Boeing KC-46A Maiden Flight Successfully

Boeing KC-46A Maiden Flight Successfully

Boeing KC-46A Maiden Flight Successfully. The first Boeing tanker KC-46A scheduled for the US Air Force operating fleet. UU He made his first flight this week, pushing the aircraft closer to a delivery delayed in 2018.

While Boeing has flown another six test items, the newest aircraft based on the 767-2C will be one of the first 18 installed on the service next year. The USAF expected Boeing to deliver the first KC-46 by the end of 2017.

According to a report from the Government Accountability Office published in March, Boeing is expected to deliver the first 18 aircraft in February 2018, a seven-month pass from the previous delivery date.

The Cobham wing air refueling capsules (WARP) will still be delivered separately in October, confirms Boeing.

Part of the problems in the Boeing calendar are attributed to delays in the certification of the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States.

UU The KC-46 requires an amended type certification from the FAA for baseline 767 with provisions for tankers, and a supplemental type certification for the militarized variant. Boeing expects to conclude work for ATC by the end of 2017 and STC sometime next year.

But the KC-46 is still not out of danger, Boeing must resolve an outstanding deficiency identified on the ship earlier this year.

The Air Force identified three "category 1 deficiencies" in KC-46, including the problem of scraping the boom that continues to affect the tanker today. Although legacy tankers have also stolen refueling aircraft, Boeing does not know how often the problem occurs on the KC-46 aircraft compared to older aircraft.