Aerial refueling - Knowledge

1517:, SR-71s had to be forward-deployed to Europe and Japan prior to flying actual reconnaissance missions. These trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic flights during deployment were impossible without aerial refueling. The SR-71's designers traded takeoff performance for better high-speed, high-altitude performance, necessitating takeoff with less-than-full fuel tanks from even the longest runways. Once airborne, the Blackbird would accelerate to supersonic speed using afterburners to facilitate structural heating and expansion. The magnitude of temperature changes experienced by the SR-71, from parked to its maximum speed, resulted in significant expansion of its structural parts in cruise flight. To allow for the expansion, the Blackbird's parts had to fit loosely when cold, so loosely, in fact, that the Blackbird constantly leaked fuel before heating expanded the airframe enough to seal its fuel tanks. Following the supersonic dash the SR-71 would then rendezvous with a tanker to fill its now nearly empty tanks before proceeding on its mission. This was referred to as the 1392: 2587: 1200: 1227:

initial contact, the hose and drogue is pushed forward by the receiver a certain distance (typically, a few feet), and the hose is reeled slowly back onto its drum in the HDU. This opens the tanker's main refueling valve allowing fuel to flow to the drogue under the appropriate pressure (assuming the tanker crew has energized the pump). Tension on the hose is aerodynamically 'balanced' by a motor in the HDU so that as the receiver aircraft moves fore and aft, the hose retracts and extends, thus preventing bends in the hose that would cause undue side loads on the probe. Fuel flow is typically indicated by illumination of a green light near the HDU. If the hose is pushed in too far or not far enough, a cutoff switch will inhibit fuel flow, which is typically accompanied by an amber light. Disengagement is commanded by the tanker pilot with a red light.

585: 1264: 1140: 970:. 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. The 230 mph (370 km/h) cruise speed of the slower, piston-engined KC-97 was also a serious issue, as using it as an aerial tanker forced the newer jet-powered military aircraft to slow down to mate with the tanker's boom, a highly serious issue with the newer supersonic aircraft coming into service at that time, which could force such receiving aircraft in some situations to slow down enough to approach their 672:, but the war ended before the aircraft could be deployed. After the war ended, the USAF bought a small number of FRL looped-hose units and fitted a number of B-29s as tankers to refuel specially equipped B-29s and later B-50s. The USAF made only one major change in the system used by the RAF. The USAF version had auto-coupling of the refueling nozzle, where the leader line with the refueling hose is pulled to the receiver aircraft and a refueling receptacle on the belly of the aircraft, allowing high-altitude air-to-air refueling and doing away with the aircraft having to fly to a lower altitude to be depressurized so a crew member could manually do the coupling. 1670: 2706: 2109: 1294: 1938: 2259: 1542: 206: 68: 2897: 1285:

contact with the rigid boom. If not pushed far enough, the probe will disengage, halting fueling. Because of a much smaller position-keeping tolerance, staying properly connected to a KC-135 adapter unit is considerably more difficult than staying in a traditional hose/drogue configuration. When fueling is complete, the receiver carefully backs off until the probe refueling valve disconnects from the valve in the basket. Off center disengagements, like engagements, can cause the drogue to "prang" the probe and/or strike the aircraft's fuselage.

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the US, whose air force is also taking its first deliveries of the aircraft type, has refused to move forward the deliveries while supporting Israel's deterrence; the Jpost editor writing "The US State Department approved the possible sale of up to eight KC-46 tanker aircraft and related equipment to Israel for an estimated cost of $ 2.4 billion last March(i.e. 5/2020), marking the first time that Washington has allowed Jerusalem to buy new tankers."

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that use the "probe-and-drogue" system, and also allied aircraft, such as those from the UK and Saudi Arabia. KC-135s may be equipped with a drogue depending on the mission profile. With a full jet fuel load, the KC-10A is capable of flying from a base on the American east coast, flying nonstop to Europe, transferring a considerable amount of fuel to other aircraft, and returning to its home base without landing anywhere else.

2303: 2237: 2370: 1991:, including the Air National Guard, commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling by holding "Operation Centennial Contact." Aircraft from various bases conducted aerial refueling exercises across the United States, as well conducting flyovers in 50 states. 152 aircraft were slated to participate in the operation, with 82 tanker aircraft providing refueling support to 70 other participating aircraft. 27: 2436: 2768: 2193: 2694: 2325: 2480: 2746: 2502: 2392: 1438:, or to bomb the USSR first had it been ordered to do so. 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 1652:. Mirage IVAs also often operated in pairs, with one aircraft carrying a weapon and the other carrying fuel tanks and a buddy refueling pack, allowing it to refuel its partner en route to the target. While able to strike at numerous targets inside of the Soviet Union, the inability for the Mirage IV to return from some missions had been a point of controversy during the aircraft's design phase. 1309:. Both are on the aircraft centerline at the tail of the aircraft, so only one can be used at once. However, such a system allows all types of probe- and receptacle-equipped aircraft to be refueled in a single mission, without landing to install an adapter. Other tankers are equipped with hose-and-drogue attachments that do not interfere with the operation of the centerline boom: many 1565:", because they convey considerable tactical advantages. Primarily, aerial refueling adds to the combat radius of attack, fighter and bombers aircraft, and allows patrol aircraft to remain airborne longer, thereby reducing the number of aircraft necessary to accomplish a given mission. Aerial refueling can also mitigate basing issues that might otherwise place limitations on combat 1521:(for "Launch To Tanker Rendezvous") profile. LTTR had the added advantage of providing an operational test of the Blackbird's refueling capability within minutes after takeoff, enabling a Return-To-Launch-Site abort capability if necessary. At its most efficient altitude and speed, the Blackbird was capable of flying for many hours without refueling. The SR-71 used a special fuel, 3945:(p. 5) Certes, la posture méditerranéenne ne pouvait totalement résoudre la question de l'autonomie après le largage de la bombe à gravité AN-21 puis AN-22, et il était imaginé, au pire, des vols «kamikaze» jusqu'aux cibles russes mais également des profils de vols de retour avec planification des zones de crash, avec l'abandon de l'équipage au-dessus de territoires alliés. 1337:(the tanker variant was Tu-16Z). used a wing-to-wing method. Similar to the probe-and-drogue method but more complicated, the tanker aircraft released a flexible hose from its wingtip. An aircraft flying alongside 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. 1219:

into the basket. This requires a closure rate of about two knots (walking speed) to push the hose several feet into the HDU and solidly couple the probe and drogue. Too little closure will cause an incomplete connection and no fuel flow (or occasionally leaking fuel). Too much closure is dangerous because it can trigger a strong transverse

1108:, attached at its narrow end (like the "cork" nose of a shuttlecock) with a valve to a flexible hose. The drogue stabilizes the hose in flight and provides a funnel to aid insertion of the receiver aircraft probe into the hose. The hose connects to a Hose Drum Unit (HDU). When not in use, the hose/drogue is reeled completely into the HDU. 1569:. Combat aircraft operating from airfields with shorter runways must limit their takeoff weight, which could mean a choice between range (fuel) and combat payload (munitions). Aerial refueling, however, eliminates many of these basing difficulties because a combat aircraft can take off with a full combat payload and refuel immediately. 1628:

continuous airborne patrols were flown by the RAF for a time, these were deemed to be untenable, and the refueling mechanisms across the Vulcan fleet largely fell into disuse during the 1960s. When the RAF chose to optimise its bomber fleet away from high-altitude flight and towards low-level penetration missions, bombers such as the

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suffering structural damage. 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. Sometimes the valve is retained in the tanker drogue and prevents further refueling from that drogue until removed during ground maintenance.

4598: 1606:, would operate largely or entirely out of bases in the continental United States while maintaining strategic reach. This practice was promoted to address security concerns as well as diplomatic objections from some overseas states that did not want nuclear weapons kept on their soil. In one early demonstration of the 3966: 618:. The line was then drawn back into the tanker where the receiver's cable was connected to the refueling hose. The receiver could then haul back in its cable bringing the hose to it. Once the hose was connected, the tanker climbed sufficiently above the receiver aircraft to allow the fuel to flow under gravity. 1643:

supersonic bomber. The dimensions of this bomber was greatly determined by the viability of aerial refueling, with work on an enlarged variant of the Mirage IV ultimately being aborted in favour of a greater reliance upon aerial tanker aircraft instead. In order to refuel the Mirage IVA fleet, France

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These concerns can be addressed by drogue adapters (see section "Boom drogue adapter units" above) that allow drogue aircraft to refuel from boom-equipped aircraft, and by refuelers that are equipped with both drogue and boom units and can thus refuel both types in the same flight, such as the KC-10,

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The tanker aircraft flies straight and level and extends the hose/drogue, which is allowed to trail out behind and below the tanker under normal aerodynamic forces. The pilot of the receiver aircraft extends the probe (if required) and uses normal flight controls to "fly" the refueling probe directly

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To complete an aerial refueling, the tanker and receiver aircraft rendezvous, flying in formation. The receiver moves to a position behind the tanker, within safe limits of travel for the boom, aided by director lights or directions radioed by the boom operator. Once in position, the operator extends

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Usually, the aircraft providing the fuel is specially designed for the task, although refueling pods may be fitted to existing aircraft designs in the case of "probe-and-drogue" systems. The cost of the refueling equipment on both tanker and receiver aircraft and the specialized aircraft handling of

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with a crew of two set the world record for the longest continuous crewed flight without landing of 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes, and five seconds in 1958. A Ford truck was outfitted with a fuel pump, tank, and other paraphernalia required to support the aircraft in flight. The publicity flight for

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boom refueling tankers and has requested that the first two aircraft be fast-tracked for delivery in 2022 when they were to be delivered in 2023. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli commanders have made this request to enhance the strategic deterrence against Iran, the same article reports that

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In 1958, Valiant tankers in the UK were developed with one HDU mounted in the bomb-bay. Valiant tankers of 214 Squadron 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

