KC-46 completes initial aerial refuelling airworthiness testing

Boeing has announced that it has completes the initial round of testing for the KC-46A program on Nov. 12th and is now ready to start the second phase of the testing program.
The first Phase that they have completes was to verify the aircraft's airworthiness and make sure there weren't any un-expected aerodynamic issues with having the boom or center line drogue extended wile aircraft were near or connected.
The second phase of testing will focus on actual fuel flow control and make sure they can actually pump the gas to where it is needed.





www.janes.com...

a reply to: Sammamishman

Nice looking aircraft.

a reply to: Bedlam

She's a looker for sure.

Dont worry the USAF will be along shortly to change what they want on it, pushing it over budget and behind schedule.

a reply to: Irishhaf

No, they won't have to. If the CR holds and they don't get a waiver they're in breach of contract and have to renegotiate and probably lose the fixed price aspect.

Off to the fuel dock first, for the next round of dock testing.

Aircraft number 5, the first production KC-46A rolled out of the Final Assembly Line today. We saw it sitting by the doors when we did the factory tour last week, ready to move out. Aircraft number 4, the second KC-46 prototype rolled out of Paint yesterday onto the flightline. The program is moving right along. Number 6 is sitting was sitting behind number 5, in the second position on the FAL, and appeared almost complete.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Here's #4:



#5:



Great closeup shots of them here:

www.facebook.com...

First fuel transfer video from Boeing:

a reply to: Sammamishman

IIRC the F-16 is light fast, the A-10 is light slow, the C-17 is heavy fast.

EMD-2 will continue all the refueling tests. The lineup will be C-17 heavy/boom, A-10 light/slow/boom, F-18 fast/drogue, AV-8B slow/drogue. All have to transfer at least 1,000 pounds in the center of the flight envelope. At some point they'll have an F-18 and AV-8B on the drogue at the same time. Ground compatibility tests with the F-18 are underway.

EMD-4 will join the program in February, with EMD-3 joining in March. Three is currently having the parts that were removed to get EMD-2 going after the fuel system contamination replaced. EMD-4 will be used for lighting, communications, and defensive testing. EMD-3 will test the environmental systems.

aviationweek.com...

The first transfer through the drogue system was completed on the 10th. They used an F-18 for the transfer.

The KC-46 received 6,000 pounds of fuel from a KC-10. They've also completed ground testing of the cargo reconfiguration system, demonstrating the ability to reconfigure from straight cargo to passenger, passenger and cargo, and stretcher. Next up is the Harrier, followed by the C-17.

Due to scheduling issues the Milestone C decision has been pushed to May.

www.flightglobal.com...

a reply to: Sammamishman

Replacement of previous broken YouTube link: