AUS AVIATION 8 RE NEW RAAF AIR TO AIR REFUELLING CAPABILITY
From: "Errol Cavit" (errolc@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 06:45:27 +1200


"Trevor Fenn" <ozzzpilot@no-spam> wrote in message news:93AA4AF16abc@no-spam > bernxard@no-spam (The Enlightenment) wrote in >
>
> >A330s will be in the Qantas inventory. The A330 has larger cargo > >capaciy and is big enough not to require additional tankage.
> >
>
> Kinda hard to build a tanker without extra tankage.
>

I'm fairly sure that the current RAAF B-707s (_not_ KC-135s) didn't have any tankage added.

--
Errol Cavit to email, my middle initial is G | "I see; power without responsibility, the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages." Kipling replying to Beaverbrook, who was boasting of his power.


From: matt weber (mattheww50@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 15:14:37 -0700

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 11:47:54 -0000, ozzzpilot@no-spam (Trevor Fenn) wrote:

>bernxard@no-spam (The Enlightenment) wrote in >
>
>>A330s will be in the Qantas inventory. The A330 has larger cargo >>capaciy and is big enough not to require additional tankage.
>>
>
>Kinda hard to build a tanker without extra tankage.

Not hard at all actually.
On a 777-200ER, if you fill the tanks, 171,000 liters is about 301,000 pounds of fuel. EW is 320,000
pounds, and most operators have MGTOW's in the 620-630,000 pound range. Add in the refueling gear, and well, you are probably going to be constrained on the fuel load.

In otherwords, the standard tankage covers the entire spread between EW and MGTOW in most configurations. The A330-200 and -300 are not much different in that regard.

A330 has 130,000 liters fuel capacity, which is about 229,000 pounds.
EW on the A330 is 265-275,000 pounds, MGTOW is 513,000,
so with full tanks, it is 494,000-504,000 pounds. In other words there is very little point in putting more tankgage in. The weight of the tank will consume much of the available remaining lift capacity,
and even if the tank weigh nothing, 5000 liters is about the most additional fuel you can hope to carry. That's not much of a tank.
My gut feel is the air to air refueling gear will eat up most of the available weight left anyway. So additional tanks give only a very small increase in capacity..


From: matt weber (mattheww50@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 21:18:35 -0700

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 22:19:42 GMT, Guy Alcala <g_alcala@no-spam> wrote:

>JB wrote:
>
>> They've been orphans in QF operations for a very long time. Whilst I'm sure >> there is a cost, I doubt that it's enough to really be a problem. There is >> already plenty of expertise in place with regard to maintenance of these >> engines.
>
>I suspect it depends on exactly how the deal is structured. Are they going PFI,

>is it going to be fully RAAF, some hybrid? On the orphan issue, does Qantas >want to get rid of them because they're too small, because they _are_ orphans >and not cost-effective, or some other reason? The other issue might be how >widely available parts will be for the JT9 for 20 years or so; after all, the >last new JT9D was produced in 1990. The JT9D seems likely to disappear from >service long before the other engines.
>
>> There are no pilot training/currency issues. If that's all the RAAF have,
>> then they won't have a currency or training problem. In practice, I operate >> all three types of engine, and there aren't any practical issues, other than >> remembering (or not) a few different limits. Procedurally more or less >> identical.
>
>Good to know. What's the thrust on the JT9s, compared to the other engines?
>Payload capability operating from Learmonth and Tindal is likely to be a factor.

>
>Guy JT9D's covered a wide range, but I believe the 767-200's have 7R's,
which in this application are 50,000 pounds thrust each. Runway requirement/lift capability is rarely much of an issue with the -200.

You can get several variants of the CF6-80 for the 767-200ER, as well as PW4000's. For thrust pick a number from 50,000 to about 57,000
pounds.

No RR engine was ever certified for the -200


From: "JB" (jb0767@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 09:35:31 GMT

"Guy Alcala" <g_alcala@no-spam> wrote in message >
> Do you happen to know why the -300s have less drag? Offhand I'd expect the > opposite, given the larger wetted area.

Better fineness ratio.

> Thanks for the info. I suspect FL330 is probably a good 8,000 feet higher than > F-111s are likely to be cruising, or loaded F-18s. Certainly, that's far higher > than the typical refueling altitudes the US uses in combat (FL210-250
being > quite typical), and most trans-oceanic ferry flights by U.S. fighters also seem > to be done at FL250, presumably to prevent the need for constant climbs from and > descents to refueling altitude.

