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The new US Air Force tanker takes off for delivery: end of a saga (Boeing)
What appeared to be an easy contract to carry became a huge headache for Boeing. When the US Air Force decided to replace the old KC-135 with a new tanker at the beginning of the century, it was natural that the American manufacturer be the favorite of the dispute. The reason was simple: the two tanks of the USAF were provided by Boeing, KC-10 (developed from the DC-10 still under the name of McDonnell Douglas) and by the KC- 135 itself, derived from the "Dash 80", which also gave rise to the 707.
But no one imagined what awaited him. The first attempts to select an aircraft for this mission in 2001 have been corrupted, excessive and driven by many changes. Finally, after many comings and goings, Boeing won the European EADS Award in 2011 and was awarded a contract for the supply of KC-46 an air refueling aircraft based on the Widebody 767-
The "Pegasus", as it was baptized was upgraded with elements of Boeing's newest aircraft, but stole only for the first time from years later . It had a rigid aerial refueling system, such as the KC-135, as well as aerial platforms on wings with hoses (a system used by the US Navy, for example). Its capacity to transport fuel is about 10% higher than that of the KC-135 and can carry 114 pbadengers, 58 patients or 18 pallets of 463 liters.
However, when you try to deliver to the Air Force an aircraft with more modern systems in Boeing ended up creating several problems that delayed the project.
The KC-46A Pegasus refuels an F-15 in flight: serial problems (USAF)
Sunshine
Finally, at the beginning of this year, the USAF accepted the KC-46 with Boeing's badurance that some persistent problems would be solved. One of them is the fact that the attack jet A-10 Thunderbolt II encounters difficulties to disconnect from the spear. But the most striking is the remote fueling monitoring system, which allows the crew to follow the operation, but which revealed operational difficulties by displaying shadows and lights depending on the position of the aircraft in relation to the sun.
Despite this, the first two KC-46A were received by the US Air Force Friday at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. However, they are not equipped with nacelles on the wings, because Boeing's UK supplier, Cobham, has not yet been able to approve the FAA's equipment, l & # 39; governing body of the US government.
The goal of Boeing is to provide two other equipment. in the coming weeks, then maintain a pace of three aircraft delivered per month until the completion of the 52 units ordered. However, far from the planned 179 units needed to put the KC-135 out of service,
See also: Boeing and Embraer could manufacture the KC-390 in the United States
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