Past meets future
Past greets future. A KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker face each on Team McConnell's flightline, June 17, 2019, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Team McConnell continues to lead the way with the introduction and implementation of the Air Force’s newest major weapons system, the KC-46. The KC-46A is the first phase in recapitalizing the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet. With greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide next generation aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation receivers. At full operational capability, the KC-46A will be able to refuel most fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft. The KC-46A is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system, and is capable of fuel offload rates required for large aircraft. Its hose and drogue system adds additional mission capability that is independently operable from the refueling boom system. (Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein)