The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced the successful first flight of a (K)DC-10 modified with Boeing's Cockpit Upgrade Program (CUP). A flight crew from the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), Boeing and Fokker Services completed the four-hour flight of the RNLAF aircraft at the Fokker Services facility in the Netherlands on July 22.

The CUP modification, which is being performed at Fokker Services, provides a new flight-management system, display system and improved communications. The RNLAF has a contract with Fokker Services and Boeing to upgrade three aircraft: two (K)DC-10 air refueling tankers and one DC-10 transport. The contract was awarded in May 2005. Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for fall 2008.

"We had a very impressive first flight and we are pleased with the results," said Mark Rowland, (K)DC-10 CUP program manager for Boeing. "This success verifies that the testing done in the Boeing System Integration Laboratory and during ground testing was thorough enough to find the system's issues prior to the flight."

Lt. Col. Peter Louwerse, aircraft commander and RNLAF 334th Squadron commander, said he was impressed by the way the modification interfaced with the aircraft's existing analog systems. "I am very pleased with the CUP modification, and the performance of the display system was outstanding," he added.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.