Boeing considers 777 tanker, wing

The Boeing Co.’s 777, not its 787, seemed to be the hot topic at the Paris Air Show.

Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing defense, said the company could offer the U.S. Air Force either a tanker based on its 767 or its 777 jet.

Boeing offered its KC-767 in the last round, which the Pentagon eventually halted.

The Air Force is expected to release its requirements this summer.

“We don’t know if there’s going to be a requirement for a larger airplane or a smaller airplane,” Albaugh said.

So Boeing has now dubbed its tanker the KC-7A7. If the Air Force seeks a smaller, capable flexible airplane, Boeing will offer the KC-767.

“If they want a larger airplane with maximum fuel offload, then we’ve got the 777,” Albaugh said.

Boeing has several media briefings from Paris available as podcasts at its air show Web page.

Additionally, the company is looking at designing a new wing for the 777 to keep the plane competitive with Airbus’ A350, according to Aviation Week and Bloomberg.

Analysts have been asking Boeing when it plans to redesign the 777 essentially since Airbus launched its A350 XWB. The Airbus mostly composite plane is designed to compete more with the 777 than the new 787.