Boom and receptacle: USAF KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15s (twin fins) and two F-16s, on an aerial refueling training mission

IAF Il-76 MD refueling two Mirage 2000 fighter jets

German Luftwaffe Airbus A310 MRTT ready for refueling, shown at the Paris Air Show 2007

Aerial refueling, also called Air refueling or in-flight refueling (IFR) or air-to-air refueling (AAR) or (in the UK) tanking. Note that AAR also stands for "After-Action Review" (de-briefing) and in aviation, IFR also stands for "Instrument Flight Rules" (flight by instrument references only such as in cloud ). United States Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15 Eagles (twin fins) and two F-16 Fighting Falcons, on an aerial refueling training mission. ... United States Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker, two F-15 Eagles (twin fins) and two F-16 Fighting Falcons, on an aerial refueling training mission. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 183 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source:[1] Image by B. Harry From http://www. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 183 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source:[1] Image by B. Harry From http://www. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting aerial warfare and securing the Indian airspace. ... An Il-76 serving Aeroflot The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename Candid, is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe and Africa. ... A Mirage 2000 of the Indian Air Force The Mirage 2000 is a French-built multi-role fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 800 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 800 pixel, file size: 81 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or   (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... While operated for some time as a pure transport aircraft the Airbus A310 is now being offered as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) through the addition of an aerial refueling capability. ... A Mirage 2000-5 at the Paris Air Show The Paris Air Show (Salon International de lAéronautique et de lEspace, Paris-Le Bourget) is an international trade fair for the aerospace business. ...

Air refueling is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight. This allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer and, more important, to extend its range and therefore those of its weapons or its deployment radius. A series of air refuelings can give range limited only by crew fatigue and engineering factors such as engine oil consumption. Fuel imports in 2005 Fuel is any material that is capable of releasing energy when its chemical or physical structure is altered. ... Look up aircraft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Because the receiver aircraft can be topped up with extra fuel in the air, air refueling can allow a takeoff with a greater payload which could be weapons, cargo or personnel: the maximum takeoff weight is maintained by balancing the larger payload with carriage of less fuel. Alternatively, a shorter takeoff roll can be achieved because takeoff can be at a lighter weight before refuelling once airborne (as with the US SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft). A Ryanair Boeing 737 takes off from Bristol International Airport, England Takeoff is the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air (see flight), usually on a runway. ... In cargo transport, the payload is the valuable contents of the vehicle. ... The Lockheed SR-71, unofficially known as the Blackbird, is a long-range, advanced, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft by Lockheeds Skunk works, which was also responsible for the U-2 and many other advanced aircraft. ...

Usually, the aircraft providing the fuel is specially designed for the task, although refuelling pods can be fitted to existing aircraft designs if the "probe and drogue" system is to be used (see later). The cost of the refueling equipment on both tanker and receiver aircraft and the specialised aircraft handling of the aircraft to be refueled (very close "line astern" formation flying) has resulted in the activity only being used in military operations. There is no known regular civilian in-flight refueling activity. In large-scale military operations, air refueling is extensively used. For instance, in the 1991 conflict with Iraq over its occupation of Kuwait and the 2003 war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, all coalition air sorties were air-refueled except for a few short-range ground attack sorties in the Kuwait area.

History and development

Capt. Lowell H. Smith and Lt. John P. Richter, performing first mid-air refueling (1923).

An F-101A Voodoo (top right), B-66 Destroyer (top left) and F-100D Super Sabre refuel from a KB-50J tanker. Taken in the early 1960s

Some of the earliest experiments in aerial refueling took place in the 1920s, when it was as simple as two slow-flying aircraft flying in formation, with a hose run down from a hand-held fuel tank on one aircraft and placed into the usual fuel filler of the other. A DH-4B biplane remained aloft with mid-air refueling for 37 hours on June 27, 1923. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2771x2125, 660 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial refueling Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2771x2125, 660 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial refueling Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Please see Captain for other uses of the term Captain is a military rank used in nearly every army and navy of the world. ... Lowell H. Smith (1892—November 4, 1945) was a pioneer American airman, who perfomed the first mid-air refueling (along with Lt. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary or police officer rank. ... John Fritz Richter (born March 12, 1937) is a retired American basketball player. ... F-101A Voodoo, B-66 Destroyer and F-100D Super Sabre refuelling from a KB50J tanker (a modified B-29 Superfortress). ... F-101A Voodoo, B-66 Destroyer and F-100D Super Sabre refuelling from a KB50J tanker (a modified B-29 Superfortress). ... The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was a supersonic military aircraft flown by the USAF and the RCAF. Initially designed as a long-range bomber escort (known as a penetration fighter) for the Strategic Air Command, the Voodoo served in a variety of other roles, including the fighter bomber, all-weather... The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a Strategic Air Command light bomber based on the United States Navys A3D Skywarrior, and intended to replace the Douglas B-26 Invader. ... F-100A Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a jet fighter aircraft that served with the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and with the ANG until 1979. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and other improvements. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... The Airco DH.4 was a British two seat biplane day-bomber of the First World War. ... Hs123 biplane. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Development was rapid. In 1929, a group of U. S. Army Air Corps fliers, led by then Major Carl Spaatz, set an endurance record of over 150 hours with the Question Mark over Los Angeles. In 1930, the Hunter brothers set a new record of 553 hours 40 minutes over Chicago. Aerial refuelling remained a very dangerous process until 1935 when brothers Fred and Al Key demonstrated the first spill-free refueling nozzle, designed by A. D. Hunter^[1]. They exceeded the Hunters' record by nearly 100 hours in a Curtiss Robin monoplane, staying aloft for more than 27 days.^[2] It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Carl Spaatz Carl Andrew Tooey Spaatz (June 28, 1891 – July 14, 1974) was an American general in World War II. Carl Andrew Spatz was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. ... The Question Mark being refueled by a Douglas C-1 Question Mark was a modified Fokker C-2 airplane, flown by aviators from the United States Army Air Corps to experiment with aerial refueling. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... On June 4, 1935, The Flying Keys, brothers Fred and Algene Key, lifted off in a borrowed Curtiss Robin monoplane named Ole Miss from Meridian, Mississippis airport. ... 1928 Curtiss Robin advertisement. ...

In the UK, Alan Cobham pioneered research on the probe and drogue method, and gave public demonstrations of the system. In 1934, he founded Flight Refuelling Ltd. (FRL), and by 1938 had used an automatic system to refuel aircraft as large as the Short Empire flying boat Cambria from an Armstrong Whitworth AW.23.^[2] Handley Page Harrows were used to refuel the Empire flying boats for regular transatlantic crossings. FRL still exists as part of Cobham plc. Sir Alan Cobham (May 6, 1894- October 21, 1973) - British Aviation Pioneer. ... Cobham plc (LSE: COB) is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England. ... The Short Empire or S.23 was a passenger and mail carrying flying boat, of the 1930s and 1940s, which flew between Britain and British colonies in Africa, Asia and Australia. ... The Armstrong Whitworth AW.23 was a prototype bomber/transport aircraft produced to specification C.26/31 for the British Air Ministry by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. ... The name Harrow was given to two aircraft manufactured by Handley Page: Handley Page H.P.31 Harrow, a single-engine torpedo-bomber of the 1920s Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow, a twin-engine heavy bomber of the 1930s Category: ... Cobham plc is a British manufacturing company based in Wimborne. ...

