Cranfield students design an air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft

Citation

(2008), "Cranfield students design an air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780eab.031

Cranfield students design an air-to-air refueling tanker aircraft

Article Type: University and research news From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 5

In-flight refueling is not a new idea and attempts to design safe air-to-air refueling tankers were made as early as 1923. Recently, students at Cranfield University unveiled the MRT7-T family of aircraft which includes a new air refueling tanker designed to provide all-weather air refueling for military aircraft including uninhabited air vehicles as well as for civil airliners.

Students were tasked with exploring the possibilities that could give the armed forces a cost effective option in a rapidly changing world. They were also asked to consider the economics and environmental impact of the air-to-air refueling concept for civil airliners. Presentations during the day covered the cabin layout, fuel systems, propulsion, landing gear, avionics and structural design of the MRT7-T family of aircraft.

Whilst most tanker aircraft are based upon an existing civil airliner, the MRT7-T was designed from a military perspective to meet both the tanker and civil transport requirements from a conceptual design stage which is the first of its kind. In this way, the tanker design has been less constrained whilst still benefiting from the larger aircraft production numbers generated by the long range civil transport version - the MRT7-8, and a mid range civil transport version - the MRT7-3. In addition, with a freighter version - the MRT7-8 F, the possible number of aircraft that could be produced should make this a profitable venture.

The capability for refueling the shorter range civil aircraft opens up a wide range of possibilities to reduce the environmental impact of air travel both globally and locally. In-flight refueling enables an efficient shorter range civil airliner to operate at double, or more, the unrefueled range. The aircraft could take off at a lighter mass then refuel away from the airport which would ease airport congestion and reduce local emissions and noise.

For the armed forces, the main advantages offered by this method include extending the range of a fighter or bomber and extending the endurance of a loitering or patrolling aircraft. Additional flexibility can also be achieved by allowing an aircraft to take off at its maximum take-off weight with a larger payload and achieving flight range by refueling en-route.

Phil Stocking, Course Director and Senior Lecturer at Cranfield University said: “The project work undertaken by the students provides an excellent mechanism for the teaching and learning of aircraft design. This enables innovative research to take place such as the concept of air-to-air refueling of civil aircraft. The work undertaken by the students demonstrates that air to air refueling of civil airliners has many challenges, but the environmental benefits on long haul routes can be significant”.

The presentation was attended by 200 guests from industry, the military and academia. Representatives from the major manufacturers such as EADS, Boeing and Airbus were also present.

There are a number of potential customers currently reviewing options for tanker aircraft with air-to-air refueling capability. For example, only recently it was announced that the ageing fleet of USAF KC-135 s and KC-10 s will be replaced by Northrop/EADS A-330 Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft.