GreyGhost Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Good news everyone! >>> First crew selected <<< -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Stark Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 Good news everyone! >>> First crew selected <<< -Gregg ] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I thought we already had this figured out... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Bummer; No more boom window . http://foxtrotalpha....us-t-1675663600 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zerosystem Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Bummer; No more boom window . http://foxtrotalpha....us-t-1675663600 there go the media flights... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Horrido Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Omitted from the KC-46A design is the traditional 'boom pod' with its bay window and line-of-sight boom control station. Instead, the KC-46A will use a 3D video system fed to a refueling console for boom control. Wow, that set-up will thin-out the members of the herd prone to visual disturbances motion sickness right-quick. Just the thought makes me queasy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Wow, that set-up will thin-out the members of the herd prone to visual disturbances motion sickness right-quick. Just the thought makes me queasy. Ah; Good point. I wonder if it will cause some kind of unintended consequences. What happens if that 3D video system goes down while flying to the refueling rendezvous point? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Video sighting systems for tankers have been working just fine for about 40 years or so. I don't think it's a big deal. The KC-135s and KC-10s the only tankers in the world currently flying that have a boomer in the belly instead of in front of a screen in the cockpit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moose135 Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 What happens if that 3D video system goes down while flying to the refueling rendezvous point? Probably the same thing that would happen today if you had a boom malfunction - or any one of a hundred other malfunctions - on the way to the rendezvous. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Probably the same thing that would happen today if you had a boom malfunction - or any one of a hundred other malfunctions - on the way to the rendezvous. Of course; You make good points. However; It's yet a whole additional layer of something complicated that can go wrong vs an ultra K.I.S.S. boom window. The boom can be working fine, but if the boom operator's 'eyes' go out; Now what? They can probably still reel the refueling basket out and those a/c with refueling probes can still be serviced. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 As pointed out, its not exactly new to do it this way. Look at the F-35 with its large single touchscreen cockpit, what happens if that goes out? -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 FYI, the prototype flew today. Three hour test flight from Paine Field in Everett, to Boeing Field in Seattle, where future flight tests will be conducted. I'm just waiting for it to make its way over here (to Grant County International) soon. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 As pointed out, its not exactly new to do it this way. Look at the F-35 with its large single touchscreen cockpit, what happens if that goes out? -Gregg Once again; Good point. But we're talking about a tried and true, and most importantly, a K.I.S.S. set up for boom operators. I'm not saying it's unwise or wrong. I'm just bringing up a possible future issue for academic purposes. I did the same thing when I heard the new Ford class carrier will have electromagnetic catapults rather than the current steam-powered catapults. There were/are very specific and beneficial reasons for going that route. It made much more sense once I read more and understood what the new catapult system will bring to the Fleet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Look at the F-35 with its large single touchscreen cockpit, what happens if that goes out? It's not a single screen, it is two screens side by side - for exactly that reason. Been there touched that. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 It's not a single screen, it is two screens side by side - for exactly that reason. Been there touched that. :) And the pilot has a spare tablet with him, JIC ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 It's not a single screen, it is two screens side by side - for exactly that reason. Been there touched that. :)/> We'll be fine, as Jennings mentioned, this approach has been in use for decades and seems to work quite well. I'd argue that it's actually more involved to go with the old-style manned enclosure. That would require major structural modifications to the aircraft and is much more complex than going with the TV option. Out of curiosity, is the video system TV-only or does it have a low-light level or FLIR option for night ops? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 It's not a single screen, it is two screens side by side - for exactly that reason. Been there touched that. Ah; Very interesting. Thanks for sharing the info. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 We'll be fine, as Jennings mentioned, this approach has been in use for decades and seems to work quite well. I'd argue that it's actually more involved to go with the old-style manned enclosure. That would require major structural modifications to the aircraft and is much more complex than going with the TV option. Out of curiosity, is the video system TV-only or does it have a low-light level or FLIR option for night ops? I thought about the structural aspect of putting in the boom operator's window. Good point about what it might take to making it happen. The new set up does looks like the boom operator is in a more comfortable position to work the boom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 KC-10 Boomers sit comfortably. -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 KC-10 Boomers sit comfortably. -Gregg Speaking of which; I saw one at this year's Mountain Home AFB airshow. I was surprised to find a 3rd MLG on the a/c at the centerline. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) DC-10-30s,-40s and KC-10s all have the third MLG leg for the heaver weights they can carry. -Gregg Edited December 30, 2014 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Here Steve, I have the exact answer to your question right here, honestly...scroll on down to chapter II "Chickenhawk Economy". There you will find the answer in plain English...key phrase, "Political Engineering" (ignore all the F-35/A-10 talk...the meat of it is the procurement process...which takes years by design. http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/12/the-tragedy-of-the-american-military/383516/ Edited December 30, 2014 by 82Whitey51 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Here Steve, I have the exact answer to your question right here, honestly...scroll on down to chapter II "Chickenhawk Economy". There you will find the answer in plain English...key phrase, "Political Engineering" (ignore all the F-35/A-10 talk...the meat of it is the procurement process...which takes years by design. http://www.theatlant...ilitary/383516/ Overall; The article appears to be two-faced. It makes some good honest points yet still has a defeatist/we suck tone to the article. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 First flight of the full-spec KC-46 has been delayed from next month until "summer". Boeing's statement on this issue - “The first tanker will fly when it’s ready to fly.” Can't argue with that, I suppose.... Not good news but also not the end of the world, Boeing doesn't have a contractual deadline for this event. What they do have is a requirement to have delivered 18 operational tankers by August of 2017. Given their progress so far, I'm not optimistic. http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/kc-46-tanker-likely-will-miss-planned-april-first-flight-410378/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 >>> Article <<< >>> Photo <<< -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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