Simviation Forums

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?

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 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.

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.