Strange aircraft off the coast of cornwall

[ATW Alex 101]

Does anybody know anything about the RAF A330 making thousands of circles at 8000 feet off the coast of cornwall? Its taken of from MoD Boscombe down. It's really low and looks like it's been holding for ages.

http://www.flightradar24.com/

It's off the coast of cornwall, click on it and see the path

 

[starrymarkb]

Probably doing test fuelings. That area is designated for Air to Air refuelling. There are at least 3 areas over the South West designated for the purpose. There are also Orbit areas for Boeing Sentry AWACs to er.... orbit

It's also under a Spanish civil registration so assuming the MOD are doing acceptance trials before money changes hands. (RRR is the usual code for RAF flights, not that military shows up usually)

 

[SwindonPkwy]

It will be one of the A330's destined for the RAF to replace the Tristars and VC-10's. The one currently based at Boscombe Down is specifically for testing of mid air refueling. In RAF service they will be called Voyagers.

Initial modification is being completed at Airbus in Spain. #3 onwards was supposed to be carried out by Cobham in Bournemouth but this is nolonger the case due to program slippages.