RAF's FSTA (A330 tanker) makes first dry contacts

The first Airbus Military A330 MRTT Future Strategic Transport Aircraft (FSTA) for the UK´s Royal Air Force has successfully completed its first contacts with a receiver aircraft.
In a 2 hour 40 min sortie from Getafe near Madrid on 13th December, the FSTA conducted a series of dry contacts with a F-18 fighter of the Spanish Air Force as planned.

The contacts were made using the Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU), consisting of a hose and drogue similar to those fitted under the wings, and which is also developed and supplied by Cobham of the UK.

In the course of that flight and a subsequent sortie, contacts were successfully performed thoughout the refuelling flight-envelope at altitudes from 8,000ft to 35,000ft and speeds from 180kt to 325kt.

This is the first time that the FRU has been used to make contact and means that all of the A330 MRTT´s refuelling systems have now completed contacts – they are the FRU, underwing hose-and-drogue, and the Airbus Military Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS), plus the Universal Aerial Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) used to receive fuel from another tanker.

Head of Airbus Military Derivatives Antonio Caramazana said: "It is very satisfying to see the FRU in operation and demonstrating the final element in the A330 MRTT´s refuelling system. We look forward to executing wet contacts in the coming days to reinforce the status of the A330 MRTT as the world´s most advanced and proven transport/tanker."

Airbus Military