First KC-46A tanker aircraft taking shape at Boeing

Boeing workers in Everett, Wash. on Wednesday loaded a wing spar for the first U.S. Air Force KC-46A aerial refueling tanker, starting production of that aircraft and achieving another milestone toward delivering 179 tankers during the next 14 years.

The KC-46A is based on Boeing's commercial 767-200ER, a proven airframe in service as an airliner, freighter and tanker. Boeing has delivered more than 1,050 767s worldwide.

The spar, the main structural component of the wing, is 82 feet 5 inches long. On the aircraft, it provides critical support for flight loads and the weight of the wings when the plane is not flying.

The program’s next major contractual milestone, the Air Force’s Critical Design Review, starts next month.

Boeing employees are also preparing the 767 production line for assembly of the next-generation tanker’s aft and forward body structures. The aircraft will be assembled in November and roll out of the factory in January.

Next June, Boeing will begin installation of military-unique systems on the aircraft at Boeing Field in Seattle as well as testing. First flight for the fully provisioned tanker is scheduled for early 2015, with first delivery in 2016.

Boeing expects to build and deliver the first 18 KC-46As by 2017 and a total of 179 by 2027 if all options under the contract are exercised.

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Third UK F-35 arrives at Eglin Air Force Base

The third Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) Lightning II for the United Kingdom arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Tuesday where it will be used for pilot and maintainer training. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Roger Hardy piloted the aircraft known as BK-3 (ZM137) on its 90-minute ferry flight from the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

“In less than a year, we have taken ownership of our first three aircraft and begun both pilot and engineer training,” said Group Captain Harv Smyth, the U.K.'s Joint Strike Fighter National Deputy.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems, headquartered in the U.K. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to declare Initial Operational Capability with the STOVL in 2015.

The program's more than 500 British suppliers will build 15 percent of each F-35 produced. U.K. industry is responsible for numerous F-35 components including the aft fuselage, fuel system and crew escape system. Key F-35 suppliers in the U.K. include BAE Systems, GE Aviation, Martin-Baker, SELEX, Cobham, Ultra Electronics, UTC Actuation Systems and Rolls-Royce.

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NASA solar satellite will ride air-launched rocket into space

The launch of NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EDT Thursday over the Pacific Ocean.

IRIS is a NASA Small Explorer Mission designed to observe how solar material moves, gathers energy and heats up as it travels through a little-understood region in the sun's lower atmosphere. This interface region between the sun's photosphere and corona powers its dynamic million-degree atmosphere and drives the solar wind.

IRIS will be launched aboard a Pegasus XL rocket that is dropped from a L-1011 aircraft in mid-flight. The drop of the air-launched Pegasus will occur over the Pacific Ocean at an altitude of 39,000 feet, about 100 miles northwest of Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The L-1011 will takeoff from Vandenberg.

Because of a significant power outage at Vandenberg earlier this week, certain Western Range facilities were not be ready to support the original Wednesday launch date. A Launch Readiness Review meeting for the IRIS mission on Wednesday concluded that all Pegasus and satellite systems are ready for flight.

“The Western Range has been successful in restoring power to the range systems,” NASA said in a IRIS Status Update. “The range does not anticipate any issues in finishing the activation and at this time, the work is going smoothly.”

The launch team will begin preparing the L-1011 for departure at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Departure is planned to occur at 9:27 p.m. and the drop of the Pegasus XL is targeted for 10:27 p.m.

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State Department meets with industry to discuss aviation contracts

The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Aviation will host a conference on June 13 in Melbourne, Fla. for businesses interested in offering Aviation Maintenance, Flight Operations, Aviation Logistics, and Information Technology services to the agency.

Conference location:
Hilton Rialto
200 Rialto Place

Melbourne, FL 32901

Federal Bureau of Prisons seeks mortuary services in Butner, N.C.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has a future requirement for mortuary services at the Federal Correctional Complex located in Butner, N.C.

“The government contemplates awarding of an indefinite-delivery, requirements-type contract with firm-fixed unit prices resulting from the future solicitation,” the Bureau of Prisons said in contract documents released Tuesday on the Federal Business Opportunities website. “Market research is being conducted to determine interest and capability of potential sources for this requirement. The contract period will consist of a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods for renewal. A government solicitation document to provide these services is being developed and a contract may or may not result.”

Companies interested in providing the mortuary services should contact the Bureau of Prisons by May 29.

NTSB investigating aircraft incident at Reagan Airport

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating an incident at Reagan National Airport involving two aircraft coming in close proximity.

The agency announced the investigation on Friday over Twitter. The NTSB provided no further details in the statement.

Gunshots reported at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Responding agencies continue to investigate an “active shooter incident” at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tonight, according to reports posted on the university campus website. The shooting is reported to be at Building 32 (Stata). Officials from the school are asking everyone to stay indoors and away from Building 32 and the surrounding area.

The gunshots were reported at 10:48 p.m. EDT on Thursday. The area is cordoned off. “Unknown if injuries have occurred,” MIT says on their website. “Although the situation is considered active and extremely dangerous, an investigation is underway. Updates will be provided when more information becomes available.”