USAF decides 767 as KC-135 replacement

[BladeLWS 0]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030715/dctu079_1.htmlThe US Air Force has decided to use 767's as its replacements for the aging KC-135 Stratotanker. Its designation in the USAF, will be KC-767. The KC-135 fleet has been plauged with maintanance problems, and usually 1/5th of the fleet is down do to corrosion problems at any one time. Currently most if not all of the KC-135 tankers are older than the pilots that fly them. The new KC-767's will carry 20% more fuel, cargo, and passenger capability. Congress is extremely happy with the idea. It will save 5.5 billion, with a B, savings in maintanance costs of the current fleet.

[Guest cw1011]

This, in itself, is far less interesting than the fact that the US Air Force is leasing the aircraft. It's the first time that the USAF has done this with a front line aircraft. Times are definitely tough in the commercial aircraft business. Colin