Group Of 41 Chosen For Initial Operational And Evaluation Duty

Forty-one officers and enlisted members from active duty, Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard have been selected as the KC-46 Pegasus initial operational test and evaluation aircrew, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Nov. 24.

The KC-46 is slated to enter the Air Force inventory, pending the results of operational test and evaluation, in 2016. Developed by Boeing in Mukilteo, Washington, the aircraft is set to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been actively employed since 1956.
 
"Test and evaluation aircrew will evaluate the tanker's capabilities under all circumstances and situations to ensure that it meets all operational mission requirements," said Maj. Broc Starrett, an official with the AFPC Mobility Air Forces rated assignments section.
 
"This is a significant milestone in the careers of the pilots and boom operators selected to test the new tanker," Starrett said. "Airmen selected for test and evaluation positions must be the best in their field, so selection for the program is very competitive. These total-force Airmen will have significant impact on the future of the Air Force mobility mission."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.af.mil