loads, autopilot and anemometry. An important feature of the process included flutter testing and the flight envelope has been successfully cleared.
In the next few days, the Civil Certification flight tests with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are scheduled to be performed.
As part of the tests hose stability data gathering has been completed and pre-contact position trials conducted with an F-18 fighter aircraft.
“We are on track and proud of the results we are getting, right in line with our expectations. We are becoming a reference in the air-to-air refuelling technology and systems with the market’s acknowledgement”, said Carlos Suarez, Head of EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division and Chairman of EADS CASA.
The government of Saudi Arabia has recently signed a contract for three (3) A330 MRTTs to upgrade their AAR fleet. It has also been selected by the UAE and the UK. The KC-30 that has been proposed to the USAF by Northrop Grumman as a replacement for the KC-135 is based on the A330 MRTT.
In the meantime the EADS A310 Boom Demonstrator aircraft has been conducting proximity tests with the A330 MRTT to collect data relevant to large aircraft refuelling. The next step will be for the A310 to perform more dry contacts with an F-16 and/or a NATO AWACS E-3A as a receiver.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of € 39.4 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.
Media contact:
| José María Palomino | Communications EADS MTAD |
Tel.: +34 91 585 77 89 |
| Eduardo Galicia | Communications EADS MTAD |
Tel.: +34 91 585 77 89 |
