World Affairs Board - View Single Post - USAF Tanker Decision: KC-30 wins

JA Boomer · 03-01-2008, 03:52 AM

I am very surprised by the selection, I thought the USAF was going to buy the KC-767's and give the "the KC-767 is closer in size to the tanker to be replaced" or the "we want more, smaller tankers, for less money".

Pleasantly surprised, the USAF opted for the newer, much improved capability airplane. Good for them. Why would you buy a 25 year old design, with only slightly greater mission capability than the current aircraft?

However, Boeing had its hands tied. KC-777 was too large, KC-757 too small, and the composite KC-787 might have had problems integrating into the military, I'm not sure what the durability would have been? Notwithstanding that delivery would have been delayed several years while a second 787 line was introduced.

03-01-2008, 03:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
JA Boomer Contributor Join Date: 07-10-07 Location: Banff, Alberta Posts: 401 Country:	I am very surprised by the selection, I thought the USAF was going to buy the KC-767's and give the "the KC-767 is closer in size to the tanker to be replaced" or the "we want more, smaller tankers, for less money". Pleasantly surprised, the USAF opted for the newer, much improved capability airplane. Good for them. Why would you buy a 25 year old design, with only slightly greater mission capability than the current aircraft? However, Boeing had its hands tied. KC-777 was too large, KC-757 too small, and the composite KC-787 might have had problems integrating into the military, I'm not sure what the durability would have been? Notwithstanding that delivery would have been delayed several years while a second 787 line was introduced.