The KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft also completed its final tests. Boeing KC-46 program manager Mike Gibbons stated that completing tests before the planned in October is a great success for the Boeing Air Force Team.
Tests for receiver certification, which began in April 2018, have been completed with the last flight in the past days. Aerial refueling was carried out at different altitudes and speeds to the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet, KC-46 Pegasus, F-15 Eagle and B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. Within the scope of STC (Supplemental Type Certification) and MTC (Military Type Certification / Military Type Certification) tests completed with the receiver certification tests, there were 3,300 hours of flight in total with six airplanes and approximately 908,000 tons of fuel were transferred to these types of aircraft .
KC-46 Pegasus developed on Boeing's commercial model, the 767 and took the first order of 34 aircraft. It is anticipated that a total of 179 orders will replace for the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft in USAF (United States Air Force) inventory.
The KC-46, which can refuel with boom and hose-drogue, can also provide its own refueling from another tanker. The airplane, which has an extended operation range, can transfer up to 1200 gallons of fuel per minute with the bom system and up to 400 gallons per minute with the hose-drogue system. KC-46 Pegasus can carry out medical transportation tasks along with the refueling tasks as well as the transport of personnel and cargo.
