KC-46A Pegasus Refueler Failure Continues

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.

“So Airbus is building aircraft here in the US, in Alabama? “

Yes. Here’s what AI says. I think it’s accurate.

Airbus history in mobile, al.
Airbus has a significant presence in Mobile, Alabama, with a long history dating back to 2005. Here are some key milestones in the company’s history in Mobile:

2005: Airbus U.S. Military Aircraft, a branch of Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, sets up shop at Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile.
2010: Airbus announces plans to build a commercial aircraft manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama.
2012: Airbus signs a deal to build A320-family passenger jets in Mobile.
2013: Groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of construction on the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile.
2015: The Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility opens, with the first aircraft rolling off the production line in September.
2016: The first Airbus A320 aircraft is delivered from the Mobile facility.
2019: Construction begins on a second final assembly line in Mobile for the A220 Family, Airbus’ newest single-aisle aircraft.
2020: The first A220 aircraft is delivered from the new line in Mobile.
2023: Airbus announces plans to hire 800 people in the U.S., including new jobs at the Mobile site, as part of its post-pandemic ramp-up of production.
2024: Airbus expands its military aircraft center in west Mobile, with a growing workforce.
Today, the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile is one of the company’s largest and most important production sites, with a workforce of over 2,200 employees. The facility produces A320-family aircraft, including the A319, A320, and A321 models, as well as the A220 Family.

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.

I would suggest you clarify that story.

Unless the rules have changed, “Loss of an engine in flight requires declaring an advisory/emergency and landing at the nearest military base.”...Civilian if the only option, (Paraphase).

Alabama - and specifically the University of Alabama (Huntsville) in north Alabama - have been top tier NASA contractors since the 1960s.

Many large rocket parts are shipped by towed barge from Mobile, around south Florida, and up to Cape Canaveral.

UAH has extensive involvement with NASA weather satellites.

From memory - UAH is where NASA and the Department of Defense hid all of our German rocket scientists after World War II.

That is cool. They have the capacity to build the next refueler, and would have done so if politics hadn't gotten in the way. I hope they eventually end up building the next one since the KC-46 was only meant to bridge the gap between the KC-135 and next generation tanker plane, at least, that's what I was told by the pilots I worked with.

Thank you for this information.

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