Boeing’s New Military ‘Frankentanker’ Design
Filed Under (Military) by Andy on 27-01-2008
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I’m hoping one of our military folks that reads Geeknews, specifically Rizzo, can comment on this whole affair.
The Seattle-Times is reporting that Boeing’s opponents and critics are calling their latest design proposal for the military’s new air tanker a clumsily stitched together horror of parts assembled from different models of the 767. Visit the news page to see the bigger pic of the caricature, you can see a Frankenstein bolt sticking out of it’s ‘neck’ right behind the cockpit.
Boeing is competing for the contract against the bids by Northrop-Grumman and Airbus who are combining their efforts. If you haven’t been following this tale there’s been some very interesting twists and scenarios in this hotly contested contract, not the least of which is that Airbus may become Americans since they’d end up moving some of their manufacturing plants to the United States if they win the contract! Imagine that.
The Airbus/Northrop proposal is based on the A330 MRTT, Boeing’s proposal is called the KC-767.
Hey Rizzo – you work on the KC-135 Stratotanker that is to be replaced by the winning design, do you or your team ever talk about the next big thing in air refueling like these bad boys? Do you have any preference or comments?
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Why would we ever send a military plane contract to a foreign country??? And there would go billions of dollars out of our economy. Insanity??? Oh they would build part of the plane here in this country? How nice of them!!
Hey Andy,
You’re right, I work on the KC-135R Stratotanker. Most of the maintainers don’t really discuss what will be up and coming until we see it. We have learned that the military/government likes to change it’s mind a lot.
Once they come out with a winner in the bids, I think we will start to see a lot of excitement in the maintenance fields. I know that I will be stoked because I will be looking forward to the new avionics.
This is the first that I have heard of them “stitching” together a 767. I have seen the 767 tanker already as they come through McConnell AFB where Boeing shares our runway. They have been built for the Italians and the Japanese so far and they don’t look bad.
As for foreign companies being supplied the military contract over American companies, I feel the right aircraft should get the job. While I would hate for Boeing to lose out (and take away jobs from here in Wichita), I would rather have a sound aircraft to maintain.
And Airbus would have to open up more manufacturing lines here in the U.S. which would stimulate the economy. Either way it is an aircraft built by the lowest bidder!
Sorry it took so long for me to reply Andy…we’ve been strapped at work trying to keep that 50+ year old KC-135 in the air! Take care.