Boeing’s KC-767 tanker recently completed the first test for its fly-by-wire boom telescoping tube, the company announced Thursday. This tanker, which has surpassed 400 flight hours, is destined for Italy. Boeing officials have said that they plan to offer the larger 777 to the US Air Force for its KC-X tanker competition. They believe it more accurately matches USAF’s stated requirements. However, plans to close the 767 line were tabled because sales have picked up.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…