Nowadays, specialized tanker aircraft have equipment specially designed for the task of offloading fuel to the receiver aircraft, based on Hunter's design, even at the higher speeds modern jet aircraft typically need to remain airborne. A tanker is an aircraft used for in-flight refuelling. ... Jet aircraft are aircrafts with jet engines. ...

In 1949 from February 26 to March 3 an American B-50 Superfortress "Lucky Lady II" flew non-stop around the World in 94 hours, 1 min., a feat made possible by 3 aerial refuelings from 4 pairs of KB-29M tankers. The flight started and ended at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas with the refuelings accomplished over West Africa, the Pacific ocean near Guam and between Hawaii and the West Coast. This first nonstop circumnavigation of the globe proved that vast distances and geographical barriers were no longer an obstacle to military air power, thanks to aerial refueling. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1949: Events Aerolíneas Argentinas established. ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... Carswell Air Force Base is located in Tarrant County, Texas. ... Nickname: Motto: Where the West Begins Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Country United States State Texas Counties Tarrant and Denton Government  - Mayor Michael J. Moncrief Area  - City  298. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ...

Aerial refueling systems

The two most common approaches for making the union between the two aircraft are the boom and receptacle system (sometimes called flying boom) and the probe and drogue system. Much less popular was the wing-to-wing system, which is no longer used.

Boom and receptacle (The Boeing "Flying Boom")

USAF C-5 approaches a KC-135R

USAF KC-135R boom operator view

In the late 1940s, General Curtis LeMay, commander of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), asked Boeing to develop a refueling system that could transfer fuel at a higher rate than had been possible with earlier systems using flexible hoses. Boeing engineers came up with the concept of the “Flying Boom,” system that is described in more detail below. Image File history File links Galaxy_03. ... Image File history File links Galaxy_03. ... The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3008x1960, 481 KB) OVER IRAQ (AFPN) -- From a KC-135 Stratotanker, Tech. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3008x1960, 481 KB) OVER IRAQ (AFPN) -- From a KC-135 Stratotanker, Tech. ...

The B-29 was the first to employ the flying boom system, and between 1950 and 1951, 116 original B-29s, designated KB-29Ps, were converted at the Boeing plant at Renton, Washington State.

Boeing went on to develop the world’s first production aerial tanker, the KC-97 Stratotanker, a piston-engined Boeing Stratocruiser (USAF designation C-97 StratoFreighter) with a Boeing-developed flying boom and extra kerosene (jet fuel) tanks feeding the boom. The Stratocruiser airliner itself was developed from the B-29 bomber after World War II. In the KC-97, the mixed gasoline/kerosene fuel system was clearly not desirable and it was obvious that a jet-powered tanker aircraft would be the next development, having a single type of fuel for both its own engines and for passing to receiver aircraft. It was no surprise that, after the KC-97, Boeing receiving contracts from the USAF to build Jet Tankers based on the Boeing 707 airframe. This modified B707 became the KC135 Stratotanker and 732 were built. Modern air refueling as we now know it, was born. The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a strategic tanker aircraft. ...

The Boeing "flying boom" is a long, rigid, hollow shaft fitted to the rear of the aircraft, in which is a tube that can pass fuel. The end of the fuel tube can be exended rather like a telescope. The telescoping fuel tube has a valve at the end that mates to the "receptacle" in the receiver aircraft. The poppet valve prevents fuel from exiting the tube until "contact" is properly made between the tanker's boom valve and the receiver's receptacle. Mounted on the hollow shaft surrounding the fuel tube are small wings, or ruddevators (visible in the picture, in a "V" shape). This enables the boom operator to "fly" the boom into alignment between the end of the boom and the receptacle. Once aligned, the fuel tube is hydraulically extended to effect "contact". Toggles in the receptacle engage the valve assembly, holding it locked during fuel transfer. The receiver's receptacle is fitted on the top of the aircraft, usually on its centerline behind the pilot. A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. ... WING ESPN 1410 is a commercial AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating with 5,000 watts at 1410 kHz with studios, offices and transmitter located on David Road in Kettering. ... Table of Hydraulics and Hydrostatics, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ...

Receiver positioning is aided with either voice or visual commands from the crewmember operating the boom, called a "boom operator" or "boomer". In the USAF, the boomer is usually an enlisted aircrew member. The boom operator faces toward the rear (i.e., toward the receiver aircraft) during refueling, lying prone in the contact position, the boomer flies the nozzle into alignment with the receptacle by positioning the ruddevators with a control stick. At the same time, the boomer extends the nozzle at the end of the fuel tube into contact with the conical receptacle using the extension control lever. Pumps operated by the pilot on the tanker drive fuel through the fuel tube into the receiver. The boom operators refueling station in a U.S. Air Force KC-10. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ... An electrically driven pump (electropump) for waterworks near the Hengsteysee, Germany. ...

While in contact, the PDIs show the boom's position to the receiver pilot so that he can fly close line astern formation to remain within the air refueling envelope. In addition, the inner extensible tube of the boom has color-coded stripes to aid the receiver pilot in keeping it extended to a proper length. The air refueling envelope is slightly different for each receiver; it is based either on the boom's mechanical limits, or to prevent the receiver from moving into a position where any portion of the boom might contact the receiver outside the receptacle while in contact. When fueling is complete, either aircraft (typically the boomer) can effect a disconnect by sending an electrical signal through the boom, disengaging the toggles in the receptacle. An automatic pressure disconnect can also trigger this disengagement when the receiver's fuel system has been filled to capacity. The boomer retracts the fuel tube from the receptacle and "flies" the boom clear of the receiver. While not in use, the boom is "flown" up to the bottom of the tanker to minimise drag, and latched in position.

The primary advantage of the boom method is a high fuel flow rate (up to 1000 US gallons per minute for the KC-135 tanker). This is because the diameter of the fuel pipe in the flying boom was greater than could be achieved by the rival "probe and drogue" system (see below) at the time. High fuel transfer rate was considered vital for the Strategic Air Command bomber fleet when this system was selected because pilot fatigue during the refueling operation was a concern. Receiver pilots need high concentration to fly close line-astern formation throughout the procedure. Another feature of the boom system is the cost of the "boomer".^[clarify], In addition to the US Air Force, the boom system is in use by the Netherlands (KDC-10), Israel (modified Boeing 707) and Turkey (ex-USAF KC-135R). Possibly the largest tanker aircraft, Iran took delivery of Boeing 747 tankers equipped with a single boom and three drogues in early 1976, but the current status of these aircraft is unknown. The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2020s. ... For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ...

The European EADS group has developed a boom refueling system using "fly-by-wire" controls that is compatible with other boom systems. This is offered on modified European Airbus type aircraft that are configured as tankers.

