Air Transport

Boeing has completed the first aerial refueling of the 737-700 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia.

The event marks the first aerial refueling of a member of the Boeing 737 family, a company spokesman says.

The 737-700 Wedgetail received fuel from a Boeing KC-135 (shown pictured) and Boeing KC-10.

©Boeing

Boeing is scheduled to deliver the first Wedgetail aircraft to Australia more than two years late in July, but is likely to be further delayed to November.

Boeing confirms that the programme is "driving toward the second half of 2009" for first delivery, the spokesman says.

The aircraft will be restricted to training missions until the electronic warfare system is delivered in 2010.