ST. LOUIS, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Boeing's entry in the big U.S. air-tanker contract competition completed an in-flight test in which the flying gas station linked up with a B-52 bomber.
The "dry contact" tests with the California-based bomber were carried out with the fifth-generation refueling boom that is the key to the company's KC-767 tanker, the company said Wednesday.
Built with a new aerodynamic design, the telescoping boom can pump jet fuel at 900 gallons per minute and boasts more-precise control characteristics that make it easier to hook up to B-52s and other warplanes. It also has 2,600 fewer moving parts than current booms, which reduces maintenance time and expenses.
The aircraft has been selected for deployment with the Japanese and Italian air forces and is being offered to the United States for its KC-X program, a lucrative project that will replace the aging U.S. Air Force fleet of KC-135 tankers.
"Making contact with a receiver is a huge step for our first KC-767," said Italian Air Force liaison Lt. Col. Roberto Poni. "We look forward to further testing of both the boom and wing aerial refueling pod systems."
Boeing said in news release from St. Louis it would continue testing the tanker with more dry contacts involving different types of planes using both the boom and wing pods.