The simpler and cheaper probe-and-drogue system is used by many other military organizations including the US Navy and Marine Corps and many non-US forces and can be more easily fitted to existing tanker and receiver aircraft than the flying boom system. The lower flow rates then available from the lower pressure and limited diameter of the hose used in the probe-and-drogue system result in longer refueling times compared to the Flying Boom. This is not a problem, however, for smaller aircraft which do not use as much fuel as larger aircraft. See below for more on probe-and-drogue refueling systems.

[1] [2] [3]

Probe and drogue

Tornado GR4 refuelling from the drogue of an RAF VC10 tanker over Iraq

S-3 Viking buddy tanker with drogue deployed

The drogue (or para-drogue), sometimes called a basket, is a fitting resembling a plastic shuttlecock, attached, at its narrow end, with a valve, to a flexible hose, running from the hose drum unit (HDU) or boom to drogue adapter (BDA). The receiver has a probe, which is a rigid arm placed on the aircraft's nose or, in some aircraft, to the side of the nose. At the end of the probe is a valve that is closed until it mates with the drogue, after which it opens and allows fuel to pass from tanker to receiver. The valves in the probe and drogue that are most commonly used are to a NATO standard and were originally developed by the company Flight Refuelling Limited. This standardisation of refuelling valves makes the probe and drogue system worldwide. Drogue-equipped tanker aircraft from many nations can refuel probe-equipped aircraft from others. The NATO standard probe system incorporates shear rivets that attach the refueling valve to the end of the probe. This is so that, if a large side-load or up-and-down load develops while in contact with the drogue, the rivets shear and the fuel valve breaks off rather than the probe itself being structurally damaged. Since the probe has a strong structural attachment to the aircraft fuselage, this also prevents the possibility of damage to the fuselage of the receiver aircraft itself. A so-called "broken probe" (actually a broken fuel valve, as described above) may happen if poor flying technique is used by the receiver pilot, or in turbulence. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (839x552, 35 KB) Iraq (Jan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (839x552, 35 KB) Iraq (Jan. ... The Tornado GR4 is a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) used for low-level penetration to attack ground targets. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers in the 1960s. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 621 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial refueling Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2100x1500, 621 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Aerial refueling Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... An S-3B Viking launches from the catapult aboard USS Abraham Lincoln The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a United States Navy jet aircraft used to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and provide surveillance of surface shipping. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Receiver Flying Technique

The tanker aircraft flies straight and level (S&L), and the drogue attached to its hose (flexible fuel pipe) is allowed to trail out behind and below the tanker under normal aerodynamic forces. The pilot of the receiver aircraft must then use his normal flight controls to "fly" his refueling probe directly into the basket so that the basket and probe refuel valves lock together so that fuel can flow from one to the other. This requires a closure rate of at least two knots or so, less gives a so-called "soft contact" in which the valves are not properly locked and fuel can spill out, for instance over the receiver aircraft's windscreen. Too high a contact speed is dangerous and can lead to a bow developing in the hose that can cause a side-load on the valve at the end of the probe, severing its mounting on the probe, ending the refueling and maybe leading to a diversion to another airfield. The optimal approach to the drogue is from behind and below (not level with it) along the line of the hang of the drogue below its Hose Drum Unit (HDU). A good rule for the receiver pilot is, when formating behind and below the tanker, the receiver is positioned so that the drogue is visually in line with the Hose Drum Unit on the tanker. This juxtaposition of drogue and HDU as a slow approach to the drogue is made ensures that, after initial contact, the velocity vector of the receiver aircraft is in the right direction to slowly push the drogue towards the tanker at the correct angle without further flight path adjustments, allowing the hose to reel a short distance on to the HDU drum, thereby opening the main fuel valve of the tanker and allowing refueling to start. Because of the significant inertia of large aircraft when approaching the drogue, the above technique is normally followed. However, with lighter and more manouevrable fighter aircraft there is the temptation to "rush" at the drogue from the same level. This sometimes leads to a so-called "broken probe" in which the shear rivets that attach the short refuelling valve to the probe itself, break. Note that if this happens, the probe itself should not be damaged, just the fuel valve at the end. Sometimes the valve is retained in the tanker drogue and prevents further refueling from that drogue until removed ready for the next sortie. With proper training of receiver pilots, this sort of event should be minimised.

Hose Drum Units (HDUs)

Here, a long hose (flexible fuel pipe) connects the drogue to the unit in the tanker aircraft that is to supply the fuel, the Hose Drum Unit, HDU or "Hoodoo". The hose and drogue can be either reeled in completely to the HDU for transit flight, or "trailed" to the full length of the hose so that the receiver aircraft can approach to make a refueling "contact". After initial contact, when the hose and drogue is pushed forward by the receiver by a certain distance (typically, a few feet), the hose is reeled slowly back onto its drum in the HDU and the tanker's main refuelling valve opens to allow fuel to flow to the drogue under the appropriate pressure for air refueling. The hose is aerodynamically "balanced" so as to make it easier (even, possible) for the receiver aircraft. If the natural aerodynamic drag on the drogue was, for instance, 1000 units, unless something is done, the receiver aircraft would have to push forward on the drogue with this large force, the flexible hose would bend rather than reel in and the side-load would cause the refuelling valve at the end of the probe to break off. To avoid this, a motor in the HDU provides a balacing force to the aerodynamic drag of the drogue. If the drag force is 1000, the HDU balacing force might be 950, resulting in only a small forward force being needed from the probe after initial contact to reel in the hose and open the tanker's main refueling valve. In this situation, after initial contact, the velocity vector of the receiver carries it further towards the tanker, the hose slowly reels in to the HDU, the fuel valve opens and the receiver throttles so as not to get too close to the tanker.

Probe-and-drogue systems in service

The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and other NATO nations use the probe and drogue system rather than the boom. Unlike the boom system, multiple aircraft can be refuelled simultaneously if more than one drogue unit is fitted to the tanker aircraft, typically by pods fitted under each wing. A centre-line HDU is also available and allows more fuel flow than wing pods. Drogue-equipped tankers can therefore have up to three refueling points, centre-line and one on each wing.

The probe-and-drogue method allows aircraft not originally designed as tankers to be converted by attaching a refueling pod. The pod contains a drogue and hose reel. Where similar types of fighter ground-attack aircraft are pod-equipped (compared to large transport aircraft) this is known as "buddy tanking" or "buddy-buddy" refueling.

The probe-and-drogue system was first used in service on late models of the KB-29M Superfortress. Its first use in combat occurred on May 29, 1952 when twelve F-84s were refueled during a mission from Itazuke, Japan to Sariwon, North Korea. Also in the 1950s, the UK Royal Air Force converted two squadrons of Valiant bombers to the tanker role by mounting a Hose Drum Unit (HDU) in the bomb bay. These were 214 Squadron at Marham, operational in 1957 and 90 Squadron at Honingon, operational in 1958. In the 1960s the Valiant was replaced by Victor tankers that had up to three refueling points, one under the fuselage and a pod under each wing. <B-29 Superfortress A B-29 being flown for training at Maxwell Air Force Base. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republic Aviation F-84 Thunderjet was an American-built turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. ...

