With the delivery of the Air Force’s new KC-46 Pegasus tanker expected any day now, McConnell Air Force Base airmen are preparing for its arrival — with the help of a replica of its main cargo deck.

In a series of photographs the Kansas base posted online, fuselage trainer instructors are shown walking boom operators from the 344th Air Refueling Squadron through the process of moving and securing cargo in the 120- by 25-feet cargo deck replica. Boom operators on the KC-46 will play a bigger role in cargo transportation than they did with the older KC-135 Stratotanker.

The photos, taken Dec. 4, show boom operators helping instructors guide equipment such as a 60K loader — which uses a conveyor system to move up to six pallets of cargo and has a maximum payload of 60,000 pounds — onto the fuselage trainer, and securing cargo on the recreated cargo deck. The KC-46 will be able to secure 18 pallets of cargo in place.

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Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benson, 344th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator helps instructors guide equipment onto a KC-46 Pegasus fuselage trainer Dec. 4, 2018, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. (Airman 1st Class Alan Ricker/Air Force)

The fuselage trainer instructors also guided cargo during training exercises.

KC-46 pilots from the 344th also were trained on the tanker’s preflight and operation system using a simulator Dec. 6.

Boeing was originally supposed to deliver the KC-46 in August 2017, but failed. The delivery was pushed back to October 2018, but that was also missed.

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The Air Force has not yet said when the Pegasus will be delivered, but it is expected soon.

In an October conference, Air Mobility Command head Gen. Maryanne Miller said that initial operating capability would likely occur a year after delivery, and full operational capability is expected two years after delivery.

But the KC-46 has been plagued by troubles. In October, it had five Category-1 deficiencies, including problems with the remote visual system used to control refueling and the boom.

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.

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