Posted on 01/27/2011 8:12:35 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Italian Air Force Receives Boeing Tanker
On Thursday, the first of four Boeing KC 767-A tankers was delivered to the Italian Air Force.
The aircraft, MM 62229, flew from Boeing's facility in Wichita to Pratica di Mare, the Italian Air Force base south of Rome.
The plane will now undergo a series of tests and activities before it enters service.
This aircraft replaces the B-707T/T previously flown by the Italian Air Force. It's configured for cargo and troop transport; the plane is operated by four crew-members for refueling missions, and three crew-members on transport flights.
The tanker was supposed to be delivered six years ago, but the original schedule changed when Boeing encountered problems with wing vibrations and refueling instability.
Ping!!
Ok, im confused. Why wouldn’t THEY buy the EU subsidized Airbus tanker? Italy is EU isnt it?
The Airbus tanker was in development and not on offer when Italy signed this agreement in 2002.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4366294
Then is it therefore, too untried for the USAF?
How can one come to that conclusion?? The Italians wanted a tanker in service by 2005 when the Airbus hadn’t even flown. Compare that to the KC-X.
Besides, the KC-767NG on offer to the USAF is very different from the adaptations sold to the Japanese and Italians. And the Italian tankers were supposed to have been delivered in 2005.
Well, take it more as a question than as a conclusion. Im just remembering that most USAF planes spend decades in development. And then i read the airbus wasnt even a concept yet when the Italians went shopping.
And im still a little creeped out by the Newark airbus crash, and the one that just disintegrated coming from Brazil. Id like the Airbus to be a better proven plane before it’s pushed on our kids.
Has the 767 never been involved in an accident? (not including terrorism)? It has, but it’s safety record is great considering how long it has been around.
The 767 is no longer a viable airframe for the civilian sector. Which is why it has lost four competitions to the Airbus and which is why the USAF selected it the first time around.
Most of the USAF’s KC-135s are all over 40-45 years of age. I don’t think they have the luxury of waiting for a platform to spend years in development.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.