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Boeing KC-46 Pegasus

2019 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus

The Boeing KC-46 was selected to replace the aging Boeing KC-135 "Advertent Tank" family with the KC-X program - a project originally won by EADS/Northrop Grumman. The KC-46 will be a fully modern aerial tanker primarily used by the U.S. Air Force and is expected to enter service in large numbers over the next five years. The KC-46 fuselage will feature new technology found in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airliner, as well as features similar to heavy military transport aircraft. This will allow the KC-46 to take on tasks other than refueling, such as cargo transport and medical evacuation.

The aircraft is expected to serve multiple fixed-wing models of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, as well as NATO and U.S. allies, including large strategic bomber types such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.

When the US Air Force's original plan to acquire the Boeing KC-767 aerial tanker failed in 2003, a new attempt began in 2006 to develop a new dedicated tanker through the "KC-X" program . Both Boeing and EADS/Northrop (on behalf of Airbus) capitulated to win the lucrative $40 billion long-term defense contract. Boeing ended up delivering their KC-767, and EADS/Northrop delivered their A330 MRTT (named "KC-30"). The U.S.

Department of Defense formally selected the EADS/Northrop A330 MRTT/KC-30 proposal in February 2008 and designated the model as "KC-45A" for development.

The choice of the French Airbus 330 prompted Boeing to act, and the US group lodged a formal protest with US authorities and vented its anger in public squares to help attract larger audiences. Citing several miscalculations by the Air Force during an initial review of the proposal and subsequent selection process, the U.S.

Government Accountability Office (GAO) sided with Boeing and restarted the KC-X bidding process.

In the second battle, Boeing resubmitted their KC-767 and EADS - now single-handedly, without Northrop Grumman's support - resubmitted their Airbus A330 proposal . The original selection was overturned and replaced by the US-based KC-767, which was officially selected as the winner on February 24, 2011. The core remains essentially a modernized and militarized version of the original Boeing 767 airliner that entered service in 1982.

However, the KC-46 will bring the new KC-10-style tank boom and cockpit features of the new Boeing 787 "Dreamer" . The initial phase of the KC-46 program will include an "engineering and manufacturing development" component, with a maiden flight scheduled for sometime in 2014. Released its many KC-135 Stratotankers (803 produced since 1957).

Externally, the KC-46 mimics much of Boeing's traditional design philosophy with a streamlined fuselage surface with swept wings. The cockpit flight deck is attached to the very forward end of the tubular fuselage, with framed windshield windows for reasonable visibility from the cockpit.

The wings are mounted low on the fuselage, with a 34-degree sweep and a distinct V-shape when viewed from the front. The fuselage tapers to a point aft of the tail where the conventional tail plan is attached. These include a tall, wide vertical tail (clamped at the tip) and a pair of tails that slope slightly upwards. The landing gear consists of two main landing gear legs near the root of the wing and a nose landing gear leg located below the cockpit. The main legs have four wheels, while the nosebones are done in a standard pairing.

Along the sides of the fuselage are three rectangular access doors for crew and passengers. The KC-46 has a standard seating arrangement for 15 operators, including two pilots and an Air Refueling Operator (ARO).

The KC-46A's maximum takeoff weight is listed by the US Air Force at 415,000 pounds, while its fuel capacity is 212,300 pounds. The maximum transfer fuel load is listed as 207,670 lbs.

The KC-46 is designed so that the type can be used to refuel all current and future U.S. military (and allied) fixed-wing aircraft configured to refuel in flight from aerial tankers. Refueling is provided by an updated KC-10 telescopic boom assembly and centerline taper, as well as a pair of underwing air refueling pods (mounted outside the engine nacelles). Drogue and Underwing pods are specifically designed for use on aircraft with integrated refueling probes in the design.

All in all, the KC-46 can simultaneously refuel up to three different aircraft types thanks to its well thought out and proven fuel delivery system and design.

The aircraft family is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW4062 Series high bypass turbofan engines, each producing 62,000 pounds of thrust, contained in streamlined nacelles under each wing. Top speed is 570 mph and cruising speed is 530 mph.

The range is 6,385 miles and the service ceiling is about 40,100 feet.

The internal layout of the KC-46 is somewhat flexible in design, as it can be used for various missions as well as the main refueling mission. Interior furniture can be modified to include cargo space for up to 18 pallets or passenger seating for up to 58 people (up to 114 if needed, according to the U.S. Air Force).

The KC-46 can also perform medical evacuation missions, accommodating up to 58 medical stretchers and associated personnel with available specialized medical configurations. Maximum load capacity is 65,000 lbs.

As of this writing, development of the KC-46 is still ongoing, although cost overruns were discovered in June 2011, and Boeing will cover those costs.