Sad but correct decision, Gab. I might have been tempted, in Le Drian's shoes to force Airbus
to provide a solution but I lack the data on the test failures to judge if it's even possible.
All I've heard so far is that the downwash from these huge engines' propellers made it too rough.
Is there a big danger or could a longer hose suffice to fix it! If the latter was possible, I'd be tempted
to have the drogue and hose redesigned by its maker or in-House by DGA / CEAM / SIAé and send
the flocking bill to Airbus, i.e. take it out of the price of the Atlas Grizzly whatever as they purport to
be getting ready to do with the cost of the C-130Js.
I suppose the problem was then more major than than. The central boom could not do both due to the
fact it's an add-on replacing the rear fuselage reservoir and that Caracals being slower than jets, using
the refueler in succession might take away precious mission time.
I then of course agree with Flamer in the sense that these big programs, cooperation ones even more so,
are often to big to penalize. We refrain from taking credits away from them and they've grown accustomed
to asking for more cash whenever they run into a snag instead. Europe is not alone in that situation :
follow my gaze to a US aircraft maker whose ruining joint programs and others regular ones as the KC-46.
These giants need to reminded that they work for the client not the other way around, even if governmental.
Still, if no fix could be found, then back to the old trusted C-130 is a coherent idea. Its older sibling did the job
just fine. As of them serving SF, mostly maybe but if Cougars with the capacity find their way in regular units
and considering that we'd be replacing the Hercs type plane for plane, once the Transalls are gone, it will have
to be 130s or nothing,now will it? 50 platforms with interchangeable kits down to 12 that have to keep their old
milk runs going for the troops at the same time … blah! Since the old ones did not do refueling it might be a
capacity increase but makes perennial a second type supposed to have disappeared with costs on maintenance.
Another mess, SNAFU, Tay.
P.S. And a thought for Dassault that always delivers on time but whose programs are delayed for COST reasons!
View attachment 210846 The original!
