Boeing delivered over 2,000 tankers in their long history. Today there is a new part of history just at the starting line. At the Everett (near Seattle) production site the first two flight test KC-46A PEGASUS tankers are nearly ready. Here the B767 are built although the “tankerisation” is done at Boeing field. The first aircraft is supposed to leave the production line in the next days. The first airplane will be a B767-2C for certification (amended type certification (ATC) without a bomm, but body tanks, cargo door and floor, tanker system provisions and an enhanced flight deck, while the 2nd (final body join) will be the first “real” KC46A tanker with all refueling systems, military avionics, supplemental type certification (STC) and military certification. Number 3 will be another B767-2C, 4th again a KC-46A.
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| The 2nd aircraft will be the first KC-47A test tanker (All Photos: AF) |
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| The 1st aircraft to fly is the B676-2C the boom will be removed for test flights. |
Boeing was contracted for 179 tankers on 24 February 2011. The first flight is delayed from original plans and will be in 4th quarter 2014 (B767-2C – KC-46A in 1st Q 2015). Minor problems have come up so far in lab testing – like fuel leaks, software etc. Plans are to deliver the 18th combat ready tanker in 2017 (first initial production is seven tankers). Full rate production allows producing 15-18 tankers a year. The airframe for the KC-46A is a civil Boeing B767-200ER (with -300 wings), Japan and Italy are also using the KC-767 airframe (four machines each – other configuration than the upcoming US KC-46A) as tankers. From outside the machines does not look that different from a civil airliner – just no windows, boom at the tail, cargo hatch and some other smaller items. Taking a civil platform ensures that it can be a cost effective solution. As engines Pratt & Whitney PW4062 are used.
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| Boom attached to B767-2C but it will be removed for test flights, 5 booms are produced or in production so far. |
The provisions on the B767-2C are: New 9G cargo carrier net, larger fire extinguisher capabilities, new oxygen ports recharger station and auxiliary fuel tanks.
The KC-46A will have features and capabilities of a self protection system, cockpit will be armored, refueling receptacle (boom with 1,200 gallon/min), digital glass cockpit, main cargo door with a strengthened cargo floor (max. 29,484kg), a crew rest area, a boom (modernized KC-10 fly-by-wire boom) and centerline drogue system, wing air refueling pods (by Cobham, 400 gallon/min.) with a high resolution camera system at the aft. The fuel operator station is good for two operators (redundant and for education/training). The USAF is only planning with a crew of 3 (2 pilot, 1 operator and space for another 2 relief pilots and 3 relief operators). The screens of the refueling station show 3D images day/night (need 3D eyeglasses).
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| Fuel Operator Station with two operator seats. |
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| Cockpit simulator. |
There are international opportunities for the KC-46A, Korea has four tankers in budget and plans to build up a tanker capability for the first time. There is a European consortium (Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Belgium) with plans to procure 3-8 tankers, but Poland is also looking at a national tanker solution. Japan has already four tankers and is planning to get three more for a 2nd squadron; selection is due to 4th quarter 2015. But there is not much place left in production line until 2017. So it is more a long term export issue for Boeing.
Andre Forkert