USAF KC-46A Tanker Update

[tva2]

...."The South is rising as a rival for dominance in aerospace"....

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[tva2]

...."9 Secrets of the Tanker War"....

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[Le Addeur noir]

The new USAF KC-X tanker,NOT coming to an airbase near you any time soon.

Which base will host the 60th anniversary celibrations for the KC-135?.

[tva2]

..Le Addeur noir...

The new USAF KC-X tanker,NOT coming to an airbase near you any time soon.

Which base will host the 60th anniversary celibrations for the KC-135?.

I second that, the KC-135 workhorse will outnumber the future KC-X for an extensive period. It will serve the Air Force for an unprecedented length of time with modifications and will remain a valuable asset. But all of this is mainly dependent of funding in the foreseeable future.

[Le Addeur noir]

..Le Addeur noir...

The new USAF KC-X tanker,NOT coming to an airbase near you any time soon.

Which base will host the 60th anniversary celibrations for the KC-135?.

I second that, the KC-135 workhorse will outnumber the future KC-X for an extensive period. It will serve the Air Force for an unprecedented length of time with modifications and will remain a valuable asset. But all of this is mainly dependent of funding in the foreseeable future.

Let's hope there are no catastrophic fatigue failures in the KC-135 fleet in the coming years.

They are well maintained,but their age goes against them.

Any ideas of the average KC-135 flying hours per airframe?.

[tva2]

Let's hope there are no catastrophic fatigue failures in the KC-135 fleet in the coming years.

They are well maintained,but their age goes against them.

Any ideas of the average KC-135 flying hours per airframe?.

The first delivery in 1957. The last one was delivered in 1965. Of the current active and fielded KC-135's all of them will somehow undergo life-cycle upgrades like re-skinning, re-enginening, avionics-upgrades and multi point refuelling systems to expand its capabilities and improve its reliability. So upgrades will entail its primary mission for air refueling.

Despite their prolonged active years of service the KC-135 will remain the maintray of the USAF tanker fleet. To avoid any bottleneck of fleet grounding due to all sorts of issues the USAF needs to maintain their KC-135 fleet for that very same reason. And the benefits of upgrades etc. will reduce the number of off-duty time the aircraft are out of service for maintenance or whatever. Eventually it all boils down to economics. So the KC-X project does not live up to its intended procurement priority that was set forth by the Air force. Is there a remote possibilty the KC-135 outlives the KC-X ? Well it does not sound that preposterous after all....

[tva2]

...."EADS says Lakota helicopter underpins tanker bid"....

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[tva2]

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[tva2]

...."Victorious Murray vows to fight for tanker, work with GOP"....

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...."Analysis: Election better for EADS' tanker than Boeing's"....

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[tva2]

...."Can air tanker contract be split like LCS? No, say experts "....

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[tva2]

...."Pentagon won't meet air tanker deadline..."....

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[aviodromefriend]

...."Pentagon won't meet air tanker deadline..."....

Time for the Antonov consortium to protest. Not being allowed to be even considered for turning up a few minutes late (for whatever reason), now another few months needed for any decision, just taken by the US Air Force. Maybe time to make the rules even for ALL parties involved, scrap the whole contract and hire AAR from your allies when it is needed.

Ah, of course not, it will make the USA dependable from another nation, and the most likely ally willing to offer AAR will depend on non-Boeing equipment.

[tva2]

Time for the Antonov consortium to protest. Not being allowed to be even considered for turning up a few minutes late (for whatever reason), now another few months needed for any decision, just taken by the US Air Force. Maybe time to make the rules even for ALL parties involved, scrap the whole contract and hire AAR from your allies when it is needed.


Ah, of course not, it will make the USA dependable from another nation, and the most likely ally willing to offer AAR will depend on non-Boeing equipment.

Not a chance .. >>

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[pjotrtje]

scrap the whole contract and hire AAR from your allies when it is needed.

That would be interesting indeed. Most allies depend heavily on the US for AAR! For training but foremost operational purposes... Not a chance in hell that this bid will be scrapped.

[tva2]

...."Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 230 Jobs, $10 Million to Oklahoma"....

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An excellent article "Own the Sky" by Shane Harris

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