More KC-46A woes....
The old system was deemed fine for non stealth aircraft but they have stealth aircraft now. That have a more fragile coating that can be disturbed by old type of refueling.
Will it be cheaper to come up with a better paint for the stealth aircraft?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Defense News: Boeing hit with another KC-46 cost overrun, this time worth $329M
Boeing on Wednesday disclosed more bad news on the KC-46 program: The company will have to eat another $329 million as a result of cost overruns.
Under the terms of its fixed-price deal with the U.S. Air Force, Boeing must pay out of pocket for any expenses over the $4.9 billion contract value. That agreement has been a tough pill for Boeing to swallow, as the company has now had to cough up about $2.9 billion in pretax fees — or about $1.9 billion after tax — as delays and cost overruns mount.
There are signs another missed milestone may be on the way.
Under the terms of its fixed-price deal with the U.S. Air Force, Boeing must pay out of pocket for any expenses over the $4.9 billion contract value. That agreement has been a tough pill for Boeing to swallow, as the company has now had to cough up about $2.9 billion in pretax fees — or about $1.9 billion after tax — as delays and cost overruns mount.
There are signs another missed milestone may be on the way.
At what point does it become more cost effective for Boeing to just pull out of the project and pay back the $4.9 Billion?
My friends still working the program are telling me they're having huge issues getting FAA Part 25 certification (which I'd predicted back when the program was launched). Getting Part 25 certification of a military airplane is the very definition of "non-valued added work" - and it's incredibly difficult and time consuming.
It seems that making something suitable for military use can make it incompatible with the FARs. Who would have known - oh wait, that would have been me, six years ago (and I was far from alone)...
Sometimes is sucks to be proven right.
It seems that making something suitable for military use can make it incompatible with the FARs. Who would have known - oh wait, that would have been me, six years ago (and I was far from alone)...
Sometimes is sucks to be proven right.
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: WA STATE
Age: 78
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My friends still working the program are telling me they're having huge issues getting FAA Part 25 certification (which I'd predicted back when the program was launched). Getting Part 25 certification of a military airplane is the very definition of "non-valued added work" - and it's incredibly difficult and time consuming.
It seems that making something suitable for military use can make it incompatible with the FARs. Who would have known - oh wait, that would have been me, six years ago (and I was far from alone)...
Sometimes is sucks to be proven right.
It seems that making something suitable for military use can make it incompatible with the FARs. Who would have known - oh wait, that would have been me, six years ago (and I was far from alone)...
Sometimes is sucks to be proven right.
And the beat goes on . . .
First Operational KC-46 Takes Flight As Boeing Races To Deliver
Aviation Week article
Snip:-
Progress - but costs still rising.
Snip:-
Boeing’s first KC-46 Pegasus tanker slated for delivery to the U.S. Air Force made its first flight Dec. 5, as the company finally acknowledged that the aircraft won’t be handed over to the service until 2018.
Meanwhile, costs continue to rise, with Boeing seeing an additional $329 million charge related to KC-46 development in the third quarter of 2017 in addition to the more than $2 billion incurred since 2014.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"A modest, but interesting export order. One for Japan- perhaps up to 3 more."
The Japanese know which side their bread is buttered on - especially with events in Korea............ The Israeli's are the same for the same reason
The Japanese know which side their bread is buttered on - especially with events in Korea............ The Israeli's are the same for the same reason
Delivery doubts - on Aviation Week.
Boeing’s KC-46 Tanker Delayed Again
Snip:-
Boeing’s KC-46 Tanker Delayed Again
Snip:-
The U.S. Air Force is predicting that Boeing won’t deliver the first KC-46 tanker until late 2018, casting doubt on the defense firm’s ability to meet a contractual deadline that, if missed, likely would result in significant penalties.
Boeing’s master schedule currently pegs first aircraft delivery to the fleet in the second quarter of calendar year 2018—already months behind schedule. But after a joint schedule risk assessment, the Air Force now believes delivery is more likely to occur in late 2018, according to spokeswoman Capt. Emily Grabowski.
Boeing’s master schedule currently pegs first aircraft delivery to the fleet in the second quarter of calendar year 2018—already months behind schedule. But after a joint schedule risk assessment, the Air Force now believes delivery is more likely to occur in late 2018, according to spokeswoman Capt. Emily Grabowski.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Leicestershire, England
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
US Air Force adds new deficiencies to KC-46’s list of problems
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: South Skerry
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
https://breakingdefense.com/2018/03/...c-46-problems/
The best bit:
A Boeing spokesperson emailed me that “there is no greater priority at The Boeing Company right now than the delivery of the KC-46."
That's some seriously weapons-grade bull
.
The best bit:
A Boeing spokesperson emailed me that “there is no greater priority at The Boeing Company right now than the delivery of the KC-46."
That's some seriously weapons-grade bull
.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just goes to show there is no "easy" option in aerospace...............
I thinl ALL of us assumed this would be an easy, low risk, profitable design for Mr B.. and it's turned into an awful vale of tears................
I thinl ALL of us assumed this would be an easy, low risk, profitable design for Mr B.. and it's turned into an awful vale of tears................
However, the company has reported more than $2 billion in losses due to manufacturing and development issues since receiving the KC-46A contract. Over the long term, the company believes it can turn a profit as the total value of delivering the 179 KC-46As the US Air Force wants is expected to be about $30 billion.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...ncerns-446919/
I thought I had read earlier in this thread that Boeing's margins were razor slim on this deal...now they can be profitable with a $2B over-run means they must have 10%-15% profit in their price. In 2017 their operating margin was 11% so it looks like this was a good deal for them from the get go....or accounting magic happening here.