Boeing and the US Air Force successfully completed the first flight of the test cycle for the KC-46 tanker yesterday. The plane, a 767-2C, took off from Paine Field (Wash) at 09:29 (PST) and landed after three hours and 32 minutes. After certification, the aircraft will receive military equipment.
Under a contract awarded in the 2011 for the design and development of new generation tankers for the Air Force, Boeing is building four test aircraft: two 767-2C and two KC-46A.
The 767-2Cs pass flight tests as commercial freighters before receiving the aerial refueling systems, the "KC-46s" will instead fly as fully equipped tankers during the certification process.
Boeing is contractually required to deliver the first 18 KC-46, 179 ordered by Air Force, from 2017.
Source: Boeing
