The Air Force Test Pilot School’s modified F-16, known as VISTA, joined with a KC-135 tanker in the skies over Edwards AFB, Calif., earlier this month. The goal of this exercise was to explore the dynamics of refueling an unmanned aircraft in flight. Using this F-16, which is capable of replicating the flight characteristics of many aircraft, the school’s Basic Envelope Air Refueling Control Laws program is working to map “software flight-control laws required for [a remotely piloted aircraft] to go up and come in contact with a tanker,” explained student test pilot Capt. Gary Beisner, BEAR CLAW project manager. Flown by student test pilots, VISTA recently made four flights, mimicking an unmanned platform. During one, on March 17, the F-16 successfully connected to the tanker’s refueling boom. After data analysis is complete, the flight testing will expand in nature, possibly including flying VISTA remotely. (Edwards report by Kenji Thuloweit)
Boeing received a $2.47 billion Air Force contract Nov. 25 for 15 more KC-46s, bringing to 183 the number of Pegasus tankers on contract to all customers, foreign and domestic. The new contract—for Lot 12 of the initially planned KC-46 buy—is to be completed by 2029.
