Airbus A310 MRTT facts for kids

Airbus A310 MRTT

The Airbus A310 MRTT is a special military aircraft. It is designed to refuel other planes while flying and to carry troops or cargo. This amazing plane was developed from the regular Airbus A310 passenger jet. "MRTT" stands for Multi-Role Tanker Transport, which means it can do many different jobs for a country's air force.

What is the Airbus A310 MRTT?

The Airbus A310 MRTT is like a flying gas station and a giant transport truck all in one! It's used by air forces to support their missions. Its main jobs are:

• Air-to-air refueling: This means it can give fuel to other military planes, like fighter jets or transport aircraft, right in the sky. This allows them to fly longer distances without landing.
• Transport: It can carry soldiers, military equipment, or even act as a flying hospital for injured people.

From Passenger Plane to Military Giant

The A310 MRTT started its life as a regular Airbus A310 passenger plane. These planes were used by airlines all over the world. But engineers at Airbus saw a way to turn them into powerful military aircraft. They added special equipment like fuel tanks, refueling hoses, and stronger floors for carrying heavy cargo. This transformation makes the A310 MRTT a very versatile and cost-effective solution for air forces.

How Does Air Refueling Work?

Air refueling is a complex but vital operation for modern air forces. The A310 MRTT uses special pods under its wings. These pods have long hoses with a basket-like drogue at the end. The plane needing fuel flies behind the tanker and carefully guides a probe on its wing or nose into the drogue. Once connected, fuel flows from the A310 MRTT to the other aircraft. This allows military planes to stay in the air for much longer missions, which is very important for patrols, reconnaissance, or long-distance deployments.

What Does "Multi-Role" Mean?

The "Multi-Role" part of MRTT is very important. It means the plane isn't just for refueling. It can quickly change its setup to do other jobs:

• Troop Transport: It can carry many soldiers and their gear to different locations around the world.
• Cargo Transport: It can move large and heavy military equipment, vehicles, or supplies.
• Medical Evacuation (MedEvac): Some A310 MRTTs are set up like flying hospitals. They have special beds and medical equipment to transport injured soldiers or people who need urgent medical care. This is a very important and life-saving role.

Who Uses This Aircraft?

The Airbus A310 MRTT is used by a few different countries' air forces. Two of the main users are:

• Germany: The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) uses several A310 MRTTs for both refueling and transport missions, including their special MedEvac versions.
• Canada: The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) also operates these aircraft, calling them the Airbus CC-150 Polaris. They use them for similar roles, including transporting VIPs, troops, and for air refueling.

The A310 MRTT first flew as a tanker in 2003. It continues to be a valuable asset for the countries that operate it, helping their air forces perform a wide range of important tasks.

Images for kids

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  Sectioned scale model of the Luftwaffe A310 MRT, demonstrating its multi-role fitment showing the MedEvac intensive care units, with conventional passenger seating aft.

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  Main deck cargo door (port side) open on Luftwaffe A310 MRT 10+25

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  MedEvac version of Luftwaffe A310 MRT

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  Interior of MedEvac version of Luftwaffe A310 MRT

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  A MedEvac intensive care unit as used by the Luftwaffe in their A310 MRT

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  Underside of Luftwaffe A310 MRTT 10+27, displaying the Flight Refuelling Ltd (FRL) Mk32B pods close to the wingtips.

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  Close-up of the rear of the FRL Mk32B pods on the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150 Polaris.

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  A310 MRTT flying boom air-to-air refuelling system demonstrator from EADS, 2008

See also

In Spanish: Airbus A310 MRTT para niños