MRTT018 First flight after Cobham conversion (pic heavy)

[bizfreeq]

Evening All
Well the day finally arrived...one of the tanker conversions being done by Cobhams at Bournemouth flew for the first time in its new configuration.First order of business,around lunchtime,was a planned rejected take off.This was performed with no hitches,apart from a rather large plume of smoke from the brakes!
The test flight,lasting around 3 hours,and performed over the Bristol Channel/North Devon area,started around 3pm,and finished with 3 ILS approaches (2 go arounds and 1 landing) back at Bournemouth in fading light (hence the quality of the last few shots). Anyway enough of my ramblings,here are my shots from the day:

Rejected Take off:






A few of the mods that weren't there when it arrived all those months ago!:







We have lift off:







I'm back!:





Next stop Manchester for paint,all being well

[Stroudy]

Nice shots bizfreeq.

The only day ive not been around hurn with work for a while and i miss this! Would have made my lunch stop on our land (forestry) at the end of the runway a good one!

Do you know its movements at hurn over the next week or so or is that it and its on its way?

Cheers, Stroudy..

[Fentiger]

Staying in Bournemouth on business and saw it coming back. Looked good nice photos

[Flyingmonster]

Nice coverage!

[bizfreeq]

Thanks for the comments guys.It is due to leave for painting Fri/Sat this week. I am afraid I don't have any more info than that.I expect it to return in RAF colours in about a fortnight.

[bizfreeq]

Due into Manchester 15.00L today (Friday) and should be airborne from Bournemouth around lunchtime,presumeably for more airtesting en route.

[greatdog]

Nice shots,i missed the take off and i work at Honeywell practically next to the runway! But i did see it going over our house in Poole in the evening.

[3Greens]

A noteworthy set of pics for the history books. Brilliant close up selection of 'kit' attached.

Due into Manchester 15.00L today (Friday) and should be airborne from Bournemouth around lunchtime,presumeably for more airtesting en route.

I watched it on PP on Friday early afternoon doing its test over North Wales. Final element was a climb to 41000' then a seriously quick descent, for pressure test I assume, down to 10,000' before recovery into Manchester.
The fleet are regulars into ARA8 just a few miles away from me across the coast for further AAR tests with Coningsby GR4's
Thanks very much for posting, excellent stuff, - I will probably only ever log 'grey' machines!

[blacknight154]

What, no centreline HDU (hose drum unit) and/or boom ? C130J, C17 two name but 2 that use both types for air to air refuelling or is this more cost cutting?

Interesting mods and excellent photos.

[bizfreeq]

What, no centreline HDU (hose drum unit) and/or boom ? C130J, C17 two name but 2 that use both types for air to air refuelling or is this more cost cutting?

Interesting mods and excellent photos.

Thanks all for the comments so far.
In answer to the above,it is my understanding that the fleet will be a mix of some aircraft with 2 points and some with 3.

[Goldstar31]

No need for 3 lines, most Tankers only do 2 aircraft at a time due to management. 3rd central is usually to refuel larger aircraft.

Also, to the OP - What's a rejected take off? Is it different to an Aborted take off?

There will be a mix of 2 and 3 Hose Drum Unit tankers, C-130J's that are fitted with a probe will only use a centreline hose due to jet efflux. Time managemnet has nothing to to with wether a single hose or 2 are used....Tristar can only trail one hose at a time and still refuels the same amount as a VC10 that uses 2 hoses.

The rejected takeoff is the same as an aborted takeoff.

Cheers

Eccie

[Blackcat1]

Good shots there, nothing looks as good as the VC10 though im sorry lol

[Steven]

Super post! Thanks a lot.

[bizfreeq]

Thanks all. The aircraft should be out of paint Wednesday 31st with luck,then back to Bournemouth

[bizfreeq]

Update on this,expecting it to be out of paint Weds/Thurs and back to Bournemouth Friday 2nd November

[bizfreeq]

Latest I have on the departure from Manchester is 16.00 today
Subject to change of course

[bizfreeq]

15.15 latest etd