In-Flight Refueling

[ExAF]

Ar

Having done both basket and boom, I think the basket is much easier than boom. (at least when the AR door is behind the cockpit and not visible from the cockpit) Having said that, I still don't think I would put AR in the "difficult" column for a fighter-type aircraft. It just takes a little more concentration and formation flying.

 

[bagasticks]

At night, in the weather, tanking off the Iron Maiden... is not for Air Force boom guys! In all seriousness, the basket is on the end of a 6' hose, so you have about a 2' box in which you need to keep your jet. We (Hornets) can only take about 1K #'s a minute too, so you can be in the basket upwards of 10 minutes. When the boom is moving, it's bumpy, the sun is in your eyes, etc... that 180 # metal basket can snap your probe right off. It can be a grueling 10 minutes, especially when you have to do it 3+ times/mission.

I've heard the pointy nose USAF guys can actually couple up to the tanker, and let the autopilot fly. Is that true?

i would have to agree with this (from the other guys perspective). as a boomer, I hated hornets, easy to wrap the hose around the probe, beat the crap out of the canopy etc. .As a hornet plane captain, the planes always came back beat the f up and i would spend hours out there with the scrubby bubbles. . . oh yeah and navy dudes. . . the boom doesnt lock into a fixed position while in trail (used to get asked all the time "boom, can you lock the boom?)

I did once have #4 of a flight of light-grays up at cope thunder latch onto the boom and i couldnt punch him off. when i told the flight lead that i had delayed disconnect and that 4 was done, lead said "standby". . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .he's fixed, and will be buying the beer tonight.

 

[Goose17]

yes - close

How about AR in a helicopter behind a HC/MC-130..

Lots of spinning parts...and danger close.

I used to "pass gas" in an HC/MC-130P before switching to MC-130Hs. The helos were definitely close. The -47 really use to push us around - you could feel them back there. Of course, we were slightly above stall speed, at night and low to the ground to boot. Ahh the memories.

 

[Scrapdog]

At night, in the weather, tanking off the Iron Maiden... is not for Air Force boom guys! In all seriousness, the basket is on the end of a 6' hose, so you have about a 2' box in which you need to keep your jet. We (Hornets) can only take about 1K #'s a minute too, so you can be in the basket upwards of 10 minutes. When the boom is moving, it's bumpy, the sun is in your eyes, etc... that 180 # metal basket can snap your probe right off. It can be a grueling 10 minutes, especially when you have to do it 3+ times/mission.

I've heard the pointy nose USAF guys can actually couple up to the tanker, and let the autopilot fly. Is that true?

Come on Sig, don't be a tool. We use an autopilot? Give me a break...hopefully as a fighter guy like yourself (and I use that term loosely from your hotbunking background) you're saying that tongue-in-cheek. If you honestly are asking that - your SA is much lower than I thought.

 

[SIG600]

Come on Sig, don't be a tool. We use an autopilot? Give me a break...hopefully as a fighter guy like yourself (and I use that term loosely from your hotbunking background) you're saying that tongue-in-cheek. If you honestly are asking that - your SA is much lower than I thought.

Heard it from the Mudhen guys when I was in Bagram. They said it's a datalink system to couple up. You guys get money to buy all kinds of sh1t, I wouldn't be surprised! Hell, we have a datalink system that will autoland on the boat, coupling up to a tanker wouldn't be that magical.

 

[bagasticks]

Heard it from the Mudhen guys when I was in Bagram. They said it's a datalink system to couple up. You guys get money to buy all kinds of sh1t, I wouldn't be surprised! Hell, we have a datalink system that will autoland on the boat, coupling up to a tanker wouldn't be that magical.

must have been a WSO and he probably honestly thinks thats how it works. . . . probably as a result of some pointy-head buttons he pushes in the back. .

 

[Mongoose69]

Hook, line, and sinker...

Heard it from the Mudhen guys when I was in Bagram. They said it's a datalink system to couple up. You guys get money to buy all kinds of sh1t, I wouldn't be surprised! Hell, we have a datalink system that will autoland on the boat, coupling up to a tanker wouldn't be that magical.

I bet they were laughing their a$$es off afterwards too. Did you know gullible isn't in the dictionary either?

Cheers,
-Jason

 

[SIG600]

I bet they were laughing their a$$es off afterwards too. Did you know gullible isn't in the dictionary either?

Cheers,
-Jason

Like I said, you guys have the money to buy dumber crap, it was believable!

 

[Mud Eagle]

Heard it from the Mudhen guys when I was in Bagram. They said it's a datalink system to couple up.

They were pulling your chain bigtime.

Or, maybe they were wearing their ascots too tight and were having delusions due to hypoxia.

 

[FlyingHigh262]

How much practice does it take to become proficient at aerial refueling from the receiving end? What are the challenges?

Thanks

nice profile pic!