2023 Author: Bryan Walter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 22:24
KC-46A
The American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has tested the promising KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft for mid-air refueling. Flightglobal reports that the new tanker was the first recipient of fuel; fuel during the flight was pumped by a KC-10 Extender tanker aircraft. The tests took place on February 13 of this year, but it became known about them only now.
On February 10, the KC-46A was tested for the possibility of refueling the F / A-18 Hornet carrier-based fighter using the hose-cone system. The test flight lasted over four hours. In October 2015, Boeing tested a digital fuel rod for a promising aircraft, and in January this year, for the first time, it refueled an F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter.
In the near future, the developers intend to conduct additional tests of the "hose-cone" filling system. With its help, the AV-8B Harrier assault aircraft will be refueled. The program of testing a flying tanker for refueling in the air began with a slight delay. Previously, the first such tests were planned to be carried out before the end of 2015.
The development of the KC-46A has been carried out since 2012 on the basis of the cargo version of the Boeing 767 airliner. The aircraft will be able to reach speeds of up to 920 kilometers per hour and fly over a distance of 12, 2 thousand kilometers. The KC-46A will carry up to 92 tons of fuel. By August 2017, the US Air Force is expected to receive 18 new tanker aircraft. In total, the US Air Force intends to buy 179 of these aircraft.
