Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A KC-46 Pegasus conducts an air refueling test mission at night with a F-16 Fighting Falcon using the Remote Vision System 2.0 over the Southern California coast. It is a joint effort between Boeing, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Test Center, 418th Flight Test Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to successfully test the RVS 2.0 update.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A KC-46 Pegasus conducts an air refueling test mission at night with a F-16 Fighting Falcon using the Remote Vision System 2.0 over the Southern California coast. It is a joint effort between Boeing, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Test Center, 418th Flight Test Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to successfully test the RVS 2.0 update. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

MSgt. Matthew Giles, Chief Boom Operator, 418th Flight Test Squadron tests the new Remote Vision System 2.0 update on a KC-46 Pegasus at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The partnership of Boeing and the U.S. Air Force includes the development of Flight Test Procedures (FTP’s) and multiple safety reviews of those procedures.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A KC-46 Pegasus conducts an air refueling test mission with a F-16 Fighting Falcon over the skies of Southern California. Operating a specialized boom from the back of a KC-46, In-flight Refueling Specialists pump thousands of gallons of jet fuel into aircraft in need of fuel.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A KC-46 Pegasus conducts an air refueling test mission with a F-16 Fighting Falcon over the skies of Southern California. Aerial refueling is one of the core components of the U.S. Air Force. This mission allows our aircraft that don't have that much fuel to fly for much longer durations. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A KC-46 Pegasus conducts an air refueling test mission over the skies of Southern California. Rigorous planning goes on before any any aircraft come together in the refueling envelope. The partnership of Boeing and the U.S. Air Force includes the development of Flight Test Procedures (FTP’s) and multiple safety reviews of those procedures. (Photo Courtesy of Boeing)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Jessica "Sting" Peterson, Technical Director, 412th Operations Group tests the safety equipment needed before an aerial refueling mission at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. There is a critical need to test at operationally representative conditions and to test at specific environmental conditions with flight test equipment.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A Boeing maintainer gets ready to guide a KC-46 Pegasus out of of the flight-line to conduct an air refueling test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It is a joint effort between Boeing, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Test Center, 418th Flight Test Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to successfully complete the mission.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

A Boeing maintainer guides a KC-46 Pegasus out of of the flight-line to conduct an air refueling test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It is a joint effort between Boeing, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Test Center, 418th Flight Test Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to successfully complete the mission.

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Refueling the Mission Part 2: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Published May 3, 2023
By Adam Bowles
412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --

Get a never-before-seen inside look at the KC-46 and the aerial refueling mission! Continuing on in Part 2 of Refueling the Mission, we showcase the value and complexity of flight test with receiver aircraft and the challenging but operational relevant conditions of the refueling mission. Join us as we look deep into the flight test design of AR receiver testing, the conditions needed to test critical AR technology and the exceptional flight test team that puts the refueling mission all together.

The critical flight test team consists of Boeing, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Test Center, Air Force Material Command, 418th Flight Test Squadron and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to successfully test and complete the refueling mission.

If you missed Part 1, you can watch Refueling the Mission: The Magic of Air Mobility here:

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft

Refueling the Mission: The Complexity of Flight Test with Receiver Aircraft