Posted on 04/03/2008 3:51:37 PM PDT by e_castillo
In the midst of the firestorm that is the contested U.S. Air Force KC-45 refueling tanker program, the first of the new aircraft has been sent to Germany for its cargo conversion.
Northrop Grumman/EADS North America officials have been coy about how much work they are doing with the $60 million provided by the Air Force before Boeing protested the team's win. The company has not discussed much about its work since Boeing's March 11 protest of the award.
But, now Northrop Grumman has acknowledged that D-1, the first developmental KC-45, was sent to Dresden March 4. Work was scheduled to begin on the aircraft March 12, though the company hasn't confirmed it is under way.
If Northrop Grumman/EADS keeps the contract, the aircraft will head to CASA's facility in Madrid for its refueling mission system. Final military modifications will be added at Northrop Grumman's Melbourne, Fla., facility. The first flight test was scheduled for February 2010 prior to the protest.
Here are some pictures of D-1, the first A330 for the U.S. Air Force's KC-45 development program, arriving in Dresden for the conversion.
Why would they want to fly?
I thought you were talking about USAF.
Well, I know there’s a couple in Japan...
Got it. Sorry!
So I see. The first was delivered about a month ago, the second a couple of weeks later. I sit corrected.
I'm hoping Boeing wins this one and the Taxpayer gets a sane decision.
They are thinking about designing it.
Any idea how many F-35s the Air Force alone plans to purchase?
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