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Old May 17th 04, 02:58 AM
Guy Alcala
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Guy Alcala wrote:

snip

Also, the report mentioned that the navy was already contracting out
training and coast-to-coast tanking services, which I was unaware of. I haven't
yet found out who they're contracting with or what kind of a/c they're using.


Found it. They're contracting with an Irish company called Omega Air, which
provides used 707-320s (they' got one or two in service so far) equipped with a pair
of centerline Sargent-Fletcher (apparently now owned by Cobham PLC, formerly
Flight-Refueling Ltd.) FR300 drogues. Omega has also apparently bought a fleet of
used DC-10s, and plans to convert some of them into tankers in the future. At the
moment, they're concentrating on hose-drogue refueling, both because the conversion
is easier and ceaper, and because most air forces use it. the following is a quote
from a 2001 AvLeak article:

"Following retirement of its Grumman KA-6D and Lockheed KS-3A tankers, the U.S. Navy
is exploring PFI operations through a recent $6.6 million air refueling contract
with Flight International, Inc. and Omega Air. This involves 600 hours of tanker, EW
training and other U.S. Navy support missions by Omega's dual probe-and-drogue
equipped Boeing 707-320 through October this year, with renewal options up to 2005.
These, and the USAF's massive KC-X requirement, are also hungrily earmarked for
early pursuit by the FTSA contenders, who have also briefed 10 or more other
countries on their
proposals."

This article apparently dates from 2000 so is a bit out of date, but it provides
some useful info:

http://www.nawcad.navy.mil/view_rele...m?article_id=8

Guy