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NEWS

Fairchild maintainers support KC-46 testing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The KC-46 Pegasus program's first test aircraft, a Boeing 767-2C (EMD-1), departed from its home station at Boeing Field in Seattle and touched down at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. for the first time Oct. 15, where a KC-135 Stratotanker and accompanying maintainers from Fairchild AFB prepared to provide support to Boeing and the 418th Flight Test Squadron while they conducted Ground Effects and Fuel Onload Fatigue testing on the new tanker.

Ground Effects testing gathers aerodynamic data for updating the KC-46 simulator and the supporting certification. Fuel Onload Fatigue testing gathers data to characterize the aircraft interaction typically experienced when the KC-46 is flying in receiver formation behind a KC-135 or KC-10 Extender tanker.

While the KC-46's role is to refuel other aircraft, it still may need to be refueled by other tankers to extend its range. Fuel Onload Fatigue testing is the first look at the KC-46 acting in that role and the interactions between the three different tankers in an aerial refueling formation.

Members of the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were sent to Edwards AFB with one of Fairchild's KC-135s to provide maintenance support. Although an Edwards AFB crew is operating the aircraft, two 92nd AMXS crew chiefs will accompany the KC-135 throughout its time at Edwards. According to Lt. Col. James Dorn, 92nd AMXS commander, the KC-135 is scheduled to remain at Edwards for three to four weeks. The crew chiefs are with the aircraft to enhance, test and support the new KC-46 program.

"It's a beautiful thing to watch the venerable, tried and true KC-135 help usher in the new era of air-refueling," said Dorn. "When you see the KC-135 and the KC-46 flying together, it's the air-refueling version of the airshow P-51 flying with an F-16 - a passing of the torch."

Several other units from both on and off base are supporting the testing. From Edwards AFB, the 412th Test Engineering Group is providing special instrumentation support, the 416th Flight Test Squadron is providing chase aircraft support and the 370th Flight Test Squadron is providing KC-135 tanker crew support. The 60th Air Mobility Wing out of Travis AFB, Calif., is providing the KC-10 and maintenance personnel.

The KC-46 is intended to replace the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet, which has been refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. The oldest aircraft at Fairchild AFB rolled off the line in 1957, making it 58 years old. With more refueling capacity, enhanced capabilities and improved efficiency for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC-46 will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation coalition force aircraft.

The 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is the lead developmental test organization for the KC-46 program.

Editor's Note: Kenji Thuloweit from Edwards AFB, Calif. contributed to the publication of this article.