To me, it looks like a 767 with a KC-135 boom. That being said, the Italian KC-767 looks a lot like the Japanese airplane....yet somehow, Boeing had flutter and refueling problems with the Italian airplane, and I believe it is 3 or 4 years behind schedule.
As far as I can tell, the only thing different about it (from a KC-135) is the Boomer is not in a freezing-cold pod by the boom...he's up-front, and doing it with a camera.
And I don't see how that could be better. More comfortable for the Boomer, yes. More accurate and fewer boom-strikes---I would think not.
I don't understand how Boeing---with a boom-refueling history that goes back to the KC-97 and B-47, circa about 1948, can have such trouble using the same idea on a 25-year old 767 design. Re-inventing the wheel....poorly.
KC-135 guys, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you lose your F/Es as well about 10 years back?
I enjoyed being an FE on 727s, and yes, it could add to the crew efficiency/CRM, but I didn't sense a loss in the A-320 or 747-400 without one, either.
That doesn't add up. I flew into Sapporo in a 747-200 (1998), and there were F-15Js flying into either the same airport, or one within 4 miles.
Is this the Twin-Turboprop? If so, a huge waste of money. A friend of mine has gone Coastal and is flying the Falcon. He tells me the Ocean Sentry costs (if I remember correctly) $120 million each.
The basic airframe would be worth around 20 million, tops. Could they possibly put 100 million in life rafts aboard?
It is the most expensive acquisition in Coast Guard history, is overbudget, and I think, late. My bud tells me that EADS was hired to find the best replacement aircraft and manage the CG's logistics. Guess what? EADS said the best solution was to buy their aircraft, and hire them for logistics.
Another self-licking ice-cream cone. Another Marine-One debacle (replacement Presidential aircraft).
Been done before in 1968. It is called the OV-10 Bronco.
Bring 'em back!!! (The D-model is a good airplane for this type of Op; the A-model is a death-trap).
I think yes. It is some model of King Air.
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So.....some good discussions topics if anyone cares to take a crack at one or two of them.
USMCFLYR