November 11, 2019
Forget F-35 and F-22s: This Might be the Most Important Plane in the U.S. Air Force
A vital new plane.
by Dan Goure
Key point: The new KC-46 tanker will help America keep its warplanes flying, especially on long-range patrol or strike missions.
Last week, the KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft passed one of its two final milestones prior to entering service with the U.S. Air Force. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the platform a supplemental type certificate. The KC-46 had previously received the FAA’s amended type certificate which addressed its basic airworthiness and performance. This second certificate addresses the aircraft’s refueling and mission avionics systems. While the Pegasus still must be granted its military type certificate, which covers specialized military functions and systems, all testing required for this certificate has been accomplished.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/forget-f-35-and-f-22s-might-be-most-important-plane-us-air-force-94641
