July 27,
2008: Canada has developed modifications
for its CC-150 military transports (militarized Airbus-310s) to also serve as
aerial tankers. Two of the five CC-150s will be modified so they can carry and
offload 40 tons of fuel. This would enable a CC-150 to take four CF-18 Hornet
fighters across the Atlantic.
The CC-150
is a 164 ton aircraft that can carry 33 tons of cargo or 340 personnel to any
place on the planet. The tanker version can quickly be converted back to
passenger/cargo service. In the 1990s, Canada replaced its five Boeing 707 type
military transports with the CC-150. While Canada has a small military, being
in North America means it is a long way from global hot spots. So, like the United
States, Canada has its own force of long range military transports, and
arrangements with commercial air freight firms, in order to move people and
cargo anywhere, in a hurry.