I know. I chose the figure as it was about as high as they would reasonably go at max weight. None of the engines are at their best when kept down low though. I was a little surprised at just how well the PW compared in that circumstance.

JB

From: "JB" (jb0767@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 10:02:07 GMT

> It appears that the Qantas 767-200ERs probably have a MTOW of 350,000 lb.,
judging by > a Boeing 767-200/200ER runway length takeoff chart* which shows a/c with the > JT9D-7R4D/7R4E or CF6-80A/A2 engines for that weight, and I agree that at that MTOW > takeoff distances should rarely be a problem, even in hot conditions.

Their max t/o weight at the moment is 146,000 kgs. It used to be 155,000,
but was reduced when no longer needed for long haul ops. Registration fees are based on this weight, so their is no point having more than you need.

> Takeoff Runway length Charts for 200ERs with MTOWs of 380,000 (CF6-80C2-B2
or PW > 4052) and 387,000 lb. (CF6-80C2-B4 or PW4056) on hot days (ISA +17C) show that runway > length is definitely becoming a factor. So, if they stick with lower gross weight > 200ERs, no problem, but if they want to maximise payload and fuel offload in hot/high > conditions, the lower gross weight JT9D-powered a/c aren't going to cut it. While > the JT9D 767s shouldn't be anywhere near as limited in TOW as the USAF KC-135Es were > when based in the Gulf (or the really pitiful KC-135As), that still could be a > significant operational limitation. It will be interesting to see what the RAAF > decides to do (or rather, what the Government's willing to pay for), given that used > 767 airframes seem to be relatively cheap and available these days. Guess it depends > what the market for freighter conversions is as well.

It all rather depends what you want to do with them. If you are buying tankers, then with max fuel loads you will end up with t/o weights around the 150 tonne mark. No performance problem at all. I you want to carry 30
tonnes of freight, and play tankers simultaneously, then you're looking at the wrong aircraft. You will need something substantially bigger, and more expensive.

As for 767s lying around the countryside...be interesting to see what condition most of them are in. Remember, you can't look at 300s, as they'll drag the refuelling boom on the ground when they lift off.

JB

From: "JB" (jb0767@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 10:03:18 GMT

"JB" <jb0767@no-spam> wrote in message news:z_cMa.365$P84.6238@no-spam
> are based on this weight, so their is no point having more than you need.

are based on this weight, so there is no point having more than you need.

Damn, hate it when I do that...

JB

From: "BB" (not@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 20:18:00 +1000

"Errol Cavit" <errolc@no-spam> wrote in message news:bdrj7h$ulg$1@no-spam > "Trevor Fenn" <ozzzpilot@no-spam> wrote in message > news:93AA4AF16abc@no-spam > > bernxard@no-spam (The Enlightenment) wrote in >
>
> I'm fairly sure that the current RAAF B-707s (_not_ KC-135s) didn't have any > tankage added.
>
> --
> Errol Cavit > to email, my middle initial is G | "I see; power without responsibility,
the > prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages." Kipling replying to > Beaverbrook, who was boasting of his power.
>
>

That's correct... the main difference between the RAAF 707 tanker and a standard 707 is the addition of replenish valves and lines to allow the centre wing tanks to be refilled from the main tanks.... but the tankage itself is identical...

Regards,
BB.


From: "BB" (not@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 20:26:03 +1000

"David Bromage" <dbromage@no-spam> wrote in message news:3EFF9149.1010304@no-spam > Bill Whale wrote:
> > Replace one ageing a/c type with another? Havent they learnt their > lesson on that score?
>
> The Qantas 767-200s are only 17-18 years old, and have a relatively low > number of cycles for planes of that age. Qantas looks after its planes,
> which is why the 707s were so attractive. To USAF as well - look at the > origins of about half the J-STARS.
>
> Cheers > David >

The 767-200 are showing signs of a fair bit of wear and tear... does not mean they cannot be converted though... It just depends on how much money there is to spend and how thorough the conversion would be design-wise...

Regards,
BB.


