The panels are derivatives of the current ones they manufacture for Boeing’s 737 airliner indicating that Boeing will follow its plan of utilizing components from its different aircraft to support the 767 based tanker. The cockpit is planned to be a version of that used in the new 787 Dreamliner expected to enter service in the next few months.

The barrier net system will be used to restrain and contain cargo inside the aircraft. One of the secondary missions of the modified 767 tanker being built by Boeing is to carry cargo and these nets are key to ensuring a safe flight.

AmSafe is one of the world’s leading manufacturer of these type of systems. They also build safety curtains as part of this to prevent any fire and smoke from the cargo area entering the cockpit and crew areas.

The KC-46A program is continuing a pace with the first aircraft expected to be flown in 2015. Ultimately the Air Force could buy over 170 of the aircraft from this contract.

There was some consternation when the reports of Boeing’s efforts costing a great deal more then the $3.6 billion price at which the contract was awarded. This led to charges that Boeing “bought in” the contract by bidding deliberately low so that competitor EADS North America, part of European aerospace giant, EADS (EADS:P), could not win.

As the contract goes forward the total cost will change depending on what challenges the program faces and if it needs more time and investment to develop the variant of the Boeing 767 airliner. It may end up being less then $5.2 billion or even more as the program evolves.

The video may be found here.

Boeing is slowly releasing information about the KC-46A design.

World Trade Organization softens ruling against EADS (EADS:P). Boeing and U.S. still claim victory.

House puts strong cost controls on KC-46A with mandatory reporting requirements for Air Force.

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The article will be in the 11 April edition and on their website.

This means that the U.S. Air Force has awarded a new tanker contract successfully and the last decade of fits-and-starts is over. Now the emphasis shifts to Boeing and their efforts to meet the schedule and performance requirements of the program.

Hopefully this means in a few years the KC-46A will be flying over the United States.

The Air Force in a recent announcement confirmed that the source selection for the KC-X new aerial tanker won’t be completed until second quarter of Fiscal Year 2011. This was part of a much more important admission by the military that they had accidentally sent evaluation information on Boeing (BA) and EADS (EADS:P) bids to the wrong teams. Boeing got EADS and vice versa.

The computer data files sent to the contractors included pricing data for the two bids. The effect of this error on the whole contest is yet undetermined and the Air Force seems to be trying to push through with the hope that the leak is minimal. Without the companies coming forward to admit to looking at the data there is no way of knowing how much effect this will have on the proposals.

Certainly this adds yet another twist to the ongoing saga that is the KC-X competition and will certainly play a role if there is a protest by the losing bidder.

The company had filed the protest because the Air Force had said their proposal was delivered past the deadline for submission. U.S. Aerospace claimed that their courier was deliberately delayed and should have been allowed to make the delivery on time.

This decision leaves only the Boeing (BA) and EADS (EADS:P) bids as being considered for the contract. The Air Force had previously said that a decision would be announced around the middle of November but there have been reports that this might slip.