Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/901315
their disposal - the E-4B NAOC command aircraft. Four were supplied in the second half of the 1970s, and now they are kept at the Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, used to support federal administration authorities. Two of them were damaged by a hurricane on 16 June 2017 – although the aircraft were inside a hangar, their tails protruded outside the hangar, and the wind force was so strong that it caused damage that was later investigated by both Boeing's staff and USAF's representatives. The costs of repair may appear to be too high and the planes will be removed from inventory – the 747-200 is no longer available in serial production, the spare parts are becoming increasingly expensive and are not available for immediate delivery. Taking them out of inventory will make their cannibalization possible and let the remaining pair be used further. This will also offer some time to accelerate the process of putting their successors into operation. According to some data obtained from DoD, USAF intends to make the whole fleet uniform (to reduce costs). In the light of the above, Boeing's KC-46 Pegasus newest tanker has the biggest chances to be selected. Apart from the E-4B, the following two other types of aircraft may be replaced with the Pegasus – the C-32 (a VIP version of the Boeing 757) and the E-6B (Boeing 707s belonging to the US Navy and used to maintain communication with submarines). www.fragoutmag.com