What happens to military aircraft after they retire? There are a number of possibilities – just because they are retiring, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Military aircraft can be mothballed, sold off, put on display, recycled, buried, adapted for another use, and more. Military aircraft are very specialized, and one of the most difficult parts of keeping aircraft operational is finding spare parts. Often, retired aircraft are cannibalized for their parts. Some aircraft are kept in mothballed storage for years before being scrapped, while others, like the A-10 Warthog, find mystery buyers.
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Canada’s Airbus A330 MRTT Fleet: What’s The Latest?
- Guest authors
- July 3, 2025
- 0
While the US President’s flagship executive transport comprises a pair of modified Boeing 747s, other countries have opted for smaller jets – though still large relative to other nations. Like the UK, France, and some other nations, Canada’s flagship executive transport is now the Airbus A330.The Canadian government aims to convert all of these to multi-role tanker transports (MRTTs) in the future. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will eventually have 9 of these converted A330s in its fleet, with some having come 2nd-hand from Kuwait Airways, and others being purpose built for the Canadian Forces.