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KC-135FR refueling-boom equipped tankers can be field-converted to a probe-and-drogue system using a special adapter unit. In this configuration, the tanker retains its articulated boom, but has a hose/drogue at the end of it instead of the usual nozzle. The tanker boom operator holds the boom still

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to develop a refueling system that could transfer fuel at a higher rate than had been possible with earlier systems using flexible hoses, resulting in the flying boom system. The B-29 was the first to employ the boom, and between 1950 and 1951, 116 original B-29s, designated KB-29Ps, were converted

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On 6 July 1951, the first combat air refueling of fighter-type aircraft took place over Korea. Three RF-80As launched from Taegu with the modified tip-tanks and rendezvoused with a tanker offshore of Wonsan, North Korea. Through in-flight refueling, the RF-80s effectively doubled their range, which

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strategic bomber was underway, British officials recognised that its operational flexibility could be improved by the provision of in-flight refueling equipment. Accordingly, from the 16th aircraft to be completed onwards, the Vulcan was furnished with in-flight refueling receiving equipment. While

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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 refueling pod on each wing. The center hose could refuel any probe-equipped aircraft, the wing pods

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The US Air Force fixed-wing aircraft use the flying boom system, along with Australia (KC-30A), the Netherlands (KDC-10), Israel (modified Boeing 707), Japan (KC-767), Turkey (KC-135Rs), and Iran (Boeing 707 and 747). The system allows higher fuel flow rates (up to 1,000 US gallons (3,800 L) /

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were used in the 1939 trials to perform aerial refueling of the Empire flying boats for regular transatlantic crossings. From 5 August to 1 October 1939, sixteen crossings of the Atlantic were made by Empire flying boats, with fifteen crossings using FRL's aerial refueling system. After the sixteen

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An extremely useful tanker in Desert Storm was the USAF's KC-10A Extender. Besides being larger than the other tankers deployed, the KC-10A is equipped with the USAF "boom" refueling and also the "hose-and-drogue" system, enabling it to refuel not only USAF aircraft, and also USMC and US Navy jets

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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

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approaches a warship (not necessarily suited for landing operations) and receives fuel through the cabin while hovering. Alternatively, some helicopters like the HH-60 Pave Hawk are equipped with a probe extending out the front can be refueled from a drogue-equipped tanker aircraft in a similar

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to withstand the extreme skin temperatures generated during Mach 3+ cruise flight. While JP-7 could be used by other aircraft, its burn characteristics posed problems in certain situations (such as high-altitude, emergency engine starts) that made it less than optimal for aircraft other than the

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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 or vertical load develops while in contact with the drogue, the rivets shear and the fuel valve breaks off, rather than the probe or receiver aircraft

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tankers were also used to refuel British and coalition aircraft and were popular with the US Navy for their docile basket behavior and having three point refueling stations. An additional track was maintained close to the northwest border for the E-3 AWACS aircraft and any Navy aircraft needing

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in South Vietnam. In addition to making multiple en route stops to refuel on the ground, aerial refueling was also used in this display of the type's long-range capabilities. The flight proved to be roughly four times faster than the traditional dispatching of rotorcraft to the theatre by ship.

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Normally, all the fuel aboard a tanker aircraft may be either offloaded, or burned by the tanker as necessary. To make this possible, the KC-135 fuel system incorporated gravity draining and pumps to allow moving fuel from tank to tank depending on mission needs. Mixing JP-7 with JP-4 or Jet A,

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because of its unforgiving nature. Soft drogues can be contacted slightly off center, wherein the probe is guided into the hose receptacle by the canvas drogue. The metal drogue, when contacted even slightly off center, will pivot out of place, potentially "slapping" the aircraft's fuselage and

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The optimal approach is from behind and below (not level with) the drogue. Because the drogue is relatively light (typically soft canvas webbing) and subject to aerodynamic forces, it can be pushed around by the bow wave of approaching aircraft, exacerbating engagement even in smooth air. After

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The other major difference with this system is that when contacted, the hose does not "retract" into an HDU. Instead, the hose bends depending on how far it is pushed toward the boom. If it is pushed too far, it can loop around the probe or nose of the aircraft, damage the windscreen, or cause

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Some of the earliest experiments in aerial refueling took place in the 1920s; two slow-flying aircraft flew 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. The first mid-air refueling, based on the development of

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is maintained by carrying less fuel and topping up once airborne. Aerial refueling has also been considered as a means to reduce fuel consumption on long-distance flights greater than 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). Potential fuel savings in the range of 35–40% have been

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The first use of aerial refueling in combat took place during the Korean War, involving F-84 fighter-bombers flying missions from Japanese airfields, due to Chinese-North Korean forces overrunning many of the bases for jet aircraft in South Korea, refueling from converted B-29s using the

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and remained airborne for 12 hours and 3 minutes, receiving 2,352 imperial gallons (10,690 L) of fuel in ten refuelings from a Lancaster tanker. Hornidge flew an overall distance of 3,600 mi (5,800 km), achieving a new jet endurance record. FRL still exists as part of

1925:. 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 Air Force tankers thereby providing an additional tanking point. RAF Handley Page Victor and 732:

air-to-air refueling system and today is one of the two systems chosen by air forces for air-to-air refueling, the other being the flying-boom system. In post-war trials the RAF used a modified Lancaster tanker employing the much improved probe-and-drogue system, with a modified

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The probe-and-drogue system is not compatible with flying boom equipment, creating a problem for military planners where mixed forces are involved. Incompatibility can also complicate the procurement of new systems. The Royal Canadian Air Force currently wish to purchase the

1115:, which is a rigid, protruding or pivoted retractable arm placed on the aircraft's nose or fuselage to make the connection. Most modern versions of the probe are usually designed to be retractable, and are retracted when not in use, particularly on high-speed aircraft. 1979:, an attempt to bomb the Ras Tanura oil facility in Saudi Arabia. On their way to the target, the Iraqi attack aircraft were refueled by tanker at an altitude of 100 meters. The attack ultimately failed, with two aircraft turning back and the remaining two shot down. 567:

he developed and patented his 'crossover' system in 1934, in which the tanker trailed a large hooked line that would reel in a similar dropped line from the receiver, allowing the refueling to commence. In 1935, Cobham sold off the airline Cobham Air Routes Ltd to

1756:, the Iranian Air Force maintained at least one KC 707-3J9C aerial tanker, which the Islamic Republic had inherited from the Shah's government. This was used most effectively on 4 April 1981, refueling eight IRIAF F-4 Phantoms on long-range sorties into Iraq to 1701:, 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. 1118:

At the end of the probe is a valve that is closed until it mates with the drogue's forward internal receptacle, 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

1921:, 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 989:, allowing the boom to move with the receiver aircraft. The boom contains a rigid pipe to transfer fuel. The fuel pipe ends in a nozzle with a flexible ball joint. The nozzle mates to the "receptacle" in the receiver aircraft during fuel transfer. A 1171:

that contains a hose and drogue system (HDU). Buddy stores allow fighter / bomber aircraft to be reconfigured for "buddy tanking" other aircraft. This allows an air combat force without dedicated/specialized tanker support (for instance, a

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While in contact, the receiver pilot must continue to fly within the "air refueling envelope", the area in which contact with the boom is safe. Moving outside of this envelope can damage the boom or lead to mid-air collision, for example the

1538:, which included changes to the fuel system and operating procedures preventing inadvertent inflight mixing of fuel intended for offload with fuel intended for use by the tanker. SR-71 aircraft were refueled exclusively by KC-135Q tankers. 378:. An endurance record was set by three DH-4Bs (a receiver and two tankers) on 27–28 August 1923, in which the receiver airplane remained aloft for more than 37 hours using nine mid-air refueling to transfer 687 US gallons (2,600 L) of 1254:

aerial refueling tankers. Tankers can be equipped with multipoint hose-and-drogue systems, allowing them to refuel two (or more) aircraft simultaneously, reducing time spent refueling by as much as 75% for a four-aircraft strike package.

1775:, used to refuel and extend the range of fighter bombers such as the F-15I and F-16I for deterrent and strike missions, they are nearing 60 years old and Israel does not disclose the number of tankers in their fleet. In 1985, Israeli 1052:

When the desired amount of fuel has been transferred, the two aircraft disconnect and the receiver aircraft departs the formation. When not in use, the boom is stored flush with the bottom of the tanker's fuselage to minimize drag.

1724:. This gave them 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. USMC jets based in South Vietnam and Thailand also used USMC 1904:

During the time of Operation Desert Shield, the military buildup to the Persian Gulf War, US Air Force Boeing KC-135s & McDonnell Douglas KC-10As, and USMC KC-130 Hercules aircraft were deployed to forward air bases in

1180:-based aircraft to take-off with a heavier than usual load less fuel than might be necessary for its tasking. The aircraft would then topped-up with fuel from an HDU-equipped "buddy" tanker, a method previously used by the 1930:

emergency fuel. These 24-hour air-refueling zones enabled the intense air campaign during Desert Storm. An additional 24/7 tanker presence was maintained over the Red Sea itself to refuel Navy F-14 Tomcats maintaining

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lack of air refueling 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 five-minute strike flight.

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As the 1920s progressed, greater numbers of aviation enthusiasts vied to set new aerial long-distance records, using inflight air refueling. One such enthusiast, who would revolutionize aerial refueling was Sir

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climate of the late 1940s, the ability for bombers to perform increasingly long distance missions would enable targets to be struck even from air bases on a different continent. Thus, it became commonplace for

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air-to-air refueling system borrowed from techniques patented by David Nicolson and John Lord, and was publicly demonstrated for the first time in 1935. In the system the receiver aircraft, at one time an

1964:(ALCMs) with the surprise use of conventional warheads. This attack, which successfully destroyed 85–95 percent of intended targets, would have been impossible without the support of refueling tankers. 1582:

Even as the first practical methods for aerial refueling were being developed, military planners had already envisioned what missions could be greatly enhanced by using such techniques. In the emerging

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The US was mainly concerned about transatlantic flights for faster postal service between Europe and America. In 1931 W. Irving Glover, the second assistant postmaster, wrote an extensive article for

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while the receiver aircraft flies the probe into the basket. Unlike the soft canvas basket used in most drogue systems, the adapter units use a steel basket, grimly known as the "iron maiden" by

798:, and was so successful that in June orders went out to equip all new B-50s and subsequent bombers with receiving equipment. Two dedicated air refueling units were formed on 30 June 1948: the 621:

When Cobham was developing his system, he saw the need as purely for long-range transoceanic commercial aircraft flights, but modern aerial refueling is used exclusively by military aircraft.

