taking shape on the production line, located in a fenced-off, secure part of the factory in Everett. “It’s pretty amazing to see,” said Steven Olson, a mechanic in Tool Engineering. “It’s a great airplane, and I think we’ll sell these for years and years.” Among the mix of newer and experienced Commercial Airplanes mechanics on the 767 team in Everett, John “J.J.” Jenkins is one of the latter, having worked on the pro-gram for 25 years. The team lead for Aft Structures, Jenkins said he and his co-workers are focused on meeting the expectations for the tanker after all the hard work that went into winning the contract. He is looking forward to seeing the first tanker aircraft fly. “We’re going to have a big, huge celebration,” Jenkins said with a smile, “even if I have to throw the party myself.” n eric.c.fetters-walp@boeing.com PHOTOS: (From far left) Wing Join mechanic Francisco Capistrano; Eric Berglund, left, and Maisie Todd, both Heavy Structures mechanics, work inside the fuselage of the first KC-46A test aircraft. BOB FERGUSON/BOEING Employees signed a banner to commemorate the start of production last month of the first KC-46A tanker. GAIL HANUSA/BOEING PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: (Below) The KC-46A test aircraft will have a maximum airspeed of .86 Mach and a service ceiling of 43,100 feet (13,100 meters). BOEING MID-2014 EARLY 2015 AUGUST 2017 2027 Flight testing of the first test aircraft BOEING FRONTIERS / DECEMBER 2013–JANUARY 2014 35 Projected first flight of the KC-46A configured tanker Contractual date for Boeing to have 18 combat-ready tankers for the U.S. Air Force Boeing completes delivery of 179 KC-46A tankers to the U.S. Air Force
Frontiers December 2013—January 2014 Issue
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