Boeing Completes First KC-767 Tanker Night Refueling

(St. Louis, January 29, 2008) -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] made KC-767 program history Jan. 26 when one if its aircrews successfully transferred fuel from a KC-767 tanker aircraft to an F-15E at night -- the first nighttime refueling ever accomplished on a KC-767.

The new tanker, scheduled for delivery to Japan's Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) early this year, departed McConnell Air Force Base, adjacent to the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Wichita, Kan., facility, and flew a 3-hour and 9 minute flight. Operating in the skies over Missouri, the aircrew connected the KC-767s fifth-generation, fly-by-wire boom (a telescoping tube used to deliver fuel to military aircraft) to an F-15E 11 times during dusk and night conditions and successfully offloaded fuel before returning safely. The company uses F-15E1 under a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Air Force.

"Using our remote vision system, I was impressed with the quality of the picture and my ability to accurately see details of the F-15E and its refueling receptacle at night," said Rickey Kahler, Boeing KC-767 chief test boom operator.

The Japan KC-767 Tanker, a military derivative of the proven 767-200 commercial airplane, was selected over its competitor, the Airbus A-310, in a direct competition in 2001.

Its advanced boom builds on the aerodynamic shape and size of previous systems and provides more precise and responsive controls to the operator. With 2,600 fewer parts than previous booms, it also is easier to maintain.

"This milestone highlighted the KC-767's ability to perform refueling operations under all lighting conditions and demonstrated an upgrade to the lighting system we promised our Japan customer," said George Hildebrand, Boeing KC-767 Japan program manager."Our next step is to complete the remaining Federal Aviation Administration certifications and deliver two new tankers to Japan early this year."

Source : Boeing

Recent News / Press releases from Boeing

• MD-11 Boeing Converted Freighters to Support Aeroflot Cargo Growth Plan [Aerospace] [Aviation] [ Fri 25 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing Selected by USAF for Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Program [Defence] [ Fri 25 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing Laser JDAM Achieves 1st International Sale [Defence] [ Fri 25 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing Acquires Insitu to Expand Capabilities in Unmanned Systems [Defence] [ Wed 23 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing Completes Beam Control System for Mobile Laser Weapon [Defence] [ Tue 22 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing, Qatar Announce C-17 Globemaster III Order [Defence] [ Tue 22 Jul 2008 ]
• Boeing, MDA Successfully Complete Missile Defense Sensor Integration Test [Defence] [ Mon 21 Jul 2008 ]