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Boeing (TTSC) 767-300ER Tanker

Type
Multi-role tanker and transport aircraft (Mehrzweck-Tanker und –Transporter)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Boeing
PO Box 3707
Seattle, WA 98124
USA

The 767-300ER tanker version is offered to the RAF by the TTSC consortium, Grove House, Lutyens close, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 8AG, tel. 0044-1256/316-1990, fax 0044-1256/316-137, internet: www.ttsc.co.uk.

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2 plus one tanker operator
Passengers (Passagiere): 252 to 278
Cargo (Fracht): 24 pallets (88 x 108 inch) on the main deck, plus additional cargo in the lower holds depending on how much auxiliary tanks are fitted.

Power plant (Antrieb): Rolls Royce RB.211-524
Thrust (Schub): 251 kN (56400 lbs)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 54,94 m
Height (Höhe): 15,85 m
Fuselage width (Rumpfbreite): 5,03 m
Span (Spannweite): 47,57 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 283,3 sq m

Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 4,72 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 2,87 m
Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 40,36 m

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Einsatz-Leermasse): 89100 kg
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 73460 kg in the wings plus up to 24900 kg in underfloor tanks for a maximum of 98300 kg
Max. zero fuel weight (max. Masse ohne Kraftstoff): 133800 kg
Max. ramp weight (Max. Masse am Boden): 185500 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 184615 kg
Max. landing weight (Max. Landemasse): 145150 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Normal cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 860 km/h, Mach 0.8
Approach speed (Anfluggeschwindigkeit): 275 km/h
Initial cruise altitude (anfängliche Reiseflughöhe): 10730 m
Take-off field length (Startstrecke): 2500 m at sea level
Landing field length (Landestrecke): 1707 m at sea level
Range (Reichweite):
   - 7410 km (4000 NM) with 40 tons payload
   - 11110 km (6000 NM) with around 20 tons payload
Fuel offload capability (with auxiliary fuel tanks):
   - 50 tons at 1850 km (1000 NM) from base
   - 20 tons at 5555 km (3000 NM) from base

Costs (Kosten)
The RAF is seeking tanker services in a 27 year private finance contract that carries a value of 13 billion pounds.
As most of the time not all aircraft need to be available to the RAF, the winning FSTA consortium will have the opportunity to lease them out either as tankers for other air forces or as freight and passenger aircraft for airlines.

Customers (Kunden)
None. The Royal Air Force was seeking a replacement for its current fleet of 19 VC10s and 6 TriStar tankers in a privately operated solution which could encompass 19 aircraft. In the case of the 767-300ER, these would have all been taken from the British Airways fleet.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Airbus A330-200 Tanker

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The TTSC consortium is offering a low-risk solution for the FSTA competition, using used Boeing 767-300Ers from the British Airways fleet and modifying them for the tanker role. Changes include:

2 refuelling pods from Smith under the wings, delivering 400 gal/min
centre line hose drum unit in the rear lower fuselage, delivering 700 gal/min
military avionics like data link, defensive aids suite and military radios and navigation equipment

TTSC claims that one 767 tanker can take two Eurofighter Typhoons to Saudi Arabia.
The TTSC consortium (Tanker & Transport Service Company) is owned by:

Boeing (31,7 per cent)
BAE Systems (31,7 per cent)
Serco (31,7 per cent)
Spectrum Capital (5 per cent)

There are also “strategic partners” like British Airways (helps with the transition of the 767-300 fleet) , Marshall Aerospace (will convert the 767 to tankers) and Smiths Aerospace (providing the refuelling system).
TTSC says that its bid will create and support up to 5000 jobs in the UK, reportedly 580 on the FSTA and perhaps 720 on other 767 tanker exports, but mostly in support activities. Over 85 per cent of the FSTA content will flow into the UK.

History (Geschichte)
The FSTA project formally started in December 2000, when four commercial consortia (Air Reach, BAE Systems, Eurotanker, Serco and Spectrum Capital) were invited for negotiations. At that point, it was expected that 30 aircraft were needed.
In June 2000 Boeing carried out proximity trials using a 767-300ER from BA, with both a fighter (F-18) and a larger aircraft (S-3 Viking).
Further refueling proximity trials were carried out in May 2002 with a C-17 as the receiver. Boeing says that it has done 1100 hours of windtunnel tests to get to an optimum location for the wing refuelling pods.
Two consortia, TTSC and AirTanker, submitted formal bids in July 2001.
Final bids for the FSTA competition were submitted on 30 April 2003.
The UK MoD was expected to choose the winner of its FSTA (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft) competition late in 2003. That was delayed to 26 January 2004, when the defence ministry said that it would enter into detailed negotiations with the EADS-led AirTanker consortium on acquiring the A330-200 Tanker.
The first two 767-300ER would have been converted by Boeing in Wichita, with the remaining 17 by Marshall Aerospace. First deliveries would heve been in 2008, with the transition complete by 2012.

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Last updated 26 January 2004

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