Cynical me thought that all Boeing's efforts were actually geared towards persuading the USAF that there was some urgent need for replacement tankers. Why would that be? They've just spent a lot of bucks on the Pacer Craig upgrade to the KC135 which will go on flying for years - and they've got loads of KC10s as well... Why would that be? To keep Uncle Boeing happy by keeping the 767 production line going after civil orders dried up post-11 Sep.
With the 7E7 going ahead, why isn't the USAF thinking instead about a KC-7E7 when they, not Boeing, need it?
That's what I wrote back on 24 Feb on PPRuNe-mil!