3970: 779:, made aerial refueling a top priority of the service. In March 1948, the USAF purchased two sets of FRL's looped-hose in-flight refueling equipment, which had been in practical use with 4215: 1872:

staging post in the Atlantic and further deployments south of bomber, transport and maritime patrol aircraft. The most famous refueling missions were the 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) "

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near the Jordanian border, destroying 27–50 Iraqi fighter jets and bombers. However, the Iranian Air Force was forced to cancel its 180-day air offensive and attempts to control Iranian

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strategic reconnaissance aircraft made frequent use of air-to-air refueling. Indeed, design considerations of the aircraft made its mission impossible without aerial refueling. Based at

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in the UK and deployed in the late 1940s and 1950s. This standardization enables drogue-equipped tanker aircraft from many nations to refuel probe-equipped aircraft from other nations.

4722: 4348: 1620:, during which 24,325 miles (21,145 nmi, 39,165 km) was covered in 45 hours 19 minutes (536.8 smph) with multiple in-flight refuelings being performed from KC-97s. 3782: 576:. Atcherly's system was bought up by Cobham's company, and with some refinement and continuous improvement through the late '30s, it became the first practical refueling system. 3338: 3282: 4405: 4302: 460:

that Cobham used for his early experiments with in-flight refueling. This craft was eventually modified by Airspeed to Cobham's specification, for a non-stop flight from

295:/physical needs and engineering factors such as engine oil consumption. Because the receiver aircraft is topped-off with extra fuel in the air, air refueling can allow a 4186: 1884:. With all the aircraft flying from Ascension, the tankers themselves needed refueling. The raids were the longest-range bombing raids in history until surpassed by the 4434: 3538: 3448: 966:) 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 1391: 512:

concerning the challenges and the need for such a regular service. In his article he even mentioned the use of aerial refueling after takeoff as a possible solution.

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a Las Vegas area hotel ended when the aircraft's performance had degraded to the point where the Cessna had difficulty climbing away from the refueling vehicle.

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aircraft have equipment specially designed for the task of offloading fuel to the receiver aircraft, based on drogue and probe, even at the higher speeds modern

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tankers of the 43d ARS. Before the mission, crews of the 43rd had experienced only a single operational air refueling contact. The flight started and ended at

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during the approach to the tanker. It was no surprise that, after the KC-97, Boeing began receiving contracts from the USAF to build jet tankers based on the

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Cobham's company FRL soon realized that their looped-hose system left much to be desired and began work on an improved system that is now commonly called the

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in the end of the nozzle prevents fuel from exiting the tube until the nozzle properly mates with the receiver's refueling receptacle. Once properly mated,

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tracks. During the conflict's final week, KC-10s moved inside Iraq to support barrier CAP missions set up to block Iraqi fighters from escaping to Iran.

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also used a hose-and-drogue system, dubbed UPAZ, and thus later Russian aircraft may be equipped with probe and drogue. The Chinese PLAF has a fleet of

783:(BOAC) since 1946, and manufacturing rights to the system. FRL also provided a year of technical assistance. The sets were immediately installed in two 4691: 2081:

company and Metrea Strategic Mobility are contracted by the US Navy. In June 2023, Metrea completed the first commercial refueling of the US Air Force.

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over Los Angeles. Between 11 June and 4 July 1930, the brothers John, Kenneth, Albert, and Walter Hunter set a new record of 553 hours 40 minutes over

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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

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On 16–17 January 1991, the first combat sortie of Operation Desert Storm, and the longest combat sortie in history at that time, was launched from

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fighters, also Vulcan and Victor bombers. For instance, in 1962 a squadron of Javelin air defense aircraft was refueled in stages from the UK to

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and 38 US gallons (140 L) of engine oil. The same crews demonstrated the utility of the technique on 25 October 1923, when a DH-4 flew from

4211: 4986: 140: 5108: 4022: 1848:) one of the KC-130s went to rescue a damaged A-4 and delivered 39,000 lb (18,000 kg) of fuel while carrying it to its airfield at 772: 3022: 4367:

Iraqi Perspectives Project Phase II Um Al-Ma'arik (The Mother of All Battles): Operational and Strategic Insights from an Iraqi Perspective

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A byproduct of this development effort and the building of large numbers of tankers was that these tankers were also available to refuel

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in the same year, but these early experiments were not yet regarded as a practical proposition, and were generally dismissed as stunts.

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6,500 pounds (2,900 kg) per minute for the KC-135, but does require a boom operator, and can only refuel one aircraft at a time.

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flew non-stop around the world in 94 hours and 1 minute, a feat made possible by four aerial refuelings from four pairs of

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were fitted with aerial refueling probes and additional fuel tanks to counter the decreased range from the shift in flight profile.

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the boom to make contact with the receiver aircraft. Once in contact, fuel is pumped through the boom into the receiver aircraft.

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K.2 and, after the Argentine surrender, by modified C-130 Hercules tankers. These aircraft aided deployments from the UK to the

2023: 4182: 5015: 4994: 4928: 4865: 4847: 4832: 4814: 4290: 3094: 2271: 2027: 1720:. This was particularly useful when a pilot returning from an airstrike was having difficulty landing and was running low on 1534:

however, rendered it unsuitable for use by the SR-71, so the Air Force commissioned a specially modified KC-135 variant, the

3534: 3452: 3593: 2055:

manner to fixed-wing aircraft by matching a high forward speed for a helicopter to a slow speed for the fixed-wing tanker.

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of the 43rd Bomb Wing to make its famous first non-stop around-the-world flight in 1949. From 26 February to 3 March 1949,

584: 3716: 3652:, "Aerial Refueling: The Need for a Multipoint, Dual-System Capability," AU-ARI-CP-87-3, Air University Press, July 1987. 1771:

has a fleet of Boeing 707s equipped with a boom refueling system similar to the KC-135, this system has the Israeli name

1235: 1020:

using a control stick. The boom operator also telescopes the boom to make the connection with the receiver's receptacle.

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on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the receiving aircraft. All boom-equipped tankers (e.g.

312:

the aircraft to be refueled (very close "line astern" formation flying) has resulted in the activity only being used in

5196: 2448: 535:

was also running mid-air refueling trials, with the aim to use this technique to extend the range of the long-distance

4486: 4129: 3992: 441:, and a pioneer of long-distance aviation. During the 1920s, he made long-distance flights to places as far afield as 4969: 4954: 4910: 4895: 4255: 4082: 3607: 3082: 2031: 1792: 879: 857: 192: 174: 111: 89: 54: 40: 4776: 82: 5041: 4512: 3750: 2003: 1598:

During the late 1950s, aerial refueling had become so prevalent amongst the bombers operated by the US Air Force's

902: 1498:, Okinawa. In addition to allowing the transport of the aircraft themselves, the cargo aircraft could also carry 1371:. The potential cost of converting F-35As to probe-and-drogue refueling (as is used on US Navy & Marine Corps 1242:

aircraft refuel using the "hose-and-drogue" system, as do most aircraft flown by western European militaries. The

2736: 2078: 1139: 791: 717: 597:

being refueled by grappled-line looped-hose during the first non-stop circumnavigation of the world by air (1949)

387: 4398: 3535:"50 Years of Probe and Drogue Flight Refuelling cover signed Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight KCB AFC FRAES" 5145: 4429: 4427: 4389: 2824: 1467: 1211: 861: 375: 4917: 3200: 1566: 1144: 826:

drogue-and-probe in-flight refueling system with the probe located in one of the F-84's wing-tip fuel tanks.

300: 4686: 4424: 2514: 2015: 1918: 1844:

were in patrol) to search and guide the A-4s in their returning flights. On one of those flights (callsign

1404: 803: 569: 532: 472: 410: 2705: 1595:

to be equipped with aerial refueling apparatus and for it to be used to facilitate long distance patrols.

5396: 5266: 5207: 4096: 3914: 2883: 2758: 2640: 2536: 2019: 2011: 1732: 1263: 1017: 914: 5057: 4935: 3672: 3505: 3391: 3299: 1486:, in addition to bombers, for ferrying to distant theaters of operations. This was much used during the 1092:

The probe-and-drogue refueling method employs a flexible hose that trails from the tanker aircraft. The

449:

and he began experimenting with the possibilities of in-flight refueling to extend the range of flight.

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bomber (with a flying reserve bomber) to attack the Argentine-captured airfield at Port Stanley on the

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have similar under-wing refueling pods (referred to as Wing Air Refueling Pods or WARPs on the KC-10).

