100th KC-46A Section 41
Our 767 team celebrated the 100th delivery of the integrated Section 41 of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker to Boeing.
Spirit Twin Aisle Leader Bryan Woods led the event attended by our 767 team, President & CEO Tom Gentile, Boeing and the Air Force to introduce the 100th unit, almost 10 years after Spirit delivered the first one to Boeing. Boeing 767 Leader Kim Pastega spoke at the event and highlighted the importance of the KC-46 to Boeing’s military and defense business.
Col. Nate Vogel, commanding officer of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and at McConnell Air Force Base, spoke about what the KC-46 means to the Air Force and the defense of freedom around the world.
“Congratulations to the entire Spirit team for producing your 100th unit…what an accomplishment,” Col. Vogel said. “Even better is that you are taking the time to celebrate. That is important... I am proud to say that we have taken the airplanes you have created and turned them into combat capable at a lightning pace.”
Col. Vogel said the KC-46A has become a unique part of the U.S. fleet and global arsenal. He told those assembled for the celebration many accomplishments, such setting the world record for longest military sortie at 24 hours. It then broke with a sortie at 36 hours.
“Listening to Colonel Vogel describe what the KC-46 can do made us all proud to be part of this strategic program,” Tom said in his weekly blog to employees. “The program of record is for us to deliver 179 KC-46s to Boeing, but that number could climb as the U.S. Air Force reassesses its needs in the future.”
