KC-X/Y/Z

[C]

Appears the USAF KC-X competition has been postponed.

I wonder if they'll now see sense and combine the KC-X and KC-Y contracts, and replace the KC-135 and KC-10 with a common type?

[AMDDDA]

The KC-10 is a great plane, and is still a great tanker, though the KC-135 needs to be replaced, the KC-10 does not, as it is still easily able to perform its duties.

[C]

The KC-10 is a great plane, and is still a great tanker, though the KC-135 needs to be replaced, the KC-10 does not, as it is still easily able to perform its duties.

The D/KC-10's an elderly airframe design now though - and consider that any replacement may well have a decade or so lead time, by which time even the youngest DC/KC-10 airframes will be well over 30 years old, and costly to maintain.

It's also somewhat limited as such a large tanker by the fact it only has the boom or a single drogue, and no wing hoses.

[Rich H]

America have every right to stop the Airbus contract, but it reflects deeply on their trustworthiness. They're being postponed to after the elections in November, so Boeing can build a Air to air tanker which is bigger than the 767 and A330.