THE first RAF Voyager aircraft has been formally approved for use on troop and freight transport duties and medical evacuation flights, the Ministry of Defence said.
The RAF Brize Norton-based planes, converted from Airbus A330-200 airliners, are also set to take over air-to-air refuelling duties from ageing VC10s and Tristars.
But, as reported in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, trials have hit a snag, with fuel leaks observed during tests with Tornado attack jets. Work to solve the problem is under way.
The Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Baz North, said: “Once the refuelling trials are successfully completed, RAF air-to-air refuelling training will begin.”
Fourteen of the planes will be delivered to Brize Norton over the next few years, with nine due in service by mid-2014.
The planes were approved for use on Wednesday.
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