Advanced Mobility Aircraft

13 Pages 3179 Words

payoff big by helping to remove some of the burden that commercial aviation carries.
Using large box wing aircraft as an example, an aircraft with virtually the same dimensions as a conventional aircraft that has an increased range and capability to carry up to 600 passengers, without the necessity for any changes in existing airport support and infrastructure. While carrying out the same amount of workload, with fewer missions. Thereby, making great savings in fuel costs.
Average flight hours for US Air Mobility Command (AMC) are increasing to meet US commitments for peacekeeping forces and humanitarian relief. This increased operational tempo is depleting the remaining useful life of the existing US strategic air lifter fleet at a rate far exceeding that predicted several years ago. The current USAF "Air Mobility Master Plan" calls for the replacement of the C-141 transport by the year 2006 and retirement of the KC-135 tankers to begin in 2013. These 700+ aircraft, 80% of the current mobility fleet, are now 30 to 35 years old and are...