The KC-46 Pegasus program achieved an important milestone July 6, 2018, at Boeing Field, Seattle, with completion of the final flight tests required for first aircraft delivery planned in late October.
The integrated Air Force and Boeing test team completed all required test points for the Remote Vision System and for receiver certifications of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-17 Globemaster III. These two receivers, coupled with testing completed in June of KC-135 Stratotanker refueling the KC-46 Pegasus as a receiver, are the minimum required for delivery.
«With this milestone complete, the test program has demonstrated a level of maturity that positions Boeing to deliver, and the Air Force to accept, an aircraft by the end of October 2018», said Doctor Will Roper, the Air Force service acquisition executive.
The KC-46 Pegasus test program is now transitioning to follow-on receiver aircraft testing and certifications required for operational testing starting in 2019.
On June 4, 2018, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David L. Goldfein met with the men and women testing the KC-46 Pegasus at Boeing Field to witness their hard work firsthand. While flying on a scheduled KC-46 Pegasus test mission, Goldfein flew the aircraft and its boom in between test points and observed C-17 Globemaster III receiver aircraft certification testing.
«It was a pleasure to fly the KC-46 Pegasus, an aircraft that will enhance our lethality and global warfighting capabilities», Goldfein said. After the recent test point completion, he added, «I am encouraged by the team’s progress in putting another significant milestone behind us. The collective Air Force, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, and Defense Contract Management Agency team is laser-focused on the remainder of activities needed to certify and accept this much-needed tanker in late October. I am excited for our Air Force as we move closer to having this aircraft in the hands of our warfighters who will unleash its demonstrated capabilities in support of the Joint fight».
General Characteristics
| Primary Function | Aerial refueling and airlift |
| Prime Contractor | The Boeing Company |
| Power Plant | 2 × Pratt & Whitney 4062 |
| Thrust | 62,000 lbs./275.790 kN/28,123 kgf – Thrust per High-Bypass engine (sea-level standard day) |
| Wingspan | 157 feet, 8 inches/48.1 m |
| Length | 165 feet, 6 inches/50.5 m |
| Height | 52 feet, 10 inches/15.9 m |
| Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) | 415,000 lbs./188,240 kg |
| Maximum Landing Weight | 310,000 lbs./140,614 kg |
| Fuel Capacity | 212,299 lbs./96,297 kg |
| Maximum Transfer Fuel Load | 207,672 lbs./94,198 kg |
| Maximum Cargo Capacity | 65,000 lbs./29,484 kg |
| Maximum Airspeed | 360 KCAS (Knots Calibrated AirSpeed)/0.86 M/414 mph/667 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 43,100 feet/13,137 m |
| Maximum Distance | 7,299 NM/8,400 miles/13,518 km |
| Pallet Positions | 18 pallet positions |
| Air Crew | 15 permanent seats for aircrew, including aeromedical evacuation aircrew |
| Passengers | 58 total (normal operations); up to 114 total (contingency operations) |
| Aeromedical Evacuation | 58 patients (24 litters/34 ambulatory) with the AE Patient Support Pallet configuration; 6 integral litters carried as part of normal aircraft configuration equipment |