The EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) — on which Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 for the U.S. Air Force is based — has completed a key phase of testing to further validate the in-flight handling qualities of its advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS).
These evaluations, known as flutter testing, confirmed the characteristics of the EADS-developed ARBS, which is integrated on the A330 MRTT for the transfer of fuel to military receiver aircraft.
The flutter vibration testing was performed in a variety of flight conditions, including at high speeds and altitudes, with the boom deployed in its refueling positions. Testing was performed with the first A330 MRTT built for Australia.