The probe-and drogue system is not compatible with flying boom equipment and this is a problem for military planners where mixed forces are involved. For this reason, during the Gulf War of 1991, the USAF considered converting boom systems to probe-and-drogue. Combatants United States Saudi Arabia & US-led Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 240 killed in action, 776 wounded in action, 30 taken prisoner Est. ... Seal of the Air Force. ...

Advancements in the probe and drogue system now allow a fuel flow comparable to the boom method. In some cases, such as the KC-135FR in service with the French Air Force, refueling-boom equipped tankers can be converted to an all probe-and-drogue system. The KC-135FR retains its articulated boom, but has a hose at the end of it instead of the usual nozzle. The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ...

Boom Drogue Adapter units

Here a short hose is attached to a flying boom system and has a drogue on the end. In this system, the tanker boom operator (the "boomer") "flies" the boom into a position which experience has shown is optimal for the receiver aircraft. After the receiver pilot calls "contact" the boom operator starts the refueling. The receiver maintains his position during refueling, keeping an eye on the hose to make sure he remains in a suitable position. When fueling is complete, he slowly backs off until the probe refueling valve disconnects from the valve in the basket.

Multiple refueling systems

Some boom-carrying tankers have special hoses which can be attached before flight to the end of the boom to allow them to also refuel probe-equipped aircraft. Other tankers may have both a boom and one or more complete hose-and-drogue systems. Where these are attached to the wings, the system is known as the Multi-Point Refueling System or MPRS. The USAF KC-10 has both a flying boom and also a separate hose and drogue system by the Sargent Fletcher company. Both are on the aircraft centreline at the tail of the aircraft and so only one system can be used at once. However, such a system allows all types of probe- and receptacle-equipped aircraft to be refueled including large aircraft that are probe-equipped and do not have the manoeuverability to take fuel from an off-centreline wing pod.

Wing-to-wing refueling

In this method, similar to the probe and drogue method but more complicated, the tanker aircraft released a flexible hose from its wingtip. An aircraft, flying beside it, had to catch the hose with a special lock under its wingtip. After the hose was locked, and the connection was established, the fuel was pumped. It was used on a small number of Soviet Tu-4 and Tu-16 only (the tanker variant was Tu-16Z). The Tupolev Tu-4 was a piston-engined Soviet strategic bomber which served the Soviet Air Force from the late 1940s to mid 1960s. ... The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO codename: Badger) was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. ...

Grappling systems

Some historic systems used for pioneering aerial refueling used the grappling method, where the tanker aircraft unreeled the fuel hose and the receiver aircraft would grapple the hose midair, reel it in and connect it so that fuel can be transferred either with the assistance of pumps or simply by gravity feed. This was the method used on the Question Mark endurance flight in 1929, and also the first ever non-stop around-the-world flight by Strategic Air Command's B-50 nuclear-capable bomber nicknamed the Lucky Lady II in 1949. siphon principle A siphon (also spelled syphon) is a continuous tube that allows liquid to drain from a reservoir through an intermediate point that is higher than the reservoir, the up-slope flow being driven only by hydrostatic pressure without any need for pumping. ... The Question Mark being refueled by a Douglas C-1 Question Mark was a modified Fokker C-2 airplane, flown by aviators from the United States Army Air Corps to experiment with aerial refueling. ... For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945 lifted nuclear fallout some 18 km (60,000 feet) above the epicenter. ...

Strategic and tactical implications

An F-15E Strike Eagle disengages from a KC-10 Extender

A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, California, refuels an F-22 Raptor

Download high resolution version (1960x3008, 2052 KB)Wingtip vortices are visible trailing from an F-15 as it desengages from midair refueling with a KC-10 Extender during Operation Iraqi Freedom. ... Download high resolution version (1960x3008, 2052 KB)Wingtip vortices are visible trailing from an F-15 as it desengages from midair refueling with a KC-10 Extender during Operation Iraqi Freedom. ... The F-15E Strike Eagle is a modern United States all-weather strike fighter, designed for long-range interdiction of enemy ground targets deep behind enemy lines. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... Download high resolution version (600x711, 114 KB)A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, California, refuels an F/A-22 Raptor. ... Download high resolution version (600x711, 114 KB)A KC-10 Extender from Travis Air Force Base, California, refuels an F/A-22 Raptor. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... Travis Air Force Base (IATA: SUU, ICAO: KSUU) is a United States Air Force air base in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. ... The F-22 Raptor is a fifth generation fighter aircraft which utilizes fourth generation Stealth technology. ...

Strategic uses and considerations

The development of the KC-97 and KC-135 Stratotankers was pushed by the Cold War requirement of the United States to be able to keep fleets of nuclear-armed B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers airborne around-the-clock either to threaten retaliation against a Soviet strike for mutual assured destruction, or to bomb the U.S.S.R. first had it been ordered to do so by the President. The bombers would fly orbits around their assigned positions from which they were to enter Soviet airspace if they received the order, and the tankers would refill the bombers' fuel tanks so that they could keep a force in the air 24 hours a day, and still have enough fuel to reach their targets in the Soviet Union. This also ensured that a first strike against the bombers' airfields could not obliterate the U.S.'s ability to retaliate by bomber. A noted example of refueling used in this manner in the movies can be seen in the opening credits of Dr. Strangelove (a fiction movie, but the refueling scenes are from actual B-52s refueling from KC-135s). The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a strategic tanker aircraft. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, in 1945 lifted nuclear fallout some 18 km (60,000 feet) above the epicenter. ... The Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber was a medium range and size bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the Soviet Union. ... The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, jet strategic bomber flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955. ... A strategic bomber is a large bomber designed to drop massive amounts of ordinance on a single target, generally in carpet bombing style. ... Soviet redirects here. ... Mutual assured destruction (MAD) is a doctrine of military strategy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by one of two opposing sides would effectively result in the destruction of both the attacker and the defender. ... In nuclear strategy, first strike capability is a countrys ability to defeat another nuclear power by destroying its arsenal to the point where the attacking country can survive the weakened retaliation. ... For other uses, see Airport (disambiguation). ... Strangelove redirects here. ...

In the UK, in 1958 Valiant tankers were developed with one HDU mounted in the bomb-bay. Valiant tankers were used to demonstrate radius of action by refueling a Valiant bomber non-stop from UK to Singapore in 1960 and a Vulcan bomber to Australia in 1961. Other UK exercises involving refueling from Valiant tankers included Javelin and Lightning fighters, also Vulcan and Victor bombers. For instance, in 1962 a squadron of Javelin air defence aircraft was refueled in stages from the UK to India and back (exercise "Shiksha"). After the retirement of the Valiant in 1965, the Handley Page Victor took over the UK refueling role and had three hoses (HDUs). These were a fuselage-mounted HDU and a refuelling pod on each wing. The centre hose could refuel any probe-equipped aircraft, the wing pods could refuel the more manoeuverable flighter/ground attack types.

