Boeing KC-46A Pegasus

The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is an aerial tanker and transport aircraft which is based on the Boeing 767 airliner. The KC-46 has been acquired to replace the KC-10 and some KC-135s in US Air Force service as the ultimate winner of the KC-X competition. The original winner of the competition was the Airbus A330MRTT however following a successful legal challenge, the competition was re-run on differing specifications and the KC-46 was successful. The KC-46 has experienced numerous issues during its development which are now being rectified.

The USAF have so far received over 60 KC-45s which are operated by the Air Materiel Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and the Air National Guard. Typically crewed by two pilots and a boom operator, the USAF have recently trialled flying the KC-46 with a single pilot which could become standard practice in contested airspace minimising the number of crew at risk.

A single USAF KC-46A will be appearing on static display at this year’s Air Tattoo, the aircraft will be provided by the 108th Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.

Photo Credit: Chris Lofting