[Seaplaner]

Furthermore, the Air Force is already using the Pegasus, and splitting a fleet of craft causes logistical problems. Fleet diversity causes challenges. After deciding which plane should be the bridge tanker, procurement officials will have to plan for new training programs for pilots and support crew, unique stores of spare parts, variable hanger construction, and so on. Economies of scale are also lost under diversification, so each tail will cost more.

This is huge.

One reason for the success of Southwest Airlines is that they fly 737s exclusively.

It helps for pilot currency and maintenance cost and efficiency (and quality).

And, this USAF Vet from over 50 yrs ago would hate it if we bought offshore when the domestic aircraft is superior.

[rlmorel]

Thank you for that opinion, sir.

And thank you for your service to our nation.

I have a lot of issues with Boeing, their workforce, policies and such, but even with all that, I don’t think there is any way in Hell we should buy a foreign aircraft for our tanker fleet.

If the Boeing product was completely inferior or demonstrably unsafe, I might be swayed a little, but it would have to be convincing. Very convincing.