Science & Tech · AI · 3 hrs ago
AI cockpit assistant completes 20 hours on three US Air Force tankers
Beacon AI’s Murdock assistant flew about 20 hours across five flights aboard three U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft in August and September 2026.
The demonstrations began at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and continued at two other airfields, including a civilian airport.
The software advises pilots but does not control the aircraft; pilots remain responsible for decisions and retain control.
Murdock reads flight data and gives recommendations through an onboard interface, while its cloud platform uses information gathered across flights to help develop software updates.
The flights tested the system in real operating conditions, giving Beacon data from different aircraft, airfields and procedures.
The demonstrations were supported by the Air Force’s AFWERX program, amid wider defense interest in cockpit assistance that does not take control from pilots.
Beacon plans to add support for more stages of flight, including mission scheduling and postflight debriefing; any move into commercial passenger aircraft would require further testing and regulatory approval.
Beacon AI’s Murdock cockpit assistant completed five flights aboard three operational U.S. Air Force KC-46A Pegasus tankers.
The system logged approximately 20 hours during demonstrations in August and September 2026.
Murdock provided advisory information to pilots but did not control the aircraft.
The flights took place under an Air Force AFWERX agreement with Air Mobility Command.
- Who
- Beacon AI and U.S. Air Force aircrews.
- What
- Murdock, an AI cockpit assistant, completed five flights and approximately 20 hours aboard tanker aircraft. It provided advice without controlling the aircraft.
- When
- August and September 2026.
- Where
- Aboard KC-46A Pegasus tankers, with flights beginning at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and continuing at two other airfields.
- Why
- To test how software can support pilots and to gather operational flight data.
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Murdock logged approximately 20 hours across five flights aboard three operational KC-46A tankers.
Flights began at Emerald Flag at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and continued at two other airfields.
- Aircraft
- Three KC-46A Pegasus tankers
- Flights
- Five
- Flight time
- Approximately 20 hours
- Demonstration period
- August and September 2026
- Program
- AFWERX Tactical Funding Increase agreement with Air Mobility Command