A byproduct of this development effort and the building of large numbers of tankers was that these tankers were also available to refuel cargo aircraft, fighter aircraft, and ground attack aircraft, in addition to bombers, for ferrying to distant theaters of operations. This was much used during the Vietnam War, when many aircraft could not have covered the transoceanic distances without aerial refueling, even with intermediate bases in Hawaii and Okinawa. In addition to allowing the transport of the aircraft themselves, the cargo aircraft could also carry matériel, supplies, and personnel to Vietnam without landing to refuel. KC-135s were also frequently used for refueling of air combat missions from air bases in Thailand. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... Matériel (from the French for equipment or hardware, related to the word material) is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management. ...

The USAF SR-71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft made frequent use of air-to-air refueling. Its home base was at Beale AFB in central California, but to make actual reconnaissance missions over enemy territory, it was necessary to deploy the craft to forward bases in Okinawa or in Europe. Hence, there were lots of trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic flights. Also, for safe takeoff performance, it was necessary for the SR-71 to take off with less-than-full fuel tanks. The SR-71 would then rendezvous with a specially modified KC-135 to top up its tanks. Then the SR-71 was capable of flying for many hours on its own. This tanker variant was necessary because the SR-71 used a special fuel, JP-7, with a very high flash point (needed to withstand the high skin temperatures of Mach 3+ cruising flight) which could not be used in other aircraft engines and the KC-135Q was equipped with a separate internal bladder system to carry and deliver this non-standard fuel. The Lockheed SR-71 was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed YF-12A and A-12 aircraft by the Lockheed Skunk Works. ... Beale Air Force Base is a base located in Yuba County, California. ... A Ryanair Boeing 737 takes off from Bristol International Airport, England Takeoff is the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground (taxiing) to flying in the air (see flight), usually on a runway. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2020s. ... JP-7 (Jet Propellant 7, MIL-T-38219) is a jet fuel developed by the U.S. Air Force for use in supersonic aircraft because of its high flashpoint and thermal stability. ... The flash point of a flammable liquid is the lowest temperature at which it can form an ignitable mixture with air. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2020s. ...

Tactical uses and considerations

The capability of refueling after takeoff conveys two considerable tactical advantages to those forces with access to tankers. It allows attack aircraft, fighters, and bombers to reach distances they could not without refueling, and patrol aircraft to remain airborne longer. Additionally, since an aircraft's maximum takeoff weight is generally less than the maximum weight with which it can stay airborne, this allows an aircraft to take off with only a partial fuel load, and carry additional payload weight instead. Then, after reaching altitude, the aircraft's tanks can be topped up by a tanker, bringing it up to its maximum flight weight. In cargo transport, the payload is the valuable contents of the vehicle. ...

Vietnam War

It was common for USAF fighter-bombers flying from Thailand to North Vietnam to refuel from KC-135s en-route to their target. Besides extending their range, this enabled the F-105s and F-4 Phantoms to carry more bombs and rockets. Tankers were also available for refueling on the way back if necessary. In addition to ferrying aircraft across the Pacific Ocean, aerial refueling made it possible for battle damaged fighters, with heavily leaking fuel tanks, to hook up to the tankers and let the tanker feed its engine(s) until the point where they could glide to the base and land. This saved numerous aircraft. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a single-seat, supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. ... The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ...

The US Navy frequently used carrier-based aerial tankers like the KA-3 Skywarrior to refuel Navy and Marine aircraft such as the F-4, A-4, A-6, and A-7. This was particularly useful when a pilot returning from an airstrike was having difficulty landing and was running low on jet fuel. This gave him fuel for more attempts at landing for a successful "trap" on an aircraft carrier. The KA-3 could also refuel fighters on extended Combat Air Patrol and E-2 Hawkeye Airborne Electronic Warning aircraft on extended patrol. USMC jets based in South Vietnam and Thailand also used USMC KC-130 Hercules transports for air-to-air refueling on missions. The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy, and among the longest serving; it entered service in the mid 1950s and was not retired until 1991. ...

Falklands War/South Atlantic War

Aerial refueling played a vital role in all of the Argentine successful attacks against the Royal Navy. The Argentine Air Force had only 2 KC-130H Hercules available and they were used to refuel both Air Force and Navy A-4 Skyhawks and Navy Super Etendards in their Exocet strikes. The Hercules on several occasions approached the islands (where the Sea Harriers were in patrol) to search and guide the A-4s in their returning flights. On one of those flights (callsign Jaguar) one of the KC-130s went to rescue a damaged A-4 and delivered 39,000 lb of fuel while carrying it to its airfield at San Julian. On the other hand, the Mirage IIIs and Daggers lack of air refuelling capability prevented them from achieving better results. The Mirages were unable to reach the islands with a strike payload, and the Daggers could do so only for a 5 minute strike flight. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina or FAA) is the national aviation branch of the armed forces of Argentina. ... The A-4 Skyhawk was an attack aircraft originally designed to operate from United States Navy aircraft carriers. ... The Dassault Super Etendard is a French carrier-borne strike fighter in service with the French and Argentine Navy. ... The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, and airplanes. ... See also Hawker Siddeley Harrier The BAE SYSTEMS Harrier FA2 is the latest development of the Sea Harrier fighter/attack aircraft which entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980. ... Puerto San Julián, also known historically as Port St Julian, is a natural harbour in Patagonia in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina located at 49°20′S 67°45′W, near the entrance to the Strait of Magellan. ... Former South African Air Force Mirage IIICZ The Dassault Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed in France during the 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. ... The IAI Nesher is an Israeli-built military aircraft based on the French Mirage 5 Dassault had developed the Mirage 5 at the request of the Israelis. ...

On the British side, air refueling was carried out by the Handley Page Victor K.2 and after the Argentine surrender by modified C-130 Hercules tankers. These aircraft aided deployments from the UK to the Ascension Island staging post in the Atlantic and further deployments south of bomber, transport and maritime patrol aircraft. The most famous refueling missions were the "Operation Black Buck" sorties which involved 14 Victor tankers refueling single Avro Vulcan bombers to attack the Argentine-captured airfield at Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands. They attempted to knock out the Port Stanley runway, blocking the Argentine C-130 Hercules re-inforcement operations. The raids were the longest-range bombing raids in history until surpassed by the B-52 in the 1991 Gulf War and later B-2 flights. The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... An Avro Vulcan, as used during Operation Black Buck During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 6 were a series of six extremely long-range bombing attacks by Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers against Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands. ... The Avro Vulcan was a British delta wing subsonic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. ... B-52 can refer to the following: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft A hairstyle popular in the 1950s and 1960s, named after the aircraft A rock band, The B-52s, named after the hairstyle A cocktail This is a disambiguation page &#8212; a navigational aid which... Combatants United States Saudi Arabia & US-led Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 240 killed in action, 776 wounded in action, 30 taken prisoner Est. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ...

The Victor tankers, retired in 1993, were replaced in RAF service by Lockheed L-1011 and Vickers VC10 transports which were bought second-hand and fitted as tankers. The L-1011s, converted by Marshall Aerospace, and VC10s, converted by British Aerospace, can refuel any aircraft fitted with the NATO standard probe system. The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced ell-ten-eleven), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers in the 1960s. ... The Marshall companies have been internationally associated with aerospace engineering for over ninety years. ...

