KC-46 Pegasus: An Analysis of the US Air Force's New Aerial Refueler

KC-135

The KC-135 Stratotanker is one of the current aerial refueling aircraft for the United States Air Force. Based off of Boeing’s 707, the KC-135 first entered service more than fifty years ago, and as of now the US Air Force is looking to retire sixteen KC-135s. Not surprisingly, the next tanker, the KC-46 Pegasus, is a militarized version of Boeing's 767.

KC-46 Nellis AFB Red Flag 2013
U.S. Air Force Photo by Lawrence Crespo

                    KC-46 Features and Upgrades

The KC-46 differs greatly from its fifty-year old predecessor the KC-135

First of all the KC-46 possesses 12,000 more pounds of fuel and a fly by wire (computer aided) refueling system.

The KC-46 is also equipped with a permanent boom as well as probe and drogue system. The KC-135 cannot have both refueling systems at the same time. A boom refueling system is a telescoping tube which can be controlled by an operator on the tanker. A probe and drogue system on the other hand is a  long hose with a drogue or windsock at the end, which stabilizes the system.

Two F-15s Refueling from a Boom on a KC-135
U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Worley

KC-135J With Probe and Drogues Refueling Two F-35s
Photo from Lockheed Martin Flicker

Although, the KC-130 has the capability to attach wing pods in order to refuel multiple aircraft at the same time, only twenty tankers have this capability. All KC-46 tankers are equipped with the ability to attach wing pods.

Along with increased fuel capacity, the KC-46 tanker can hold three times as many cargo pallets (18) as the KC-135, almost twice as many passengers (114), and fifty-four medical patients unlike the KC-135 which can only hold fifty-four patients.

In addition the KC-46 is able to protect itself from nuclear and biochemical threats as well as heat seeking missiles. The KC-135 does not possess any of those features.

Lastly, the KC-46 has the capability to refuel at night. Again the KC-135 does not have this capability.

KC-46 Schedule and Delays

The first KC-46 is expected this November after wiring problems costing Boeing $272 million dollars caused delays in August. Although the Air Force expressed distress when it came to this delay, Boeing has been able to meet all other checkpoints and milestones.

The first eighteen tankers are planned to be built by 2017. Every year after that, the amount of tankers built will be increased by fifteen until all 179 tankers are built. 2027 is the projected date for the construction of all KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.

Along with U.S. sales, Boeing has also received bids for the KC-46 from South Korea and Poland. If these bids go through Boeing will most likely begin international deliveries in 2018.



Sources:
http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/652430.pdf
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/boeing/article/First-Boeing-KC-135R-tanker-retired-after-more-4310083.php
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/09/17/air-force-disappointed-in-boeing-tanker-delays.html?page=all
http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/497460/air-force-leadership-confident-in-kc-46-program.aspx
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/09/03/boeing-kc-46-tanker-exports-to-poland-possible.html
http://www.nellis.af.mil

Peter Sprague's Jazz Guitar

Peter Sprague

If you live in San Diego, you are in the area or you just love jazz guitar then you have to check out guitarist Peter Sprague.

Picture of Peter for the Carlsbad Music Festival
Source: petersprague.com

Peter’s music is described as being “as progressive as John Mclaughlin and as jazzy as Pat Metheny” by the San Diego Reader. If you have not heard either of the two guitarists mentioned above I would also recommend diving into their work along with Peter’s.

Peter immersed himself in jazz when he was fifteen years old. It was at this time that he created his first band with his brother Tripp on tenor sax, Rob Schneiderman on piano, John Leftwich on bass, and Toddy Bryson on drums. And thus Peter’s musical career was born!

Later in his life, Peter would study with jazz guitar great Pat Metheny (mentioned above) and play with jazz pianist Chick Corea as well as Rob Schneiderman. Again check all of these cats out!

Guitarist John McLaughlin(left) and Chick Corea(right)
Source: chickcorea.com 

I am a big fan of Chick Corea and it is basically impossible for me to sum up his gargantuan career. I am sorry but you are just going to have to jump into his work and listen.

Peter Sprague meticulously studied the work of jazz icon Chick Corea and was able to publish transcriptions of many of his works. See Jazz Solos of Chick Corea for an example.

From his experiences teaching and from writing transcriptions for Chick, Mr. Sprague was able to create his own technique book known as The Sprague Technique. From there, Peter created a multitude of books filled with some of his tunes as well as other books filled with transcriptions of the jazz greats.

Back in Del Mar, Mr. Sprague created his own recording studio known as SpragueLand, which was created to be a Californian version of Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Land Studio.

SpragueLand is devised not to create, hit-records but, “to keep costs low” and to, “release a product [Peter is] happy with.” Along with recording his own work, Peter also recorded many local San Diegan artists at SpragueLand as well.

There you go! This is the basic gist of Peter’s life and music career.

As of now Peter has been working with bassist Gunnar Biggs, vocalist Leonard Patton, a string orchestra and much much… more.

Sorry for the long rant. Now go and check out this amazing guitarist!!!

Sources: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/peter-sprague/

http://petersprague.com

http://chickcorea.com