Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), on December 28, 2014, launched the first flight of its prototype KC-46A tankers. The test flight ended at Boeing’s Field in Seattle and started from Paine Field that is located in Washington. The total time for this test flight was recorded to be 3 hours and 30 minutes.

The plane that tested the tankers was given the name EMD-1 (engineering, manufacturing and development). This plane was specially manufactured on the design of Boeing’s previous jet, 767 2C commercial. EMD-1, however, did not include any military system or refueling gear in its test drive. The final version of the plane will have both these systems.

Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) has to deliver its finished KC-46A planes to the Air Force of United States by the end of the year 2017. The company wants to start the process early and wishes to deliver the first 18 planes by the end of the year 2016. U.S Air Force has placed 179 orders for KC-46A tankers. These tankers will replace the previous version of tankers, KC-135. Air Force has been using KC 135 tankers since 1957. Now, it is time for United States Air Force to replace the old technologies with the new ones.

It is important to mention here that EMD-1 is not the only test plane that Boeing is developing right now. The other prototypes for EMD-2, 3, and 4 are also under construction. The planes will be ready for their test flights by the mid of 2015.The first KC-46A, which is EMD-2 prototype, will have its test flight in the month of April 2015.

According to the management of Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), all the test planes will be up and flying next year. Moreover, if everything proceeds according to the schedule, the company will be delivering its first 18 KC-46As by the end of the year 2017.

Boeing was scheduled to have these test flights earlier in the year. However, the company struck a wiring harness, and the program got delayed by 6 months. Although the design of KC-46A is based on 767-2C, there are some improvements that have been made in it. The fuselage in the latest model has been made stronger. Similarly, the wing size is also greater so as to accommodate heavier weights.

A progress report was released by a Government Accountability Office (GAO) back in April, which showed that the U.S. Air Force will pay around $287 million for each tanker. It is important to mention here that these figures do not include maintenance contract of the jets. Boeing will be making an extra $51.4 billion from the additional parts and maintenance contracts.

As for the stock prices of Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA), the company, during the last trading day of December 29, 2014, started its stocks at a price of $131.72 and closed at a price of $132.29, after hitting the highest price of $132.73. The total market capitalization of Boeing was recorded to be at $93.68 billion.

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