Boeing resumes deliveries of long-suffering KC-46 Pegasus air tankers after fuel tank problems

Boeing continues to deliver KC-46 Pegasus tankers. This was announced last week by CEO David Calhoun during the company's earnings report for the second quarter of 2023.

Here's What We Know

Deliveries of the KC-46 Pegasus have been put on pause due to fuel tank issues. In April 2023, the company said it had already lost more than $7bn on aerial refuelling production. A new report says the company continues to experience supply chain problems.

We learned about a problem with fuel tanks manufactured by Triumph Aerostructures in early 2023. The problem was that the paint could peel off and clog the fuel lines leading to the engines. The Boeing 767 transport aircraft on which the Pegasus is based also suffered from this.

It should be noted that KC-46 at the end of last year set a record for flight duration. With a standard range of 11,830 kilometres, the aircraft was able to fly 25,750 kilometres, spending 36 hours on the journey. To understand, the length of the equator is just over 40,000 kilometres.

The KC-46 Pegasus is a replacement for the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. The $200 million air tanker is capable of aerial refuelling any aircraft except the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft due to the rigidity of the refuelling boom.