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KC-46A Pegasus Refueler Failure Continues
The Libertarian ^ | 6/19/24 | Bill Buppert

Posted on 06/20/2024 2:30:32 PM PDT by hardspunned

One of the components of American strategic projection has been the world’s most prodigious and sophisticated aerial refueling fleet. There are currently approx 400+ KC-135s capable of refueling two receiver aircraft at the same time in the current USAF fleet. The first operational flight was 1956. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965. Of the original KC-135As, more than 417 were modified with new CFM-56 engines produced by CFM-International. The newest KC-135 air-frame is 59 years old. Fifty nine years old. The retirement of the KC-135 has been anticipated and the replacement has been the disastrous KC-46A Pegasus Tanker Modernization Program which has had significant problems to include video control of the fuel boom difficulties and believe it or not, a refueling system that leaks fuel and the usual circus of missing deadlines so typical of DoD programs.

(Excerpt) Read more at libertarianinstitute.org ...


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Par for the course.
1 posted on 06/20/2024 2:30:32 PM PDT by hardspunned
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To: hardspunned

The KC-46A, like the KC-135, is a Boeing product.


2 posted on 06/20/2024 2:36:12 PM PDT by Campion (Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - Little Flower)
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To: hardspunned

Why didn’t they design and build something immediately functional that simply modernizes existing technology instead of using this effort as an expensive time delaying R&D program?


3 posted on 06/20/2024 2:43:05 PM PDT by Reno89519 (Trump Please Build the Wall, And Deport Them All. No amnesty for anyone. End H1B!)
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To: hardspunned

DoD could not organize a piss-up in a pub. More US failure.


4 posted on 06/20/2024 2:45:36 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (The Government that got us in this mess is not the Government that can get us out of it.)
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To: Reno89519

Airbus had a better, viable option that Boeing fought and prevailed over.

This is what happens again and again when the bean-counters take over from the engineers.

It has killed and seriously damaged hundreds of companies, yet the MBAs continue their miserly carnage-inducing ways.

Boeing is only the latest high profile victim of the MBA programs in woke universities.


5 posted on 06/20/2024 2:47:50 PM PDT by Don W (When blacks riot, neighborhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn)
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To: hardspunned

Many years ago my brother was on a MAC flight out of Fairbanks to Tinker AFB in OK.

He was coming from Seoul (Kimpo)

Bob, my brother was in the jump seat (eng). Somewhere over Oregon he noticed a red light blinking. He asked the pilot if everything was 5x5. Pilot said no problem.

Now they’re over NV and another red light comes on. This time with an alarm. Not good.

So my brother asked the pilot if everything was okay.

Pilot said no problem.

The KC 135 landed at Tinker with 2 engines

File this under wtf over.

5.56mm


6 posted on 06/20/2024 2:50:41 PM PDT by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho have got to go. )
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To: M Kehoe
One of my friends, a pilot was taking off from Athens in a fully loaded KC-135.

One engine quit.

They were headed straight for the Acropolis.

Three engines were enough.

Other than preferring to remain alive, he said he didn't want to be remembered as the American pilot who destroyed the Acropolis.

7 posted on 06/20/2024 3:04:36 PM PDT by Mogger (AreIn bookstores is a very expensive, beautifully bound in green leather Holy Koran. If one was goin)
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To: Campion
And years ago, US politicians personally got involved to force the DoD to ditch a contract which was already awarded to Airbus for a new tanker which they won fair and square in a competition. If there was one thing the late McCain got right: https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/february-2011/how-boeing-won-the-kc-x-tanker-contract-maybe-for-good-this-time/

We went back, created new criteria / changed it, and ensured Boeing got the contract worth >35 billion in 2011. Aren't we happy we did that? /sarc

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/and-the-winner-is-northrop-eads-kc-45a-wins-us-air-force-tanker-competition/

https://www.defensedaily.com/northrop-grumman-wins-air-force-tanker-competition/business-financial/

You don't have competition anymore.

The competitors are broke / merged (example MD), and politicians (all of them on the take in some way) are making the decisions. So, you end up with stories like this.