1310: 1204: 979: 799: 645: 547:, with fuel flow controlled by an automatic valve on the hose which would cut off if contact was lost. 493:

as refueler and receiver. Aerial refueling remained a very dangerous process until 1935, when brothers

210: 4546: 1669: 1293: 5426: 5316: 2580: 1046: 784: 641: 589: 4840:

Air Force Gunners (AFGA): The Men Behind the Guns, The History of Enlisted Aerial Gunnery, 1917–1991

1379:) added to the early-2010s political controversy which surrounded F-35 procurement within the RCAF. 1176:) to extend the range of its strike aircraft. In other cases, using the buddy store method allows a 5311: 2618: 2227: 1957: 1351: 1037: 480: 364: 281: 156: 76: 5084: 4018: 2108: 1937: 1803:, that necessitated a 2,000 km flight. As of 2021 Israel has ordered four of a planned eight 316:; there are no regular civilian in-flight refueling activities. Originally trialed shortly before 268:) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft are in flight. The two main refueling systems are 5357: 5284: 5165: 4160: 3590:

A1-F18AC-NFM-000 Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Manual

3259: 3049: 2993: 2969: 2909: 2092: 2007: 1988: 1689:

to refuel from KC-135s en route to their target. Besides extending their range, this enabled the

1081: 1001: 910: 850: 776: 693: 265: 5421: 5256: 2963: 1483: 1207: 1189: 811: 403: 304: 93: 4279: 3475: 3151: 1820:, aerial refueling played a vital role in all of the successful Argentine attacks against the 520: 287:

The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, extending its range or

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had only two KC-130H Hercules available and they were used to refuel both Air Force and Navy

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against the bombers' airfields could not obliterate the US's ability to retaliate by bomber.

955: 942: 815: 625: 615: 573: 152: 46: 5289: 5093: 5063: 3023:"Operations and aircraft design towards greener civil aviation using air-to-air refuelling" 2941: 2879: 2817: 2684: 2426: 2360: 1999: 1976: 1873: 1804: 1788: 1603: 1396: 1185: 1012:

configuration, are used to move the boom by creating aerodynamic forces. They are actuated

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In the KC-97 and KC-135 the boom operator lies prone, while the operator is seated in the

418: 148: 8: 5160: 3324:

Note – on one flight there was a high westerly wind and no need for aerial refueling

3300:"flight march – receiver aircraft – advertisements flight – 1947 – 0392 – Flight Archive" 2989: 2293: 2205: 2161: 2039: 1865: 1825: 1629: 1424: 1301:

Some tankers have both a boom and one or more complete hose-and-drogue systems. The USAF

1193: 918: 749: 205: 3041: 2953: 2919: 2662: 2591: 2315: 2139: 2064: 1640: 1148: 951: 676: 516: 476: 434: 3232: 3124: 2050:

Helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR) is a variation of aerial refueling when a naval

1541: 1076: 527:

were able to demonstrate passing fuel between machines at the annual aviation fete at

308:

estimated for long-haul flights (including the fuel used during the tanker missions).

5294: 5261: 5150: 5125: 5011: 4990: 4976: 4965: 4950: 4924: 4906: 4891: 4879: 4861: 4843: 4828: 4810: 4570:"Private Aerial Refueling Tanker Has Gassed Up An Air Force Plane For The First Time" 4385: 4286: 4183:"Israel's First Strike on Iran's Nuclear Facilities – Part 1 - Defense Media Network" 4078: 3090: 3078: 3045: 2874: 2802: 2780: 2714: 2595: 2492: 2470: 2249: 1931: 1784: 1768: 1753: 1649: 1562: 1546: 1427: 1064:

seats two operators at the front of the aircraft viewing camera video on 3D screens.

761: 697: 653: 556: 490: 383: 379: 313: 3661:

note – even today there is much confusion about how this system actually worked

3099:

Cultures and Caricatures of British imperial Aviation: Passengers, Pilots, Publicity

668:

tanker aircraft, fitted with the FRL's looped-hose units, in operations against the

5391: 5386: 5362: 5352: 5279: 5249: 5239: 5173: 3560: 3110:

There is no evidence of a relationship between A.D. Hunter and the Hunter brothers.

3033: 2958: 2558: 2404: 2382: 2353: 2337: 1960:. Seven B-52Gs flew a thirty-five-hour mission to the region and back to launch 35 1945: 1942: 1881: 1869: 1592: 1479: 1318: 1306: 1272: 1177: 1173: 994: 611: 544: 524: 457: 328: 225: 4406:"AMC celebrates 100th year of air refueling with community flyovers across the US" 1735:

helicopters performed the first Trans-Pacific flight by a helicopter, flying from

985:

The flying boom is attached to the rear of the tanker aircraft. The attachment is

897: 614:, trailed a steel cable which was then grappled by a line shot from the tanker, a 5202: 5155: 5088: 5005: 4980: 4890:

Gunston, Bill. Bombers of the West. New York: Charles Scribner's and Sons; 1973.

4854: 4821: 4804: 4352: 4336:. Barksdale Air Force Base, United States Air Force. Retrieved 19 September 2011. 4333: 4259: 3286: 2846: 1972: 1949: 1725: 1611: 1506: 1495: 1447: 1152: 563:

events in the US and determined to create a workable system. While posted to the

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RAF Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Forces: Origins, Roles and Deployment 1946–1969.

929:) have a single boom and can refuel one aircraft at a time with this mechanism. 456:, an aircraft manufacturing company that went on to produce a specially-adapted 5331: 5326: 5299: 4874: 2839: 2356: 1833: 1717: 1705: 1610:'s global reach, performed between 16 and 18 January 1957, three B-52Bs made a 1589: 1475: 1420: 1251: 922: 734: 657: 540: 399: 352: 327:, and then employed after World War II on a large scale to extend the range of 4435:"Wild blue yonder: Air Force refueling flyover event visible in Southern Utah" 4156: 3037: 2348: 744:, fitted with a nose-mounted probe. On 7 August 1949, the Meteor flown by FRL 409:

Similar trial demonstrations of mid-air refueling technique took place at the

5415: 5304: 5234: 4883: 4044: 2902: 1840:

strikes. The Hercules on several occasions approached the islands (where the

1817: 1757: 1698: 1686: 1305:

has both a flying boom and a separate hose-and-drogue system manufactured by

1277: 997:

in the receptacle engage the nozzle, holding it locked during fuel transfer.

975: 926: 680: 649:

crossings further trials were suspended due to the outbreak of World War II.

593: 502: 453: 358:

and Lt. John P. Richter receiving the first mid-air refueling on 27 June 1923

261: 4982:

Chinese Military Modernization: Force Development and Strategic Capabilities

954:. Boeing went on to develop the world's first production aerial tanker, the 5229: 5224: 5047: 5007:

Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations

3996: 2861: 1926: 1914: 1910: 1713: 1549: 1431: 1416: 1243: 1085: 990: 967: 938: 765: 705: 689: 661: 633: 560: 536: 355: 317: 4248: 3615: 1027: 572:

and turned to the development of inflight refueling, founding the company

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close-up drawing of receiver pawl grapnel and tanker haul line projectile

2887: 2633: 2529: 1961: 1917:. Aircraft stationed in Saudi Arabia normally maintained an orbit in the 1885: 1877: 1841: 1829: 1709: 1694: 1678: 1624: 1526: 1487: 1220: 1160: 1156: 1105: 971: 602: 564: 479:, set an endurance record of over 150 hours with a Fokker C-2A named the 438: 430: 368: 332: 324: 4516: 3746: 3673:"Air Force Aerial Refueling Methods: Flying Boom versus Hose-and-Drogue" 3392:"flight – lucky lady – flight refuelling – 1949 – 0461 – Flight Archive" 1535: 1499: 1167:

A "buddy store" or "buddy pod" is an external pod loaded on an aircraft

5068:

article on the development of Flight Refuelling Ltd's refueling method.

2051: 1893: 1857: 1853: 1821: 1780: 1514: 1181: 1124: 1013: 959: 864: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 819: 754: 745: 701: 4212:"US rejects Israeli request for tanker aircraft as Iran plans advance" 2934: 2729: 2419: 2176: 2154: 1736: 1510: 1168: 652:

During the closing months of World War II, it had been intended that

528: 446: 395: 291:

time. A series of air refuelings can give range limited only by crew

18:

Procedure in which flying aircraft receive fuel from another aircraft

839: 4461:"The Plane that Flew for 62 Days and the T-Bird that Saved the Day" 2677: 2655: 2573: 2286: 1889: 1761: 1721: 1682: 1584: 1462: 1430:

airborne around-the-clock either to threaten retaliation against a

1412: 1247: 1005: 468:, using in-flight refueling to extend the plane's flight duration. 4860:

Vale of Glamorgan Wales, UK: Big Bird Aviation Publication, 2007.

4777:"Portuguese Air Force's first KC-390 aircraft arrives in Portugal" 4382:

Ally to Adversary: An Eyewitness Account of Iraq's Fall From Grace

1704:

The US Navy frequently used carrier-based aerial tankers like the

348: 5212: 5140: 4872:

Gardner, Brian (1984). "Flight Refuelling... The Wartime Story".

2611: 2375: 2132: 2077:

Commercial tankers are occasionally used by military forces. The

1906: 1800: 1196:; in the Buccaneer's case using a bomb-bay-mounted tank and HDU. 807: 559:

had observed the dangerous aerial-refueling techniques in use at

553: 486: 414: 371: 296: 1459:

could refuel the more maneuverable fighter/ground attack types.

1267:

A US Air Force KC-135 with a drogue adapter attached to its boom

1250:

bombers modified for aerial refueling, and plans to add Russian

5219: 3630: 2795: 2773: 2699: 2551: 2463: 2330: 2220: 2198: 1837: 1740: 1368: 1347: 1034: 1009: 986: 946: 713: 461: 442: 422: 4369:(First ed.). Institute for Defense Analysis. p. 199. 3929: 3915:"La dissuasion nucléaire française en posture méditerranéenne" 1415:

requirement of the United States to be able to keep fleets of

1367:, which can only refuel via the flying boom, but only possess 335:

has been extensively used in large-scale military operations.

280:, which offers faster fuel transfer, but requires a dedicated 5076: 4903:

Jet Bombers: From the Messerschmitt Me 262 to the Stealth B-2

4809:

Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004.

3779:"The B-58 Hustler: America's Cold War Nuclear Bomber Blunder" 2751: 2507: 2485: 2397: 2308: 2264: 2242: 1796: 1690: 1645: 1455: 1334: 1302: 1061: 1057: 669: 501:. They exceeded the Hunters' record by nearly 100 hours in a 465: 5123: 1661:

enabled them to photograph valuable targets in North Korea.

