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Show Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES Boeing completes successful first flight in KC-46 program 8 IME S January 8. 2015 By DARYL MAYER 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — The KC-46 Pegasus development program completed its first flight of Engineering, Manufacturing and Development aircraft No.1 Dec. 28. EMD No.1 is a provisioned 767-2C freighter and the critical building block for the KC-46 missionized aerial refueler. The maiden flight took off at 9:29 a.m. PST from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and landed at 1:01 p.m. PST at Boeing Field in Seattle. "Getting in the air is a critical step in the development of this important capability for the warfighter," said Brig. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, the program executive officer for tankers at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. "The team at Boeing has done a remarkable job creating an entirely new aircraft that will soon become the backbone of our ability to project power anywhere in the world." The 767-2C freighter is the initial step toward producing a KC-46. The aircraft will undergo additional finishing work s at the Boeing facility such as installing the refueling boom and other military specific equipment. The first flight of a KC-46 is expected in the Spring of 2015. "Today's flight is a key step in the next generation of tankers," said Col. Christopher Coombs, the KC-46 system program manager. "We know flight testing will lead to some discovery; today's flight kick-starts that work. There is an aggressive schedule going forward into the Milestone C decision point for approval to start Low Rate Initial Production, but we remain cautiously optimistic we can meet the mark." The Air Force con- PAUL GORDON/U.S. Air Force The KC-46 Pegasus development program completed its first flight of Engineering, Manufacturing and Development aircraft No.1 Dec. 28. The maiden flight took off at 9:29 a.m. PST from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and landed at 1:01 p.m. PST at Boeing Field in Seattle. tracted with Boeing in February 2011 to acquire 179 KC-46 refueling tank- ers to begin recapitaliz- ing the aging tanker fleet. This flight is an early but important step toward meeting the required assets available date — a milestone requiring 18 KC-46 aircraft and all necessary support equipment to be on the ramp, ready to support warfighter needs, by the August 2017 timeframe. F135 engine depot open for business LAYTON HILLS By JOHN PARKER Air Force News Service TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. — The nation's first military maintenance and repair depot for the F135 engine that powers the next-generation F-35 fighter officially opened Dec. 15 at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex. Currently in the late stages of international testing, the F-35 Lightning II is slated to become the frontline fighter for the United States and allies beginning as early as July with the Marine Corps. The Department of Defense plans to buy more than 2,400 of the singleengine, supersonic jets powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. "This is a team accomplishment," said Brig. Gen. Gene Kirkland, OC-ALC commander. "This milestone is the culmination of work by the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group's skilled artisans, the vision of our Complex's business office and the tremendous partnership with Pratt & Whit- ney and the Joint Program Office. "Our demonstrated ability to adapt to future needs for our nation's military is key to keeping Oklahoma City at the forefront of sustaining our warfighters," the general said. "This work is good for Oklahoma City, it's good for our workforce, our partners, our Air Force and, most importantly, it's good for our nation." The F135 Heavy Maintenance Center occupies 33,000 square feet inside Tinker's massive Bldg. 3001. It will grow to 65,000 square feet over three years, officials said. The facility is slated to be the only DOD F135 engine depot through at least 2020. Cheryl Lobo, director of Pratt & Whitney's F135 program, said the depot is on track to have the ability to overhaul the full F135 engine by late 2015. "With over 1,700 F-35s slated to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force, another 700 aircraft for the U.S. Marines and the Navy, you can see that it it should come as no big surprise that this facility will see a lot of maintenance, repair and overhaul work ... in the next decades to come," Lobo said. "As depots are being established in Europe and the Pacific theater, all the work we are doing here in this partnership will become the model for how we do our international depots," Lobo said. Work on the F135 engine depot began in 2011 and involved mechanic training, technical qualifications and installation of an F135 T-9 engine test cell near Tinker's Bldg. 9001. In July, mechanics and technicians began retrofitting F135 engines for the Marine Corps. Depot work at Tinker is critical to meeting the Marines' ambitious goal of next July to be the first branch to fly the jets in active service, also known as Initial Operational Capability. The F135 center so far has also tested and delivered four engine fan modules in unscheduled repairs, officials said. Tinker's Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is www.HAFBREALTORS.com Tracee Todd Matches ALL Military Discount Programs + $100 & Home Warranty Is Always Included. —n, :T • If you have limited funds for a down payment or closing costs for prefer to keep cash reserves for other investments and expensed, consider Academy Mortgage's VA Loan Program that currently offers up to 100% financing. 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