N781BA

The airframe bearing registration N781BA is a Boeing 767-derived freighter/tanker testbed, identified as a Boeing 767-2C with manufacturer serial number 41859. The aircraft is owned and held by Boeing Co (a corporation located in Renton, WA, US) and is registered in the US; its status reflects company custody rather than commercial airline service. Notable registry actions include retention on Boeing’s corporate books for developmental and tanker-test roles, and the airframe is configured and maintained to support both test and limited operational missions. The airframe has been retained by Boeing Co for company use and conversion testing rather than being placed with an external operator.

This specific 767-2C is arranged in a tanker/test configuration with a crew compartment furnished with multiple crew seats; the tanker area can accommodate personnel or palletized cargo in tanker/cargo convertible layouts. The avionics fit is a modern digital flightdeck derived from 787-style LCD displays and the 767-400ER/KC-46 digital flightdeck configuration, supporting contemporary test instrumentation and flight-operations monitoring. Typical missions for this airframe reflect long-range ferry, test sorties and tanker trials utilizing its transoceanic range and high cruise speed; the configuration supports mixed crewed test missions and palletized payload handling from Boeing’s Renton-based maintenance and logistics support. Maintenance considerations for this airframe emphasize systems commonality with 767-400ER/KC-46 upgrades and the PW4062 engine support chain.

As a member of the 767-2C family, this airframe occupies a performance niche combining long-range capability (over 6,300 nm) with a relatively small onboard crew/passenger capacity for a tanker/test role. With twin PW4062 engines delivering 62,000 lbf each and a service ceiling of 43,000 ft, the platform suits extended-range test and tanker duties rather than high-density passenger transport. Buyer and operator interest in such conversions typically centers on specialized military or corporate tanker/cargo requirements; resale and maintenance planning prioritize airframe structural life, avionics commonality with modern digital flightdecks, and continued PW4062 engine support.