5081: 4936:"The Steel in the Blue: Last Week's Glimpse of the V-force" 4538: 3872: 3870: 2441: 2117: 2096: 2088: 1776: 1522: 1330: 1120: 1060:, all viewing operations through a window at the tail. The 1031: 795: 709: 367:, between two planes occurred on 25 June 1923, between two 320:

on a limited scale to extend the range of British civilian

4715:"Egypt demonstrates aerial refuelling for combat aircraft" 4303:"Narrative of RAF Contribution to the Falklands Campaign." 1864:

On the British side, air refueling was carried out by the

909:

The flying boom is a rigid, telescoping tube with movable

4680: 4678: 4676: 4674: 4672: 4670: 4668: 4666: 4664: 4662: 4660: 4658: 4656: 4654: 4652: 4650: 4648: 4646: 4644: 4642: 4640: 4638: 4636: 3587: 274:, which is simpler to adapt to existing aircraft and the 4634: 4632: 4630: 4628: 4626: 4624: 4622: 4620: 4618: 4616: 4097:"Lessons of Modern Warfare: The Iran Iraq War Chapter V" 3888: 3867: 3717:"Canadian military unable to refuel new jets in mid-air" 2709:

Tu-95М filling rod and filling cone from Il-78M aircraft

497:

demonstrated a spill-free refueling nozzle, designed by

5052: 4249:"The Falkland Islands: A history of the 1982 conflict." 1313:

are equipped with dual under-wing attachments known as

4346:

Boeing B-52 evolves again with guided weapons launcher

4230: 1635:

During the mid-1950s, to deliver France's independent

1123:

standard and were originally developed by the company

543:. By 1931 they had demonstrated refueling between two 4923:

Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1988.

4613: 3969:. United States Air Mobility Command. 15 April 2009. 1681:, it was common for USAF fighter-bombers flying from 771:

In January 1948, General Carl Spaatz, then the first

3671:

Christopher, Bolkcom; D., Klaus, Jon (11 May 2005).

3087:

Air Empire: British Imperial Civil Aviation, 1919–39

1708:

to refuel Navy and Marine aircraft such as the F-4,

1399:

receives fuel from a KC-135 during night operations.

4806:

Encyclopedia of Military Technology And Innovation.

