KC-46A Test Aircraft Completes First Flight
The KC-46 Tanker program’s first Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) 1 achieved a key milestone Tuesday by completing its first flight with a refueling boom and wing air refueling pods installed.
Ron Johnston, Boeing Test & Evaluation chief KC-46 test pilot, said takeoff from Boeing Field in Seattle was smooth and that the aircraft handled extremely well during the flight, its fifth overall, before landing hours later at Paine Field in Everett, Wash.
"On EMD 1, our goal is to demonstrate initial airworthiness, including flight with the external refueling systems on board," Johnston said. "The team will certify the aerial refueling components as part of the regular process leading to the first flight of a tanker-configured aircraft with EMD 2 later this summer."