[Blood of Tyrants]

The KC-135's need to be replaced. They have been good reliable work horses and it is time to put them to pasture.

[Prodigal Son]

Each aircraft will cost $131 million.

Holy mackerel! I never would have thought they would cost that much. Can these not be built cheaper than this? Maybe I don't know enough about these planes but that seems like a lot of money to me.

[green team 1999]

could be better with four engines (for crossing oceans)

[RayChuang88]

A few comments about the 767-based tanker that the USAF will soon get:

1. They are based on the 767-200 airframe. That means the USAF can salvage usable spare parts from 767-200 airplanes that will be retired over the next ten years (especially the United Airlines and American Airlines fleets, which are among the oldest 767's around).

2. They will be built as dedicated freighters, probably structurally close to the spec of the 767 freighters now flown by UPS, except the underfloor area will become one large fuel tank area.

3. They will be fitted with a lot of military-specific requirements such as military communications equipment (e.g., MilStar radios and antennas) and likely military-grade electrical wiring for some EMP protection.

4. They will use an uprated version of the GE F103 (CF6-80) engine, in many ways similar to the engine found on the VC-25A VIP transports.

5. The planes will have three refuelling systems, one for the Boeing Flying Boom on the tail and two drogue-and-probe systems on the wingtips.

[Paleo Conservative]

"This is a long-term recapitalization plan," Tiahrt says. "This could include the replacement of all 544 KC-135's."

If the Air Force decides to replace all the existing KC-135s would they want to switch to the 7E7 when it starts production? It will fly faster and be able to carry more fuel.