4412:. Air Mobility Command Public Affairs. 25 June 2023 3967:"History of aerial refueling: Fueling the fighters" 3473: 3449:"Cobham 75 :: Air-to-Air Refuelling Takes off" 3359: 3257: 1876:" sorties which used 14 Victor tankers to allow an 4685: 4842:. Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing, 1994. 4746:"Indonesia seeks new heavy air refuelling tanker" 4154: 4019:"S-65/H-53A/D Sea Stallion/ H-53E Super Stallion" 3335:"imperial airways – 1940 – 1219 – Flight Archive" 3189:Flight Magazine archive, 3 July 1931, p. 623 1728:transports for air-to-air refueling on missions. 1446:refueling aircraft from Valiant tankers included 675:This air-to-air refueling system was used by the 664:bombers would be in-flight refueled by converted 303:which could be weapons, cargo, or personnel: the 5413: 4975: 3636: 3429:Hallex, Steve. "Around the World in 94 Hours*". 3149: 3089:(Manchester University Press, 2009), Chapter 6. 1888:flying from the States to bomb Iraq in the 1991 505:monoplane, staying aloft for more than 27 days. 4121: 4011: 3101:(Manchester University Press, 2012), Chapter 4. 2087:using probe/drogue systems was investigated by 2058: 1552:takes on fuel through a Probe-and-drogue system 5010:. Random House Publishing Group. p. 306. 3950: 3772: 3770: 3768: 3664: 1783:aircraft to provide aerial refueling over the 5109: 3670: 3583: 3581: 137:The examples and perspective in this article 4206: 4204: 3838: 3836: 3701:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 3198: 1258: 1080:Using a probe-and-drogue, a Royal Air Force 579: 452:Cobham was one of the founding directors of 3806: 3765: 3588:Naval Air Systems Command (1 August 2006). 2006:, and aircraft receiving fuel included 21 55:Learn how and when to remove these messages 5116: 5102: 4743: 4567: 3897: 3879: 3845: 3578: 3201:"Seventy Five Years of Inflight Refueling" 3136: 3134: 2966:, the transfer of refuel and stores at sea 1644:purchased 14 (12 plus 2 spares) US Boeing 1639:, work commenced on what would become the 723: 632:system to refuel aircraft as large as the 4242: 4201: 3833: 3739: 2992:(i.e. debriefing); "IFR" also stands for 1791:, an air raid on the headquarters of the 1764:due to unsustainable rates of attrition. 1673:HC-130P refuels HH-3E over Southeast Asia 880:Learn how and when to remove this message 193:Learn how and when to remove this message 175:Learn how and when to remove this message 112:Learn how and when to remove this message 4712: 4379: 4373: 4311: 3956:Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, pp. 196–197. 3180:Flight Magazine archive, 10 January 1929 2873: 2704: 2585: 2347: 2107: 1936: 1668: 1540: 1461: 1390: 1292: 1262: 1198: 1138: 1075: 1026: 896: 583: 347: 204: 75:This article includes a list of general 5003: 4871: 4236: 3993:"First USAF Flight Refueling in Combat" 3131: 3032:. Paper No. 3088. (November): 705–721. 1994:The aircraft participating included 49 1357: 978:(Dash-80) airframe. The result was the 5414: 5072:World's best aerial refueling aircraft 4774: 4744:McLaughlin, Andrew (22 January 2018). 4384:. Naval Institute Press. p. 106. 4109:from the original on 11 September 2009 4088: 3776: 3020: 2028:General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons 2024:Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II 1572: 1088:tanker over the Falkland Islands, 2005 1000:The "flying" boom is so named because 700:with the refuelings accomplished over 523:and the 34th Aviation Regiment of the 338: 5097: 5059:Twenty-one Years of Flight Refuelling 5044:, a comprehensive article with video. 4964:London: The Stationery Office, 1997. 4947:V Bombers: Vulcan, Valiant and Victor 4942:, 13 February 1964, pp. 241–245. 4827:Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2009. 4725:from the original on 6 September 2020 4694:from the original on 10 December 2019 4601:from the original on 23 February 2012 4467:from the original on 20 November 2016 4364: 4358: 4218:from the original on 13 December 2021 4189:from the original on 20 November 2016 4155:Israeli Air Force (10 October 2013). 4094: 3121:"National Air and Space Museum image" 1982: 1223:in the hose, severing the probe tip. 1084:crew practice refuelling from an RAF 270: 5053:Air Refueling Systems Advisory Group 4919:Post-World War II Bombers, 1945–1973 4549:from the original on 31 January 2023 4163:from the original on 7 November 2021 4055:from the original on 11 October 2017 3912: 3482:. Bonnier Corporation. p. 131. 3474:Bonnier Corporation (October 1949). 3280:, Flight Magazine, November 22, 1945 3258:Bonnier Corporation (January 1947). 862:adding citations to reliable sources 833: 790:Flight testing began in May 1948 at 781:British Overseas Airways Corporation 343: 123: 61: 20: 4901:Gunston, Bill and Peter Gilchrist. 4878:. No. 25. pp. 34–43, 80. 4568:Trevithick, Joseph (12 July 2023). 4355:– Flightglobal.com, 15 January 2016 4327:"Factsheets: 2nd Bomb Wing History" 4282:RAR Illustrated: Avro Vulcan Part 1 4136:from the original on 6 October 2014 3973:from the original on 5 October 2017 3903:Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 200. 3885:Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 196. 3419:, Flight magazine, 1 September 1949 3398:from the original on 21 August 2016 3368:. Bonnier Corporation. p. 79. 3360:Bonnier Corporation (August 1948). 3341:from the original on 5 October 2013 3213:from the original on 24 August 2017 1962:Boeing Air Launched Cruise Missiles 1787:in order to extend their range for 1731:During late August 1970, a pair of 1340: 1288: 1071: 768:typically need to remain airborne. 13: 5197:Airborne early warning and control 5004:Bergman, Ronen (30 January 2018). 4775:Sharma, Soumya (17 October 2022). 4713:Jennings, Greg (14 January 2020). 4127: 4025:from the original on 23 March 2022 3785:from the original on 23 April 2021 3753:from the original on 17 March 2010 3486:from the original on 13 March 2023 3428: 3372:from the original on 13 March 2023 3239:from the original on 24 March 2017 3162:from the original on 13 March 2023 3150:Hearst Magazines (February 1931). 3140:History of Aviation, Part 19, 1938 2449:Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force 2359:provides mid-air refueling to two 2272:People's Liberation Army Air Force 1383:MPRS KC-135, or Airbus A330 MRTT. 1350:. This was the method used on the 81:it lacks sufficient corresponding 14: 5438: 5025: 4820:Brookes, Andrew and Chris Davey. 4756:from the original on 3 April 2018 4493:from the original on 5 April 2016 3727:from the original on 14 June 2015 3541:from the original on 4 March 2016 3306:from the original on 2 April 2015 3266:. Bonnier Corporation. p. 2. 3158:. Hearst Magazines. p. 190. 2032:Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II 2004:McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extenders 1793:Palestine Liberation Organization 260:, is the process of transferring 36:This article has multiple issues. 4945:Windle, Dave and Martin Bowman. 3683:from the original on 11 May 2009 3516:from the original on 8 July 2017 2927: 2895: 2854: 2832: 2810: 2788: 2766: 2744: 2722: 2692: 2670: 2648: 2626: 2604: 2566: 2544: 2522: 2500: 2478: 2456: 2434: 2412: 2390: 2368: 2323: 2301: 2279: 2257: 2235: 2213: 2191: 2169: 2147: 2125: 2085:Autonomous (hands off) refueling 1811: 838: 787:, with plans to equip 80 B-29s. 276: 128: 66: 25: 4797: 4768: 4737: 4706: 4587: 4561: 4531: 4505: 4479: 4453: 4339: 4320: 4296: 4273: 4264: 4175: 4148: 4067: 4037: 3985: 3959: 3906: 3858: 3824: 3815: 3797: 3777:Farley, Robert (10 June 2016). 3709: 3655: 3642: 3600: 3553: 3527: 3498: 3476:"Jet Refuels Like Humming Bird" 3467: 3441: 3422: 3410: 3384: 3353: 3327: 3318: 3292: 3270: 3251: 3225: 3192: 2737:Republic of Singapore Air Force 2079:Omega Aerial Refueling Services 2071: 1324: 1317:(MPRSs), while some KC-10s and 849:needs additional citations for 792:Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 628:(FRL) and by 1938 had used its 471:Meanwhile, in 1929, a group of 44:or discuss these issues on the 4690:. Flightglobal Insight. 2020. 4285:, Big Bird Publications 2007, 3864:Windle and Bowman 2009, p. 21. 3842:Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 49. 3362:"What Can Our Bombers Do Now?" 3233:"Mid-air refuelling in Gander" 3183: 3174: 3143: 3113: 3104: 3067: 3014: 2982: 2825:United Arab Emirates Air Force 2598:undergoing inflight refueling. 2045: 1758:bomb the H-3 Al Walid airfield 1747: 1664: 1134: 892: 398:, using mid-air refuelings at 376:United States Army Air Service 1: 4949:, Casemate Publishers, 2009. 4825:(Osprey Combat Aircraft: 72). 3021:Nangia, R.K (November 2006). 3003: 1952:during Exercise Angel Thunder 1655: 1151:acts as a buddy tanker for a 331:, aerial refueling since the 4823:Vulcan Units of The Cold War 4487:"Endurance Test, Circa 1958" 4077:Air Forces Monthly Special, 3637:Cordesman & Kleiber 2007 3008: 2515:Japan Air Self-Defense Force 2103: 2059:Longest crewed flight record 2036:Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses 2016:McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle 1386: 1315:Multi-point Refueling System 1104:, is a fitting resembling a 812:509th Air Refueling Squadron 804:Davis-Monthan Air Force Base 624:In 1934, Cobham had founded 533:Royal Aircraft Establishment 411:Royal Aircraft Establishment 7: 5082:Airlift/Tankers Association 4539:"Metrea Strategic Mobility" 4308:, Retrieved: 20 April 2014. 