The KC-46 Pegasus is the newest multi-mission aerial refueler for the U.S. Air Force, based on the Boeing 767 airliner, specifically the 767-2C variant. This aircraft represents a new era in air-to-air refueling capabilities. Its development began in February 2011, and the 767-2C’s first flight took place in December 2014. The KC-46 entered service in 2019, succeeding legacy tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker. It offers advanced capability advantages, including both boom and drogue defueling on the same sortie, and enhanced cargo capacity.
The manufacturer, Boeing, is an American aerospace corporation founded in Seattle, Washington, in 1916 by William E. Boeing. Boeing is a foundational leader in aerospace, developing both civil and military aircraft. The present corporation is the result of a merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
Various access solutions—including the Reach Deck Platform, Modular Stepover Platforms, Super Trestle Scaffold, and Platform Ladder Warthog—are utilized around the KC-46 to solve maintenance needs across multiple aircraft sections. Specialized stands allow access to critical areas such as the Nose Section (Radome, Windshield & Cockpit), Landing Gear (Nose Landing Gear and Main Landing Gear), and the Wing & Engine Pylon (Engine, Hydraulics, and Fuel Tanks/Pumps). Platforms also provide access to the Forward Fuselage (Main Entry Door, Cargo/Baggage), Middle Fuselage (Wing Box, Oil Maintenance), AFT Fuselage (APU Compartments, Rear Avionics), and the Tail Section (Vertical and Horizontal Stabiliser, Rudder). These tools ensure detailed, efficient maintenance is possible across the KC-46.