From: matt weber (mattheww50@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 21:20:00 -0700

On Tue, 01 Jul 2003 08:40:51 GMT, Guy Alcala <g_alcala@no-spam> wrote:

>JB wrote:
>
>> True enough, it does burn more fuel, but possibly not enough to be an issue.
>> Actually, in domestic ops, the RR is the most thirsty of the engines.
>>
>> Some numbers:
>> 767-200 PW >> Fuel to climb to FL330 (at 155,000 kgs start weight) 3280 kg >> Cruise at FL330
>> @no-spam 155k, 5086 kgs/hr >> @no-spam 130k, 4510 kgs/hr >> @no-spam 110k, 3994 kgs/hr >>
>> 767-300 GE >> Fuel to climb to FL330 (at 155,000 kgs start weight) 3010 kg >> Cruise at FL330
>> @no-spam 155k, 4940 kgs/hr >> @no-spam 130k, 4476 kgs/hr >> @no-spam 110k, 3982 kgs/hr >>
>> The numbers are for a .79 cruise, and reduce by just on 400 kgs/hr (for >> both) if you are holding.
>>
>> The 767-300 has a bit less drag than the -200, so I would expect a GE >> equipped 200 to be slightly worse than these figures. You can't use a 300,
>> as there will be tail clearance issues with the boom refuelling gear.
>
>Do you happen to know why the -300s have less drag? Offhand I'd expect the >opposite, given the larger wetted area.
larger wetted area, but the aircraft is transonic and the longer fuselage increase the 'fineness' or ratio of cross section to length,
which tends to reduce drag in the transonic and supersonic regimes.
Relatively few notice just how Long (and thin) Concorde actually is.
It is about 2 meters shorter than an a330-300!


From: "BB" (not@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2003 15:43:24 +1000

"Dave Proctor" <david@no-spam> wrote in message news:gto3gvc6ujc9ji1rt0jdh33mhkkresr067@no-spam > Whilst undoubtedly under the effects of alcohol, "BB" <not@no-spam>
> wrote:
>
> > The 767-200 are showing signs of a fair bit of wear and tear.
>
> Only recently though, and mainly in the cabin. For the first part of > their life they were used on international ops, thus they had a low > number of cycles whilst having high passenger utilisation.
>
> lately though they have been used on the monorail, so their cycles > have gone up, along with their passenger usage. Given their imminenet > retirement, there has been no refurbishment.
>
> Whilst the cabins look tired, as far as cycles go most of them are in > middle age - not young, but not close to retirement either.
>
> =========
>
> Dave >
> Don't Drink Drive....
> It's A Laundry Detergent
Structurally as well... increasing amounts of corrosion and the like being found... especially in cargo areas...

Regards,
BB.


From: Paul Saccani (traptinnedspicedham@no-spam)
Subject: Re: New RAAF Air-To-Air Refuelling Capability
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 19:33:01 +0900

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 15:14:37 -0700, matt weber <mattheww50@no-spam> wrote:

>On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 11:47:54 -0000, ozzzpilot@no-spam (Trevor >Fenn) wrote:
>
>>bernxard@no-spam (The Enlightenment) wrote in >>
>>
>>>A330s will be in the Qantas inventory. The A330 has larger cargo >>>capaciy and is big enough not to require additional tankage.
>>>
>>
>>Kinda hard to build a tanker without extra tankage.
>
>Not hard at all actually.
> On a 777-200ER, if you fill the tanks, >171,000 liters is about 301,000 pounds of fuel. EW is 320,000
>pounds, and most operators have MGTOW's in the 620-630,000 pound >range. Add in the refueling gear, and well, you are probably going to >be constrained on the fuel load.
>
>In otherwords, the standard tankage covers the entire spread between >EW and MGTOW in most configurations. The A330-200 and -300 are not >much different in that regard.

True, but irrelevant.

In flight refuelling covers tankers, too...

MGTOW need not be the limiting factor in the loading of tankers, and more than one operator fills their tankers *above* MGTOW in the air.

>A330 has 130,000 liters fuel capacity, which is about 229,000 pounds.
>EW on the A330 is 265-275,000 pounds, MGTOW is 513,000,
>so with full tanks, it is 494,000-504,000 pounds. In other words >there is very little point in putting more tankgage in. The weight of >the tank will consume much of the available remaining lift capacity,
>and even if the tank weigh nothing, 5000 liters is about the most >additional fuel you can hope to carry. That's not much of a tank. >
>My gut feel is the air to air refueling gear will eat up most of the >available weight left anyway. So additional tanks give only a very >small increase in capacity..

No, this only applies if the tanker has no receive capability. Otherwise,
MGTOW is not the limiting factor, tankage is.

cheers,

Paul Saccani Perth West Australia