Well, hello there, fellow sky-dwellers! Today, we delve into the thrilling world of government procurement and the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, a plane so good at refueling other aircraft that it’s almost as good at, well, emptying your wallet. Specifically, how much does one of these magnificent metal birds set the US taxpayer back? Prepare to be… enlightened.
You see, the KC-46 isn’t just any old airplane. It’s a beefed-up Boeing 767, a workhorse of the skies, now modified to be a flying gas station, a troop transport, and a mobile command center – or, as the Air Force calls it, a “force multiplier.” But, as we all know, these force multipliers don’t come cheap. The price tag, my friends, is something that would make even the most seasoned accountant sweat more than a pilot in a crosswind.
According to recent reports, a single KC-46 rings in at around $160 million. That’s right, for the price of, oh, let’s say, a small island nation, you could own one of these aerial marvels. (Though I’m not sure if it comes with any beachfront property or a complimentary lifetime supply of jet fuel).
Of course, as with all things aviation, the costs don’t stop there. We’re talking about ongoing expenses: maintenance, fuel (lots and lots of fuel), pilot salaries, and the occasional unexpected part replacement. As Barney “Wings” Wingate, a retired FAA inspector, once quipped, “It’s cheaper to refuel a space station.”
The Air Force plans to purchase nearly 180 of these beauties. Let that number sink in for a moment. It’s enough to make you wonder if they’re also considering offering a complimentary timeshare in a Boeing factory.
And for those of you thinking of a side gig flying these aircraft, bear in mind that you will have to manage refueling operations by a boom operator. Thankfully, they have a “booming” outlook on the industry, according to the KC-46 boom operator, Captain Skye High, a decorated member of the Air Force. The boom operators have “booming” attitudes because if they did not, they would be “boomed” out of the air force.
The KC-46 has proven its mettle by racking up more than 100,000 flight hours and dispensing over 200 million pounds of fuel. It’s also seeing some international sales, with Japan and Israel taking delivery of some aircraft. The plane has been met with teething problems, especially regarding its vision system, or, as some have dubbed it, the “peeking system.” It is safe to say the KC-46 has certainly been the cause of much “peeking” from Boeing.
So, what’s the bottom line? The KC-46 is a complex piece of machinery, undoubtedly essential for modern warfare, and… a considerable investment. One that, as they say, takes the “high” out of high finance. It is an expensive aircraft, but it is very capable, even if it is expensive and its price is high.