4130:"Bombed by Blinders Part 1" 4049:Imperial Iraniasn Air Force 3152:"Wings Across The Atlantic" 2947: 2759:Spanish Air and Space Force 2641:Royal Netherlands Air Force 2537:Republic of Korea Air Force 2020:Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor 2012:Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 1899: 1577: 1556: 1409:Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers 982:, of which 732 were built. 937:In the late 1940s, General 785:Boeing B-29 Superfortresses 748:Pat Hornidge took off from 388:Canada–United States border 151:, discuss the issue on the 10: 5443: 4979:; Kleiber, Martin (2007). 4270:Darling 2007, pp. 116–117. 3747:"Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird" 2915:United States Marine Corps 2184:Royal Australian Air Force 1996:Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1608:Boeing B-52 Stratofortress 1436:mutual assured destruction 1369:probe-and-drogue refuelers 1354:endurance flight in 1929. 980:Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 932: 829: 800:43d Air Refueling Squadron 475:fliers, led by then Major 5340: 5189: 5182: 5133: 5032:Photo aerial tanking 1929 4365:Woods, Kevin (May 2008). 4332:26 September 2009 at the 3928:(1): 5–12, archived from 3855:13 February 1964, p. 241. 3506:"Meteor's 12-hour Flight" 3417:"B-50s In Great Britain" 3038:10.1017/S0001924000001585 2988:"AAR" can also stand for 2581:Royal Malaysian Air Force 2091:, potentially for use by 1623:While development of the 1329:A small number of Soviet 1259:Boom drogue adapter units 1125:Flight Refuelling Limited 1047:1966 Palomares B-52 crash 708:, the Pacific Ocean near 642:Armstrong Whitworth AW.23 607:grappled-line looped-hose 590:Boeing B-50 Superfortress 580:Grappled-line looped-hose 4021:. sikorskyarchives.com. 3781:. nationalinterest.org. 3260:"Gas Station In The Sky" 3030:The Aeronautical Journal 2975: 2619:Royal Moroccan Air Force 2228:Royal Canadian Air Force 2093:unmanned aerial vehicles 1971:On 24 January 1991, the 1958:Barksdale AFB, Louisiana 1919:Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone 1614:around the world during 1561:Tankers are considered " 365:Alexander P. de Seversky 5077:Tac Tankers Association 5048:Aerial Refueling on APA 4916:Knaack, Marcelle Size. 4687:"World Air Forces 2020" 4380:Francoma, Rick (1999). 3278:"Refuelling In Flight" 2994:Instrument Flight Rules 2970:List of tanker aircraft 2910:United States Air Force 2008:Lockheed C-130 Hercules 1989:United States Air Force 1602:that many, such as the 1403:The development of the 1210:refuels a pair of USMC 1040:view from the boom pod. 1002:flight control surfaces 950:at the Boeing plant at 911:flight control surfaces 777:United States Air Force 724:Probe-and-drogue system 694:Carswell Air Force Base 491:Stinson SM-1 Detroiters 264:from one aircraft (the 236:), also referred to as 96:more precise citations. 5037:Aerial tanking history 4351:20 August 2019 at the 4045:"Assault on Al-Wallid" 3594:Department of the Navy 3437:(1, 1st Quarter 2016). 3285:5 October 2013 at the 3075:Highways to the Empire 2964:Underway replenishment 2890: 2710: 2599: 2363: 2120: 1953: 1779:used heavily modified 1674: 1553: 1484:ground attack aircraft 1471: 1400: 1298: 1268: 1215: 1212:CH-53E Super Stallions 1190:de Havilland Sea Vixen 1164: 1100:), sometimes called a 1089: 1041: 1016:and controlled by the 906: 598: 404:Sacramento, California 359: 305:maximum takeoff weight 218: 4977:Cordesman, Anthony H. 4856:Avro Vulcan, Part One 4513:"Omega Air Refueling" 4306:The National Archives 4258:18 March 2007 at the 3894:Gunston 1973, p. 109. 3876:Gunston 1973, p. 104. 2877: 2869:Royal Saudi Air Force 2708: 2589: 2351: 2116:KC-30 refuels a USAF 2111: 1940: 1672: 1617:Operation Power Flite 1600:Strategic Air Command 1544: 1492:Hickam Air Force Base 1465: 1394: 1296: 1266: 1202: 1142: 1079: 1030: 956:KC-97 Stratofreighter 943:Strategic Air Command 900: 816:Walker Air Force Base 626:Flight Refuelling Ltd 616:Handley Page Type W10 587: 574:Flight Refuelling Ltd 351: 208: 5087:25 June 2022 at the 4214:. 13 December 2021. 4171:– via YouTube. 4095:Cordesman, Anthony. 3812:Knaack 1988, p. 243. 3608:"Inflight Refueling" 3077:(Air Britain, 2006, 2942:Venezuelan Air Force 2818:United Arab Emirates 2685:Portuguese Air Force 2427:Indonesian Air Force 2000:Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 1987:On 27 June 2023 the 1977:Attack on Ras Tanura 1923:Red Sea Battle Force 1874:Operation Black Buck 1805:Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 1789:Operation Wooden Leg 1604:Convair B-58 Hustler 1397:C-17 Globemaster III 1358:Compatibility issues 1194:Blackburn Buccaneers 1186:Supermarine Scimitar 1145:F/A-18E Super Hornet 1008:that are often in a 964:C-97 Stratofreighter 960:Boeing Stratocruiser 858:improve this article 646:Handley Page Harrows 250:air-to-air refueling 215:F-16 Fighting Falcon 157:create a new article 149:improve this article 139:may not represent a 5267:Electronic warfare 4934:Rodwell, Robert R. 4781:Airforce Technology 3922:Les Cahiers du RMES 3803:Condor 1994, p. 42. 3723:. 31 January 2011. 2990:After Action Review 2294:Colombian Air Force 2206:Brazilian Air Force 2162:Argentine Air Force 2063:A mission modified 2040:Lockheed C-5 Galaxy 1866:Handley Page Victor 1826:Argentine Air Force 1630:Handley Page Victor 1573:Operational history 1525:, with a very high 1425:B-52 Stratofortress 1111:The receiver has a 958:, a piston-engined 941:, commander of the 919:KC-135 Stratotanker 760:Modern specialized 521:Aéro-Club de France 339:Development history 314:military operations 242:in-flight refueling 217:using a flying boom 211:KC-135 Stratotanker 5208:Counter-insurgency 4858:(RAF Illustrated). 4838:Condor, Albert E. 4489:. 3 January 2008. 3830:Wynn 1997, p. 155. 3821:Wynn 1997, p. 154. 3199:Richard K. Smith. 3055:on 21 October 2013 2954:Military logistics 2920:United States Navy 2891: 2711: 2663:Pakistan Air Force 2600: 2592:Saab JAS-39 Gripen 2364: 2316:Egyptian Air Force 2140:Algerian Air Force 2121: 2065:Cessna 172 Skyhawk 1983:Centennial Contact 1954: 1675: 1641:Dassault Mirage IV 1554: 1472: 1411:was pushed by the 1401: 1299: 1269: 1216: 1165: 1090: 1042: 962:(USAF designation 952:Renton, Washington 907: 735:Gloster Meteor F.3 677:B-50 Superfortress 670:Japanese homelands 599: 539:that serviced the 531:in 1928. The UK's 517:Le Bourget Airport 435:Royal Flying Corps 360: 219: 5409: 5408: 5405: 5404: 5262:Close air support 5126:military aircraft 5042:Airborne rearming 5017:978-0-679-60468-6 4996:978-0-89206-496-0 4929:978-0-16-002260-9 4866:978-1-84799-237-6 4848:978-1-56311-167-9 4833:978-1-84603-297-4 4815:978-1-57356-557-8 4317:Bull 2004, p. 84. 4291:978-1-84799-237-6 4254:, 29 April 2010. 3913:Dumoulin, André, 3618:on 16 August 2007 3156:Popular Mechanics 3127:on 16 April 2009. 3095:978-0-7190-4111-2 2803:Turkish Air Force 2781:Swedish Air Force 2715:Russian Air Force 2596:Swedish Air Force 2493:Italian Air Force 2471:Israeli Air Force 2357:Ilyushin Il-78MKI 2250:Chilean Air Force 1948:is refueled by a 1932:Combat Air Patrol 1785:Mediterranean Sea 1769:Israeli Air Force 1752:During the 1980s 1637:nuclear deterrent 1593:strategic bombers 1563:force multipliers 1547:Russian Air Force 1428:strategic bombers 1184:in operating its 890: 889: 882: 698:Fort Worth, Texas 588:The US Air Force 570:Olley Air Service 557:Richard Atcherley 545:Vickers Virginias 510:Popular Mechanics 473:US Army Air Corps 384:Sumas, Washington 380:aviation gasoline 344:Early experiments 329:strategic bombers 230:aerial refuelling 203: 202: 195: 185: 184: 177: 159:, as appropriate. 122: 121: 114: 59: 5434: 5427:Aerial maneuvers 5270: 5187: 5186: 5169: 5118: 5111: 5104: 5095: 5094: 5021: 5000: 4960:Wynn, Humphrey. 4905:. Osprey, 1993. 4887: 4792: 4791: 4789: 4787: 4772: 4766: 4765: 4763: 4761: 4741: 4735: 4734: 4732: 4730: 4710: 4704: 4703: 4701: 4699: 4689: 4682: 4611: 4610: 4608: 4606: 4591: 4585: 4584: 4582: 4580: 4565: 4559: 4558: 4556: 4554: 4535: 4529: 4528: 4526: 4524: 4515:. Archived from 4509: 4503: 4502: 4500: 4498: 4483: 4477: 4476: 4474: 4472: 4463:. 29 July 2008. 4457: 4451: 4450: 4448: 4446: 4431: 4422: 4421: 4419: 4417: 4402: 4396: 4395: 4377: 4371: 4370: 4362: 4356: 4343: 4337: 4324: 4318: 4315: 4309: 4300: 4294: 4277: 4271: 4268: 4262: 4246: 4240: 4234: 4228: 4227: 4225: 4223: 4208: 4199: 4198: 4196: 4194: 4179: 4173: 4172: 4170: 4168: 4152: 4146: 4145: 4143: 4141: 4125: 4119: 4118: 4116: 4114: 4108: 4101: 4092: 4086: 4073:Nadimi, Farzin. 4071: 4065: 4064: 4062: 4060: 4041: 4035: 4034: 4032: 4030: 4015: 4009: 4008: 4006: 4004: 3999:on 11 April 2017 3995:. Archived from 3989: 3983: 3982: 3980: 3978: 3963: 3957: 3954: 3948: 3947: 3942: 3940: 3935:on 13 March 2012 3934: 3919: 3910: 3904: 3901: 3895: 3892: 3886: 3883: 3877: 3874: 3865: 3862: 3856: 3849: 3843: 3840: 3831: 3828: 3822: 3819: 3813: 3810: 3804: 3801: 3795: 3794: 3792: 3790: 3774: 3763: 3762: 3760: 3758: 3743: 3737: 3736: 3734: 3732: 3713: 3707: 3706: 3700: 3692: 3690: 3688: 3668: 3662: 3659: 3653: 3646: 3640: 3634: 3628: 3627: 3625: 3623: 3614:. Archived from 3604: 3598: 3597: 3592:. United States 3585: 3576: 3575: 3573: 3571: 3557: 3551: 3550: 3548: 3546: 3531: 3525: 3524: 3523: 3521: 3502: 3496: 3495: 3493: 3491: 3471: 3465: 3464: 3462: 3460: 3451:. Archived from 3445: 3439: 3438: 3426: 3420: 3414: 3408: 3407: 3405: 3403: 3388: 3382: 3381: 3379: 3377: 3357: 3351: 3350: 3348: 3346: 3331: 3325: 3322: 3316: 3315: 3313: 3311: 3296: 3290: 3274: 3268: 3267: 3255: 3249: 3248: 3246: 3244: 3229: 3223: 3222: 3220: 3218: 3212: 3205: 3196: 3190: 3187: 3181: 3178: 3172: 3171: 3169: 3167: 3147: 3141: 3138: 3129: 3128: 3123:. Archived from 3117: 3111: 3108: 3102: 3071: 3065: 3064: 3062: 3060: 3054: 3048:. Archived from 3027: 3018: 2997: 2986: 2959:Propellant depot 2933: 2931: 2930: 2901: 2899: 2898: 2860: 2858: 2857: 2838: 2836: 2835: 2816: 2814: 2813: 2794: 2792: 2791: 2772: 2770: 2769: 2750: 2748: 2747: 2728: 2726: 2725: 2698: 2696: 2695: 2676: 2674: 2673: 2654: 2652: 2651: 2632: 2630: 2629: 2610: 2608: 2607: 2572: 2570: 2569: 2559:Kuwait Air Force 2550: 2548: 2547: 2528: 2526: 2525: 2506: 2504: 2503: 2484: 2482: 2481: 2462: 2460: 2459: 2440: 2438: 2437: 2418: 2416: 2415: 2405:Indian Air Force 2396: 2394: 2393: 2383:German Air Force 2374: 2372: 2371: 2338:French Air Force 2329: 2327: 2326: 2307: 2305: 2304: 2285: 2283: 2282: 2263: 2261: 2260: 2241: 2239: 2238: 2219: 2217: 2216: 2197: 2195: 2194: 2175: 2173: 2172: 2153: 2151: 2150: 2131: 2129: 2128: 1943:French Air Force 1882:Falkland Islands 1870:Ascension Island 1480:fighter aircraft 1341:Simple grappling 1297:A KC-10 Extender 1289:Multiple systems 1281:causing damage. 