Libya

During Operation El Dorado Canyon, several F-111 Aardvark fighter-bombers stationed in the United Kingdom utilized aerial refuelling to enable them to operate non-stop against targets in Libya. Since the aircraft were not allowed to cross either French or Spanish airspace, they had to make a detour around the Iberian Peninsula and stay above International waters during all transit. Operation El Dorado Canyon was the name of the joint United States Air Force and Navy air-strikes against Libya on April 15, 1986. ... The General Dynamics F-111 is a medium-range strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and tactical strike aircraft designed in the 1960s. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ...

Persian Gulf War

F-14 Tomcats from the Red Sea and Persian Gulf await their turn refuelling from a KC-10A over Iraq during Desert Storm.

During the time of Operation Desert Shield, the military build up to the Persian Gulf War, US Air Force KC-135s, McDonnell Douglas KC-10As, and USMC KC-130 Hercules aircraft were deployed to forward air bases in England, Diego Garcia, and Saudia Arabia. Aircraft stationed in Saudi Arabia normally maintained an orbit in the Iraq-Saudi Arabia neutral zone, informally known as "Frisbee", and refueled Coalition Aircraft whenever necessary. Two side by side tracks over central Saudi Arabia called "Prune" and "Raisin" featured 2-4 basket equipped KC-135 tankers each and were used by Navy aircraft from the Red Sea Battle Force. Large Navy strike groups from the Red Sea would send A-6 tankers to the Prune and Raisin tracks ahead of the strike aircraft arriving to top off and take up station to the right of the tankers thereby providing an additional tanking point. RAF VC-10 tankers were also used to refuel coalition aircraft and were popular for their docile basket behavior and having three point refuelling stations. An additional track was maintained close to the northwest border for the EA-3 ELINT aircraft and any Navy aircraft needing emergency fuel. These 24-hour air-refueling zone helped make the intense air campaign during Operation Desert Storm possible. An additional 24/7 tanker presence was maintained over the Red Sea itself to refuel Navy F-14 Tomcats maintaining Combat Air Patrol tracks. During the last week of the conflict, KC-10 tankers moved inside Iraq to support barrier CAP missions set up to block Iraqi fighters from escaping to Iran. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1860x2810, 2620 KB) Photo by HJ by Navy through DOD on DVIC website I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1860x2810, 2620 KB) Photo by HJ by Navy through DOD on DVIC website I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. ... Combatants United States Saudi Arabia & US-led Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 240 killed in action, 776 wounded in action, 30 taken prisoner Est. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem specific to England — the United Kingdom anthem is God Save the Queen. ... Diego Garcia ( ) is an atoll located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) south of Indias southern coast. ... The Iraq–Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone The Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone was an area on the border between Saudi Arabia and Iraq within which the border between the two countries had not been settled. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers (part of the British Aircraft Corporation) in the 1960s. ... Combat air patrol (CAP) is a type of defensive mission for fighter aircraft, in which they guard a designated site, either a fixed site on land, ships at sea, or less commonly support aircraft such as aerial tankers. ...

On January 16-17 1991, the first combat sortie of Desert Storm, and the longest combat sortie in history, at that time, was launched from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Seven B-52Gs flew a thirty-five hour mission to the Persian Gulf region, and back, to launch Boeing Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) with the surprise use of conventional warheads. All of this was made possible by in-flight refueling, and by the secret switch away from nuclear warheads on the ALCMs. Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base that lies at the foot of the Shreveport/Barksdale Highway Bridge in Bossier City, Louisiana. ...

An extremely useful aerial tanker in Desert Storm was the USAF KC-10A Extender. Besides being larger than the other tankers, the KC-10A is equipped with the USAF "boom" refueling and also the "probe-and-drogue" system. This makes it possible for the KC-10A to refuel USAF aircraft, and also USMC and US Navy jets that use the "probe-and-drogue" system, and also allied aircraft, such as those from the UK and Saudi Arabia. KC-135's may be equipped with a drogue depending on the mission profile.

The KC-10A was originally designed for the support of NATO in Europe by the USAF. In the case of armed conflict, with a full jet fuel load, the KC-10A is capable of flying from a base on the east coast of the US or Canada, flying nonstop to Europe, transferring a considerable amount of fuel in air-to-air refueling, and then returning to its home base, all without landing anywhere. This could have been very useful in the case when numerous European bases become disabled by Warsaw Pact strikes in Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain.

Kosovo War

The USAF provided nearly 90 percent of the NATO tanker force, 112 active and 63 Reserve-component KC-135 and KC-10 tankers.[4] Tankers were also provided from Britain’s RAF (Tristars and VC-10s), French Air Force and Turkish Air Force KC-135s, Spanish Air Force KC-130 Hercules and Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10s. Although some European nations provided air-refuelling aircraft, the conflict highlighted the problem Europe has with a lack of such aircraft and dependence on the United States for tanker support during a major operation. Some European nations sought to address this lack of capability, such as the Italian Air Force purchase of the Boeing KC-767, but there is still a huge difference in air-refuelling capability between the US and Europe. Seal of the Air Force. ... RAF is an three letter acronym for: Royal Air Force -- the Air Force of the United Kingdom (see also Air Ministry) Red Army Faction (Rote Armee Fraktion) -- a German terror organisation Rigas Autobusu Fabrika -- a factory making buses in Riga, Latvia Rapid Action Force in India Računarski Fakultet RAF... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced ell-ten-eleven), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers (part of the British Aircraft Corporation) in the 1960s. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... Turkish Air Force (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft, first manufactured in 1956 and expected to remain in service into the 2020s. ... The Spanish Air Force (Spanish: Ejército del Aire; literally, Army of the Air) is the air force of Spain. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Image:Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... The Boeing KC-767 Global Tanker Transport Aircraft (GTTA) is an early 21st century military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft developed from the Boeing 767-200. ...

Aerial Rearming

In 2003 the U.S. Air Force and Far Technologies applied secretly for patents on mid-air rearming of aircraft. The technique proposed is similar in many respects to airborne refueling, with a number of notable modifications. The air borne rearming system comprises a rearming plane with an internal bomb storage area and loading device consisting of a large aft door and a modified remote-driven robotic arm (boom) equipped with a day-night camera as well as sensors. On the attack aircraft, a special pylon to receive the arms from the boom. At present financial and technological problems stand in the way of aerial rearming; mainly the need for an automatic system to perform the rearm currently under development for aerial refueling [5].

Media

FA-18 Automated Aerial Refueling. ... Dryden Flight Research Centers fleet of aircraft in 1993. ... ReBoot character, see Megabyte (ReBoot). ... Ogg is an open standard for a free container format for digital multimedia, unrestricted by software patents and designed for efficient streaming and manipulation. ... Theora is a video codec being developed by the Xiph. ...

