New Boeing tanker completes first midair refueling test

Boeing on Sunday marked a major milestone with its new KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, completing a midair refueling of an Air Force F-16 fighter jet.

Boeing said during the five hour and 43 minute flight it provided 1,600 pounds of fuel to the F-16 at an altitude of 20,000 feet.

The successful air refueling demonstration is “the prerequisite for the low-rate initial production decision,” Col. Christopher Coombs, Air Force KC-46 system program manager, said in a Boeing news release Sunday night.

“We have a lot of work yet to do, but this is an exciting time for the airmen who are preparing to fly, maintain and support the KC-46 Pegasus for decades to come,” Coombs said.

McConnell Air Force Base is slated to receive 36 of the aircraft, based off of the Boeing 767 airframe.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 11:10 AM.