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December 31, 2014 - Boeing and the U.S. Air
Force successfully completed the first flight of
the KC-46 tanker test program on Sunday. The
plane, a Boeing 767-2C, took off from Paine Field, Wash.,
at 9:29 a.m. (PST) and landed three hours and 32
minutes later at Boeing Field. The aircraft will
receive its military systems following
certification.
In February 2011, Boeing was selected by the
United States Air Force to build and replace the
Air Force’s aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers
with the KC-46 Pegasus tanker. The KC-46 was
developed by Boeing from its 767 jet airliner.
Boeing is on contract to deliver the first 18 of
179 KC-46 aircraft to the Air Force by 2017.
After numerous delays in the KC-46 tanker
program, it appears the program is on the right
track. Back in 2003 there were concerns around a
KC-46 leasing agreement between Boeing and the
Air Force that prompt an investigation. This
investigation revealed corruption which resulted
in the jailing of a Boeing procurement
executive.
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