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| Boeing’s KC-46A refuels an F-16 in flight. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 01-27-2016] Boeing and U.S. Air Force aircrews completed the KC-46A tanker’s first refueling flight. Following takeoff from Boeing Field in Seattle, Wa., the KC-46A test team worked through a series of test points before offloading 1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16 fighter aircraft flying at 20,000 feet.
The KC-46A flew with the Rockwell Collins Remote Vision System (RVS), a combination of 2D and 3D technologies in both visible and long-wave infrared spectrums, providing visual information to support refueling operations.
The aircraft will soon begin refueling a number of other military aircraft as well, including a C-17, F/A-18, A-10 and AV-8B.
As part of a contract awarded in 2011 to design and develop the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker aircraft, Boeing is building four test aircraft — two are currently configured as 767-2Cs and two as KC-46A tankers.