Article Posted on : - Sep 08, 2010

The Colombian Air Force's Kfir C10 fighter aircraft being refueled by the B767 air refueling tanker. An IAI photo

JERUSALEM (BNS): Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has successfully converted a Boeing 767-200ER (Extended Range) aircraft of the Colombian Air Force into a Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) configuration.

The modified aircraft has completed a series of flight tests during which it conducted mid-air refueling of a C10 Kfir fighter aircraft, IAI said.

During its first 3.5-hour flight test, the full envelope, including altitude, speed, and Mach number of the B767-200MMTT aircraft was opened without any flutter or buffet problems, the company said.

The air refueling system functioned very well, and the first hook-ups and fuel transfers were the most exciting moments of the flight. IAI's test pilot team that flew the aircraft reported that the systems performed flawlessly.

The converted aircraft is equipped with two Wing Air Refueling Pods (WARPs) of ARP3 model, manufactured by IAI.

The tanker conversion project lasted for over two years, IAI said. The newly-configured B767-200MMTT will undergo further flight trials before being delivered to the Colombian Air Force, it said.