New Fuel Tankers
By Rob Service
The new fuel tankers
The RNZAF recently took delivery of two new FUSO Shogun aviation fuel tankers at a formal roll-out ceremony at RNZAF Base Auckland. They have been designed and constructed to replace three old tankers. The tankers are the first new fuel tankers to be introduced into RNZAF service for 22 years and represent a significant financial investment.
The tankers will be allocated to Auckland and Ohakea to provide fuel support to the current and future aircraft fleets in addition to SAR and agency support. Some limited off-sealed road capability has been engineered into the design and full compliance with legal, fuel industry and RNZAF airworthiness requirements has been achieved. Refuelling, driving and maintenance training has been conducted. RNZAF acceptance checks and integrated logistics support arrangements have been formalised with the tankers becoming operational during November 2008.
This project has been a successful example of RNZAF and civilian industry collaboration. The capability requirement is RNZAF. Tanker design is Air BP Global Standard VEH 10.3. The manufacturer is Liquip International Ltd, Melbourne, with RNZAF corporate branding and the truck supplied by FUSO (NZ) Ltd.
The RNZAF has now completed Phase 1 of a project to replace the entire tanker fleet over the next 10 years. Aviation Refuellers will now be able to get on with the job of using these tankers over the next 30 years with the assurance that they are now operating the best, fit for purpose 12,000 litre tanker. This bodes well for being an Air Force that is the best in everything we do.