I imagine had we gone with what an unbiased evaluative process decided is the best option, we would today already have a tanker: https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/kc30tanker/ Based on the A330 which is a common air-frame (>1,600 built) and which has been around for a while ~ 30 years since it's first model appeared. This plane already existed in a tanker variant used by allies a year before it won the original bid (very low risk): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A330_MRTT

***But why opt for the cheap and low risk option, if you can take the high risk and more expensive option? / sarc

8 posted on 06/20/2024 3:06:27 PM PDT by Red6
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To: Mogger; M Kehoe

I have a PHD in Watching Aircraft Engineering Videos from the University of Youtube.

I can say quite authoritatively that there is the claim in just about every one that aircraft developed after WWII have the engineers placing at least two engines for exactly this very reason.

They claim that there are few repair garages up there.


9 posted on 06/20/2024 3:17:01 PM PDT by gnarledmaw (Hivemind liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives select servants.)
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To: hardspunned

Thank John McCain. The contract was originally awarded to the proven Airbus product, to be built in Alabama.

McCain didn’t get his cut, so Boeing got the contact. Over priced, very late, and it is still a Boeing…


10 posted on 06/20/2024 3:29:28 PM PDT by safisoft
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To: Campion

“”The KC-46A, like the KC-135, is a Boeing product.””

So is AIR FORCE ONE!


11 posted on 06/20/2024 3:42:20 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: gnarledmaw

“”They claim that there are few repair garages up there.””

https://aviationhumor.net/pilots-vs-maintenance-engineers/

A bit of humor - my favorite:

**Number 3 engine missing

**Engine found on right wing after brief search


12 posted on 06/20/2024 3:49:16 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: safisoft
"The contract was originally awarded to the proven Airbus product, to be built in Alabama."

Also, in order to comply with the "Buy American" law, Airbus was going to assemble all A-330 aircraft in Alabama. Boeing could not allow that.

13 posted on 06/20/2024 3:49:47 PM PDT by FtrPilot
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To: safisoft

My son flew the KC-135 for 10 years, now for UPS. At the time the AF pilots were excited to hear Boeing ‘won’ the contract. After that time they kept hearing of all the problems with the KC-46. His comment was the boom and control was made so complicated when the 135 had a simple system that worked again and again.


14 posted on 06/20/2024 3:50:40 PM PDT by uscga77 (the truth remains)
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To: hardspunned
The upside is making imperial war-making even more problematic in the future.

Might be a little agenda that goes with the article.

15 posted on 06/20/2024 4:09:23 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: FtrPilot
Also, in order to comply with the "Buy American" law, Airbus was going to assemble all A-330 aircraft in Alabama. Boeing could not allow that.

This bid was including Northrop Grumman as the American partner with Airbus.

16 posted on 06/20/2024 4:11:58 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: Red6
And you know who we can thank for this fiasco? The one and only John McCain. In one of his last endeavors, he didn't like that Airbus got the contract so he forced the entire process back to square one in order for Boeing to get the contract, and the entire program has been in disarray ever since. I worked with Air Force refuelers, and they see what's happening and not a single one wants to fly the KC-46. They still prefer the KC-135.

Oh, and btw, the KC-135s are NOT capable of refueling two receiver aircraft at the same time. That a huge error in that article.

17 posted on 06/20/2024 4:24:33 PM PDT by ducttape45 (Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.")
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To: hardspunned

I worked with Air Force refueling pilots, and not a single one wanted to fly the KC-46. They see what’s happening, and they still prefer the KC-135. Their desire was for the airframe of the KC-135 to still be used, and the internals upgraded.


18 posted on 06/20/2024 4:26:38 PM PDT by ducttape45 (Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.")
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To: Reno89519

Bingo! That’s exactly what the AF refueling pilots wanted!


19 posted on 06/20/2024 4:27:33 PM PDT by ducttape45 (Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.")
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To: Don W

We have John McCain to thank for this mess.


20 posted on 06/20/2024 4:28:14 PM PDT by ducttape45 (Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.")
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