HIFR (Helicopter In-Flight Refueling)

raising a hose from ship

hose connect and refueling

A variation of aerial refueling is when a naval helicopter approaches a warship (not necessarily suited for landing operations) and receives fuel through the cabin while hovering. Image File history File links HIFR(MVC-006S). ... Image File history File links HIFR(MVC-006S). ... Image File history File links HIFR(MVC-007S). ... Image File history File links HIFR(MVC-007S). ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades. ...

Note: Alternatively, some helicopters equipped with a probe extending out the front can be refueled from a drogue-equipped tanker aircraft in a similar manner to fixed-wing aircraft by matching a high forward speed for a helicopter to a slow speed for the fixed-wing tanker. Therefore a less ambiguous meaning for the abbreviation HIFR would be HOVER In-Flight Refueling.

Note also: The transfer of cargo while an aircraft is hovering is known within the US Navy and the United States Coast Guard as Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP). The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin USCG HH-60J JayHawk The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces and is involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ...

Tanker aircraft by refueling system

Boom and receiver

A B-2 Spirit prepares to refuel from a KC-135R

• KB-29P (No longer in service)
  • adapted from the B-29 Superfortress bomber
• KC-97 Stratotanker (No longer in service)
  • derived from the C-97 Stratofreighter
• KC-135 Stratotanker
  • related to the Boeing 707 airliner
  • also used by the French Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and Turkish Air Force
  • boom can be fitted preflight with a drogue adapter. French Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers use the probe and drogue system
  • MPRS models will have two drogue hose reels (pods) at the wingtips
  • Modified Boeing 707 tankers users, past and present, include the Royal Australian Air Force, Brazilian Air Force, Venezuelan Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Italian Air Force and South African Air Force
• KC-10 Extender
  • adapted from the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airliner
  • also has a retractable hose and drogue that can be selected in-flight
  • The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates two KDC-10s - former civil aircraft modified to a similar standard to the KC-10
• KC-767
  • adapted from the Boeing 767 airliner (Not yet in service - In developmental flight test as of Oct06)
  • to be used by the Italian Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force
  • All US models, if ordered, will have fitting for MPRS
• Airbus A330 MRTT
  • development of Airbus A330-200 airliner. Australian aircraft will be equipped with both a flying boom and probe-and-drogue units to accommodate both RAAF F-111s as well as F/A-18s and will be known as KC-30B. UK aircraft will be probe-and-drogue only.

A B-2 Spirit, from the 509th Bomb Wing, prepares to refuel from a 319th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker, during a training mission over the central United States, Sept. ... A B-2 Spirit, from the 509th Bomb Wing, prepares to refuel from a 319th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker, during a training mission over the central United States, Sept. ... The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth bomber able to drop conventional and nuclear weapons. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a strategic tanker aircraft. ... The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was developed towards the end of World War II by fitting an enlarged upper fuselage onto a lower fuselage and wings which were essentially the same as the B-29 Superfortress. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft. ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队; Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) was established in 1968. ... Turkish Air Force (Turkish: Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces and one of the three national uniformed services. ... The Air Force of Venezuela, since 2006: Aviación Militar Venezolana (previously Fuerza Aérea Venezolana, FAV) is a professional armed body designed to defend Venezuelas sovereignty and airspace. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHaḤalal, Air and Space Division, commonly known as חיל האוויר Hel HaAvir) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. ... The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... The KC-10 Extender is an air-to-air tanker aircraft in service with the United States Air Force derived from the civilian DC-10-30 airliner. ... The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is an American three-engine medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. ... Image:Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. ... The Boeing KC-767 is a next generation military aerial refueling and strategic transport aircraft developed primarily for the USAF from the Boeing 767-200. ... American Airlines Boeing 767-300 at Gatwick Airport, England. ... The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is the Italian air force. ... The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (kanji:航空自衛隊 koukuu jieitai) is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. ... The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a next generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft based on the Airbus A330-200. ... The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ... A U.S. Air Force F-111 The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (the nickname was unofficial for most of its lifespan, but it was officially named Aardvark at its retirement ceremony for the United States Air Force) is a long-range strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and tactical strike aircraft. ... The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ...

Probe and drogue

An Australian Boeing 707 refueling a US Navy F/A-18 in 2002

• Airbus A330
  • RAF Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, due in service around 2008.
• Airbus A310 MRTT
  • 4 for Luftwaffe
  • 2 for Canadian Forces (as CC-150 Polaris)
• Airbus A400M, future strategic transport and tanker aircraft due in service around 2009.
• Avro Lancaster (retired)
  • Refueled Gloster Meteors in 1940's
• Avro Lincoln^[3] (retired)
  • Refueled Gloster Meteors in 1940's
• Avro Vulcan (No longer in service)
  • specially modified for operations during the Falklands War
• Blackburn Buccaneer (No longer in service)
  • Equipped for buddy tanking
• Boeing 707
  • Used by the Brazilian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, South African Air Force and others
  • French Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers use the probe and drogue system.
• KB-29M (No longer in service)
  • adapted from the B-29 Superfortress; earlier versions used a "grappling hose" system; later models used a true probe-and-drogue.
• KB-50 (No longer in service)
  • adapted from the B-50 Superfortress, an improved model of the B-29 Superfortress.
• HC-130 Hercules and KC-130 Hercules, especially in United States Marine Corps service as well as KC-130s in Argentine Air Force, Brazilian Air Force, Israel Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and Spanish Air Force service.
  • variants of the C-130 Hercules
• Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
  • K1 and KC1 variants deployed by the Royal Air Force
• Vickers Valiant (No longer in service)
• Vickers VC-10
• Handley Page Victor (No longer in service)
• KA-3 (No longer in service)
• A-4 Skyhawk
  • Equipped for buddy tanking with several nations - in US use known as the KA-4.
• KA-6 (No longer in service)
  • normal A-6 also equipped for buddy tanking
• KA-7 (No longer in service)
  • equipped for buddy tanking
• S-3 Viking
  • The current primary carrier-based tanker, equipped for buddy tanking
• F/A-18E/F
  • equipped for buddy refueling as "Strike tankers"
• Il-78 Midas
  • Standard Russian tanker, adapted from Il-76
  • Variants of this aircraft has also been deployed by the Algerian, Indian anf Chinese Air Forces
• Myasishchev M-4-2
  • adapted from the M-4 bomber
• Myasishchev 3MS-2
  • adapted from the 3M bomber
• Tu-16N (and Tu-16Z with wing-to-wing system)
• Su-24M
  • equipped for buddy refueling with the UPAZ container as "Strike tankers"
• Su-33
  • equipped for buddy refueling

