the new Voyager is twice as large as a Lancaster bomber of the largest aircraft of the RAF in the history in the UK for the first time has arrived.The new tanker and transport plane - with the name of the Voyager - is almost 60 m (197 ft) long and has a 60 m span.
It is twice as large as replace a Lancaster bomber and the VC-10 and Tristar aircraft. The RAF has bought 14 passengers and the first will be expected by the end of the year in the service.
The aircraft arrived on the MoD airfield in Boscombe down, Wiltshire, where further trails will be carried out.
The Voyager, a converted airliner Airbus A330-200, can carry 291 troops for more than 6,000 miles (9, 656 km).
It can another aircraft is in the air with 100,000 litres of fuel, more than tankers refuel included the amount of two large petrol.
The Ministry of defence said that it can fuel at a rate of 5,000 litres per minute, compared to a pump in a garage, which provides fuel to 40 litres per minute.
'Major milestone'Peter Luff, Minister for defence equipment, support and technology, said: "The arrival of the first aircraft, Voyager in the United Kingdom marked an important milestone in this process, the Royal Air Force with the best available air to air of refuelling capability equipped, with the first due in service by the end of the year."
"The recent events in Libya, and ongoing demand for in-flight refuelling capabilities of Afghanistan clearly shows the significant role, air to air refuelling plays always in our aircraft, where they are needed."
Fourteen Voyager aircraft to the RAF under a 27-year ￡ 10 billion signed private finance initiative contract and provided the AirTanker consortium in 2008. The aircraft and its parts are manufactured and assembled in the UK, Spain, Germany, and France.
One of the travellers in Boscombe down on Monday, and two of the aircraft be it during an intensive programme of tests that are based in the next year still.
Air Vice Marshal Phil Osborn, air officer commanding 2 group, said: "over the next few years the Voyager will join the versatile A400M transport, to form C-17 of strategic transports and proven Hercules transport aircraft to a RAF fleet which can handle task that comes his way in the future."
"I look forward to a successful studies program, to be the aircraft on the right track for the delivery at the earliest possible date."
The arrival of Voyager comes, faced such as the armed forces budget cuts and in the next four years of job losses.
Under the strategic defence review announced in the last year is the Red Army FACTION, 5000 jobs, with 1,020 in September going to lose.
Moreover, the Harrier jump jet and Nimrod reconnaissance levels scrapped are, and some bases be closed air force.
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