Tanker boom tested

An Airbus A330 tanker transport completed a test of the in-flight handling characteristics of its refueling boom system. The flutter testing of the first A330 built for Australia was done under a variety of conditions. In a different test last month, the A330 was refueled by a French C-135. Northrop Grumman plans to use the A330 platform for its KC-45, which is competing against the Boeing KC-767 for a $40 billion Air Force contract. (Source: EADS, 05/12/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop/EADS plans to build the KC-45 in Mobile, Ala., if it wins the contract.