Image File history File links 33_Sqn. ... Image File history File links 33_Sqn. ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ... The Airbus A330 is a large-capacity, wide-body, medium-to-long-range commercial passenger airliner manufactured by EADS (Airbus S.A.S.). It was developed at the same time as the four-engined A340. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) will provide aerial refueling (AR) and Air Transport (AT) for the Royal Air Force using a version of the Airbus A330 MRTT. The Royal Australian Air Force announced in April 2004 that they had selected Airbus to provide tankers to a similar specification. ... The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range widebody airliner manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. It was Airbus second model to be introduced, and is a shortened derivative of the A300. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or   (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the unified armed forces of Canada. ... CC-150 is the designation for the civilian Airbus A310-300s which have been converted for use as the primary long distance transport airplane for the Canadian Armed Forces. ... The Airbus A400M is a four-engine turboprop aircraft, designed by Airbus Military to meet the demand of European nations for military airlift. ... The Avro Lancaster was a British four-engine Second World War bomber aircraft made initially by Avro for the British Royal Air Force (RAF). ... The Gloster Meteor was the Allies first operational jet fighter. ... A line up of Avro Lincoln B.IIs (B.2) The Avro 694 Lincoln was a British 4-engined heavy bomber of World War II, first flying on June 9, 1944 and entering service in August 1945, too late to be used in action. ... The Gloster Meteor was the Allies first operational jet fighter. ... The Avro Vulcan was a British delta wing subsonic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1953 until 1984. ... Combatants Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner 75 fixed... The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British attack aircraft serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces and one of the three national uniformed services. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling tanker aircraft. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engine heavy bomber propeller aircraft flown by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and other military organizations afterwards. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was basically a post-World War II revision of the wartime B-29 Superfortress with new, more powerful 3,500-HP Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and numerous detail improvements. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina or FAA) is the national aviation branch of the armed forces of Argentina. ... The Brazilian Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Brasileira, FAB) is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces and one of the three national uniformed services. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF) (Hebrew: &#1495;&#1497;&#1500; &#1492;&#1488;&#1493;&#1493;&#1497;&#1512; Heyl haAvir) is the Air branch of the Israel Defense Force. ... The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队; Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) was established in 1968. ... The Spanish Air Force (Spanish: Ejército del Aire; literally, Army of the Air) is the air force of Spain. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ... The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, commonly referred to as just L-1011 (pronounced ell-ten-eleven), was the third widebody passenger jet airliner to enter operation, following the Boeing 747 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Vickers Valiant was a British four-jet bomber, once part of the RAFs V bomber force. ... The VC-10 airliner was designed and built by Vickers (part of the British Aircraft Corporation) in the 1960s. ... The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft, one of the V bombers intended to carry Britains nuclear arsenal. ... The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy, and among the longest serving; it entered service in the mid 1950s and was not retired until 1991. ... The A-4 Skyhawk was an attack aircraft originally designed to operate from United States Navy aircraft carriers. ... The A-6 Intruder is a twin-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. ... The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft design that was introduced to replace the A-4 Skyhawk in US Naval service and based on the successful supersonic F-8 Crusader aircraft produced by Chance Vought. ... An S-3B Viking launches from the catapult aboard USS Abraham Lincoln The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a United States Navy jet aircraft used to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and provide surveillance of surface shipping. ... Four F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron Forty One (VFA-41) fly over the Western Pacific Ocean in a stack formation. ... The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined inflight refuelling tanker based on the Il-76. ... An Il-76 serving Aeroflot The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename Candid, is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe and Africa. ... The Myasishchev M-4 Molot (Russian: Hammer, NATO reporting name Bison) is a four-engined strategic bomber, designed by Vladimir Myasishchev and developed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to provide a bomber capable of attacking targets in North America. ... Myasishchev M-4 The Myasishchev M-4 Molot (Russian: Hammer, NATO reporting name Bison) is a four-engined strategic bomber, designed by Vladimir Myasishchev and manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1950s to provide a bomber capable of attacking targets in North America. ... Tupolev Tu-16 3-view The Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO codename: Badger) was a twin-engine jet bomber used by the Soviet Union. ... Su-24 Fencer of the Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) was the Soviet Unions most advanced all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft in the 1970s and 1980s. ... The Sukhoi Su-33 (NATO reporting name Flanker-D) is a naval military aircraft produced by Russian firm Sukhoi in 1982 for aircraft carriers. ...

Popular culture

• The film The Starfighters has a great deal of footage of F-104 Starfighter jet fighters refueling. This was extensively mocked when The Starfighters showed up on Mystery Science Theater 3000 as episode #612.
• The movie Dr. Strangelove from 1964 has genuine footage of a "boom and receptacle" operation between USAF KC-135 Stratotanker and B-52 Stratofortress in turbulent air.
• The movie The Final Countdown from 1980 has genuine footage of a "probe and drogue" operation between US Navy KA-6 Intruder and F-14 Tomcats from USS Nimitz.
• The OVA series Macross Zero shows a VF-0 variable fighter refueling from a KS-3 tanker aircraft.
• In the film Air Force One, a US Air Force KC-10 Extender refuels the hijacked Presidential aircraft, "Air Force One", a specially converted Boeing 747.
• In the 2005 film Stealth the futuristic F/A-37 Talons refuel at an automated aerial refueling station.

The Starfighters is a light-toned film about training in the Air Force released in 1964. ... The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1958 until 1967 and continued in service with the Air National Guard until it was phased out in 1975. ... Mystery Science Theater 3000, often abbreviated MST3K, is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc. ... Strangelove redirects here. ... The Final Countdown is also the name of an album and song by the rock band Europe. ... USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier in the United States Navy, the lead ship of its class. ... Original Video Animation ), abbreviated OVA ), is a term used for anime titles that are released direct-to-video, without prior showings on TV or in theaters. ... Macross Zero is an anime prequel OVA to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross consisting of five episodes. ... In the fictional world of Macross, the VF-0 was an advanced prototype for the VF-1 Valkyrie which served as a flight test unit and later in 2008 as a front-line fighter, before the Valkyries mass production in November 2008. ... A Variable Fighter is one of a series of transforming aerospace fighters primarily designed by Studio Nues Shoji Kawamori and Kazutake Miyatake for the animated series Macross and later related projects. ... An S-3B Viking launches from the catapult aboard USS Abraham Lincoln The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a United States Navy jet aircraft used to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and provide surveillance of surface shipping. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hijackers inside flightdeck of TWA Flight 847 Aircraft hijacking (also known as skyjacking and aircraft piracy) is the take-over of an aircraft, by a person or group, usually armed. ... For other uses, see Air Force One (disambiguation). ... The Boeing 747, commonly nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, is a long-haul, widebody commercial airliner manufactured by Boeing. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Stealth is a 2005 action/adventure thriller starring Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Aerial refueling

• Photo aerial tanking 1929
• Aerial tanking history
• Airborne rearming - A comprehensive article including a video.
• Aerial Refuelling on APA
• Official KC-30 Tanker website

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

See also

Regarding spacecraft: see Docking maneuver. The Space Shuttle Discovery as seen from the International Space Station. ... A space rendezvous between two spacecraft, often between a spacecraft and a space station, is an orbital maneuver where the two arrive at the same orbit, make the orbital velocities the same, and bring them together (an approach maneuver, taxiing maneuver); it may or may not include docking. ...

References

1. ^ There is no indication that any relationship exists between A.D. Hunter and the Hunter brothers.
2. ^ ^{a b} History of Aviation, Part 19, 1938
3. ^ https://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/75yrs_inflight_refueling.pdf