Boeing Co, ST. LOUIS: Boeing test pilots took the first Italian Air Force KC-767A advanced aerial refueling tanker on its maiden flight today.
Named Italy KC-767A#1, the aircraft lifted off from McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kan., and flew for more than one hour, officially beginning its flying and aerial refueling certification test program.
“We are extremely proud of the KC-767A's maiden flight,” said Lt Col Roberto Poni, the on-site Italian Air Force liaison officer to the tanker program. “Together we have managed some significant challenges and, together, we will perfect this much needed asset.”
Employees, suppliers and customers viewed the event, including members of the on-site Aeronavali partner team who will lead modifications of the next KC-767 tankers in their facilities in Naples, Italy.
“Boeing has a great launch customer in the Italian Air Force,” said Jim O'Neill, Boeing vice president and Tanker program manager. “This is a completely new aerial refueling aircraft, designed with capabilities uniquely suited for the security needs of today and tomorrow.”
The new Italian tanker, which has an open architecture cockpit and advanced aerial refueling boom with a remote aerial refueling operator station, was unveiled publicly only two months ago and will undergo a rigorous flight test and aerial refueling certification program. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the aircraft to the Italian Air Force in Spring 2006.
———————————————————-
Smiths Joins Boeing in Reaching KC-767A Italian Tanker First Flight Milestone
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Smiths Aerospace joins Boeing in achieving the milestone of the KC-767A Italian Tanker first flight today. The milestone also marks the first flight of Smiths mission control system with a partitioned operating system on the KC-767A tanker transport aircraft. The flight took place today in Wichita, Kansas at the McConnell Air Force Base.
“This first flight is a significant step forward in the success of the 767 tanker program,” commented John Ferrie, President of Smiths Aerospace. “Our employees share in the pride with Boeing, providing key systems in mission control and aerial refueling critical to operational success.”
Smiths is a key partner on the KC-767A tanker transport providing the mission control system and aerial refueling systems. The mission control system is a derivative of Smiths' flight management system in service on Boeing 737 aircraft. Integrated with the civil flight management system is the unique flight guidance and navigation functionality for aerial refueling military missions as well as communications control and management. The backbone of the mission control system is a dual open architecture computing platform with an ARINC 653 compliant partitioned operating system. The open hardware architecture and partitioned operating system provide ease of upgrade to incorporate future requirements for the Italian Air Force and future operators of the KC-767.
Smiths also provides the centerline hose drum unit, wing aerial refueling pods and pylons, aerial refueling control computers, electronic elevator feel computers, power distribution, and the standby instrumentation system. Smiths total contract value on the KC-767 Tanker is worth more than $1 billion.
Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace equipment and systems company, with more than 10,000 employees and nearly $2 billion sales split between Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical and mechanical systems, engine components and customer services.
About the Aerial Refueling Systems
The aerial refueling systems include the development and manufacture of the aerial refueling boom actuation control system and the in-flight hose and drogue refueling systems. The actuation control system consists of a combination of electromechanical and hydraulic control actuators along with an advanced electronic control system. The system provides for the deployment, extension, retraction, in-flight control and recovery of the aerial refueling boom. The advanced control system provides increased boom control and responsiveness compared to existing boom refueling systems, while the built in actuator and control system redundancy increases safety and dispatch reliability.
The inclusion of the centerline hose drum unit and the wing aerial refueling pods on the KC-767A provides for three-point hose and drogue refueling of probe equipped receiver aircraft. A complete system solution inclusive of the aircraft structures and internal hose reel electrical, hydraulic, and fuel subsystems are integrated to provide highly reliable and easily maintained hose and drogue refueling systems. The advanced hose reel systems offer improved operational performance, particularly in the use of a microprocessor based electronic control system to increase the response rate of the hose system. The electronic control system reduces the number of hydraulic components by 40%, substantially increasing system reliability. The system is integrated within a fuselage mounted palletized pressure box to allow easy installation and removal and within the aerodynamic wing aerial refueling pod structure.
