"robert arndt" wrote in message
m...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2980910.stm

Rpb

There's actually a larger requirement than just a flying
gin palace for the boy Blair. The RAF's VC-10's are now
seriously long in the tooth as are the Tristar tankers and both
got a lot of flying hours lately supporting ops in Afghanistan and
Iraq.

There's a real need to replace both in the refuelling and
transport role. Its my understanding that 2 bids have been
made

The first from EADS, RR, Cobham and Thales involves
the use of Airbus 330-200 airframes while the other
from BAE Sysytems,Boeing and Serco involves the
use of Boeing 767-300ER airframes.

Keith