1273:French Air Force 1271:USAF KC-135 and 1174:carrier air wing 1072:Probe-and-drogue 1004:, small movable 901:Dutch Air Force 885: 878: 874: 871: 865: 842: 834: 730:probe-and-drogue 612:Airspeed Courier 525:French Air Force 519:near Paris, the 458:Airspeed Courier 454:Airspeed Limited 433:, member of the 271:probe-and-drogue 222:Aerial refueling 198: 191: 180: 173: 169: 166: 160: 132: 131: 124: 117: 110: 106: 103: 97: 92:this article by 83:inline citations 70: 69: 62: 51: 29: 28: 21: 5442: 5441: 5437: 5436: 5435: 5433: 5432: 5431: 5412: 5411: 5410: 5401: 5336: 5312:Maritime patrol 5285:Air superiority 5268: 5178: 5167: 5129: 5128:types and roles 5122: 5089:Wayback Machine 5028: 5018: 4997: 4989:. p. 158. 4803:Bull, Stephen. 4800: 4795: 4785: 4783: 4773: 4769: 4759: 4757: 4742: 4738: 4728: 4726: 4711: 4707: 4697: 4695: 4684: 4683: 4614: 4604: 4602: 4593: 4592: 4588: 4578: 4576: 4566: 4562: 4552: 4550: 4537: 4536: 4532: 4522: 4520: 4511: 4510: 4506: 4496: 4494: 4485: 4484: 4480: 4470: 4468: 4459: 4458: 4454: 4444: 4442: 4433: 4432: 4425: 4415: 4413: 4404: 4403: 4399: 4392: 4378: 4374: 4363: 4359: 4353:Wayback Machine 4344: 4340: 4334:Wayback Machine 4325: 4321: 4316: 4312: 4301: 4297: 4278: 4274: 4269: 4265: 4260:Wayback Machine 4252:Royal Air Force 4247: 4243: 4235: 4231: 4221: 4219: 4210: 4209: 4202: 4192: 4190: 4181: 4180: 4176: 4166: 4164: 4153: 4149: 4139: 4137: 4126: 4122: 4112: 4110: 4106: 4099: 4093: 4089: 4072: 4068: 4058: 4056: 4043: 4042: 4038: 4028: 4026: 4017: 4016: 4012: 4002: 4000: 3991: 3990: 3986: 3976: 3974: 3965: 3964: 3960: 3955: 3951: 3938: 3936: 3932: 3917: 3911: 3907: 3902: 3898: 3893: 3889: 3884: 3880: 3875: 3868: 3863: 3859: 3850: 3846: 3841: 3834: 3829: 3825: 3820: 3816: 3811: 3807: 3802: 3798: 3788: 3786: 3775: 3766: 3756: 3754: 3745: 3744: 3740: 3730: 3728: 3715: 3714: 3710: 3694: 3693: 3686: 3684: 3677:Digital Library 3669: 3665: 3660: 3656: 3647: 3643: 3635: 3631: 3621: 3619: 3606: 3605: 3601: 3586: 3579: 3569: 3567: 3565:airforce.gov.au 3559: 3558: 3554: 3544: 3542: 3533: 3532: 3528: 3519: 3517: 3504: 3503: 3499: 3489: 3487: 3480:Popular Science 3472: 3468: 3458: 3456: 3447: 3446: 3442: 3427: 3423: 3415: 3411: 3401: 3399: 3390: 3389: 3385: 3375: 3373: 3366:Popular Science 3358: 3354: 3344: 3342: 3333: 3332: 3328: 3323: 3319: 3309: 3307: 3298: 3297: 3293: 3287:Wayback Machine 3275: 3271: 3264:Popular Science 3256: 3252: 3242: 3240: 3231: 3230: 3226: 3216: 3214: 3210: 3203: 3197: 3193: 3188: 3184: 3179: 3175: 3165: 3163: 3148: 3144: 3139: 3132: 3119: 3118: 3114: 3109: 3105: 3085:); G.H. Pirie, 3073:Colin Cruddas, 3072: 3068: 3058: 3056: 3052: 3025: 3019: 3015: 3011: 3006: 3001: 3000: 2987: 2983: 2978: 2950: 2928: 2926: 2896: 2894: 2855: 2853: 2847:Royal Air Force 2833: 2831: 2811: 2809: 2789: 2787: 2767: 2765: 2745: 2743: 2723: 2721: 2693: 2691: 2671: 2669: 2649: 2647: 2627: 2625: 2605: 2603: 2567: 2565: 2545: 2543: 2523: 2521: 2501: 2499: 2479: 2477: 2457: 2455: 2435: 2433: 2413: 2411: 2391: 2389: 2369: 2367: 2324: 2322: 2302: 2300: 2280: 2278: 2258: 2256: 2236: 2234: 2214: 2212: 2192: 2190: 2170: 2168: 2148: 2146: 2126: 2124: 2106: 2074: 2061: 2048: 1985: 1973:Iraqi Air Force 1950:Lockheed HC-130 1902: 1852:. However, the 1834:Super Etendards 1814: 1750: 1726:KC-130 Hercules 1706:KA-3 Skywarrior 1667: 1658: 1612:non-stop flight 1580: 1575: 1559: 1507:SR-71 Blackbird 1496:Kadena Air Base 1389: 1360: 1343: 1327: 1291: 1261: 1208:KC-130 Hercules 1137: 1082:C-130K Hercules 1074: 935: 895: 886: 875: 869: 866: 855: 843: 832: 750:Tarrant Rushton 726: 582: 551:Royal Air Force 495:Fred and Al Key 392:Tijuana, Mexico 346: 341: 299:with a greater 199: 188: 187: 186: 181: 170: 164: 161: 146: 133: 129: 118: 107: 101: 98: 88:Please help to 87: 71: 67: 30: 26: 19: 12: 11: 5: 5440: 5430: 5429: 5424: 5407: 5406: 5403: 5402: 5400: 5399: 5394: 5389: 5384: 5379: 5378: 5377: 5367: 5366: 5365: 5358:Reconnaissance 5355: 5350: 5344: 5342: 5338: 5337: 5335: 5334: 5332:Strike fighter 5329: 5327:Fighter-bomber 5324: 5319: 5314: 5309: 5308: 5307: 5302: 5297: 5292: 5287: 5277: 5272: 5264: 5259: 5254: 5253: 5252: 5247: 5242: 5237: 5232: 5227: 5217: 5216: 5215: 5210: 5200: 5193: 5191: 5184: 5180: 5179: 5177: 5176: 5171: 5163: 5158: 5153: 5148: 5143: 5137: 5135: 5131: 5130: 5121: 5120: 5113: 5106: 5098: 5092: 5091: 5079: 5074: 5069: 5055: 5050: 5045: 5039: 5034: 5027: 5026:External links 5024: 5023: 5022: 5016: 5001: 4995: 4973: 4958: 4943: 4932: 4914: 4899: 4888: 4875:Air Enthusiast 4869: 4853:Darling, Kev. 4851: 4836: 4818: 4799: 4796: 4794: 4793: 4767: 4736: 4705: 4612: 4586: 4560: 4530: 4519:on 12 May 2015 4504: 4478: 4452: 4441:. 26 June 2023 4439:St George News 4423: 4397: 4390: 4372: 4357: 4338: 4319: 4310: 4295: 4272: 4263: 4241: 4239:, p. 306. 4229: 4200: 4174: 4157:"תדלוק אווירי" 4147: 4120: 4087: 4066: 4036: 4010: 3984: 3958: 3949: 3905: 3896: 3887: 3878: 3866: 3857: 3844: 3832: 3823: 3814: 3805: 3796: 3764: 3738: 3708: 3663: 3654: 3641: 3639:, p. 158. 3629: 3599: 3596:. p. 364. 3577: 3552: 3526: 3497: 3466: 3455:on 8 July 2011 3440: 3421: 3409: 3383: 3352: 3326: 3317: 3291: 3269: 3250: 3224: 3191: 3182: 3173: 3142: 3130: 3112: 3103: 3097:; G.H. Pirie, 3066: 3012: 3010: 3007: 3005: 3002: 2999: 2998: 2980: 2979: 2977: 2974: 2973: 2972: 2967: 2961: 2956: 2949: 2946: 2945: 2944: 2938: 2937: 2923: 2922: 2917: 2912: 2906: 2905: 2872: 2871: 2865: 2864: 2850: 2849: 2843: 2842: 2840:United Kingdom 2828: 2827: 2821: 2820: 2806: 2805: 2799: 2798: 2784: 2783: 2777: 2776: 2762: 2761: 2755: 2754: 2740: 2739: 2733: 2732: 2718: 2717: 2703: 2702: 2688: 2687: 2666: 2665: 2659: 2658: 2644: 2643: 2637: 2636: 2622: 2621: 2615: 2614: 2584: 2583: 2577: 2576: 2562: 2561: 2555: 2554: 2540: 2539: 2533: 2532: 2518: 2517: 2511: 2510: 2496: 2495: 2489: 2488: 2474: 2473: 2467: 2466: 2452: 2451: 2445: 2444: 2430: 2429: 2423: 2422: 2408: 2407: 2401: 2400: 2386: 2385: 2379: 2378: 2346: 2345: 2340: 2334: 2333: 2319: 2318: 2312: 2311: 2297: 2296: 2290: 2289: 2275: 2274: 2268: 2267: 2253: 2252: 2246: 2245: 2231: 2230: 2224: 2223: 2209: 2208: 2202: 2201: 2187: 2186: 2180: 2179: 2165: 2164: 2158: 2157: 2143: 2142: 2136: 2135: 2105: 2102: 2101: 2100: 2082: 2073: 2070: 2060: 2057: 2047: 2044: 1984: 1981: 1901: 1898: 1813: 1810: 1749: 1746: 1739:in Florida to 1718:A-7 Corsair II 1666: 1663: 1657: 1654: 1579: 1576: 1574: 1571: 1558: 1555: 1476:cargo aircraft 1466:Route map for 1421:B-47 Stratojet 1388: 1385: 1359: 1356: 1342: 1339: 1326: 1323: 1290: 1287: 1278:naval aviators 1260: 1257: 1252:Ilyushin Il-78 1136: 1133: 1073: 1070: 934: 931: 923:KC-10 Extender 905:refueling boom 894: 891: 888: 887: 846: 844: 837: 831: 828: 773:Chief of Staff 725: 722: 712:, and between 581: 578: 541:British Empire 419:Armée de l'Air 400:Eugene, Oregon 345: 342: 340: 337: 201: 200: 183: 182: 143:of the subject 141:worldwide view 136: 134: 127: 120: 119: 74: 72: 65: 60: 34: 33: 31: 24: 17: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 5439: 5428: 5425: 5423: 5422:Air refueling 5420: 5419: 5417: 5398: 5395: 5393: 5390: 5388: 5385: 5383: 5380: 5376: 5373: 5372: 5371: 5368: 5364: 5361: 5360: 5359: 5356: 5354: 5351: 5349: 5346: 5345: 5343: 5339: 5333: 5330: 5328: 5325: 5323: 5320: 5318: 5315: 5313: 5310: 5306: 5303: 5301: 5298: 5296: 5293: 5291: 5288: 5286: 5283: 5282: 5281: 5278: 5276: 5273: 5271: 5265: 5263: 5260: 5258: 5255: 5251: 5248: 5246: 5243: 5241: 5238: 5236: 5235:Medium bomber 5233: 5231: 5228: 5226: 5223: 5222: 5221: 5218: 5214: 5211: 5209: 5206: 5205: 5204: 5201: 5198: 5195: 5194: 5192: 5188: 5185: 5181: 5175: 5172: 5170: 5164: 5162: 5159: 5157: 5154: 5152: 5149: 5147: 5144: 5142: 5139: 5138: 5136: 5132: 5127: 5119: 5114: 5112: 5107: 5105: 5100: 5099: 5096: 5090: 5086: 5083: 5080: 5078: 5075: 5073: 5070: 5067: 5066: 5061: 5060: 5056: 5054: 5051: 5049: 5046: 5043: 5040: 5038: 5035: 5033: 5030: 5029: 5019: 5013: 5009: 5008: 5002: 4998: 4992: 4988: 4984: 4983: 4978: 4974: 4971: 4970:0-11-772833-0 4967: 4963: 4959: 4956: 4955:1-84415-827-6 4952: 4948: 4944: 4941: 4937: 4933: 4930: 4926: 4922: 4920: 4915: 4912: 4911:1-85532-258-7 4908: 4904: 4900: 4897: 4896:0-7110-0456-0 4893: 4889: 4885: 4881: 4877: 4876: 4870: 4867: 4863: 4859: 4857: 4852: 4849: 4845: 4841: 4837: 4834: 4830: 4826: 4824: 4819: 4816: 4812: 4808: 4807: 4802: 4801: 4782: 4778: 4771: 4755: 4751: 4747: 4740: 4724: 4720: 4716: 4709: 4693: 4688: 4681: 4679: 4677: 4675: 4673: 4671: 4669: 4667: 4665: 4663: 4661: 4659: 4657: 4655: 4653: 4651: 4649: 4647: 4645: 4643: 4641: 4639: 4637: 4635: 4633: 4631: 4629: 4627: 4625: 4623: 4621: 4619: 4617: 4600: 4596: 4590: 4575: 4571: 4564: 4548: 4544: 4540: 4534: 4518: 4514: 4508: 4492: 4488: 4482: 4466: 4462: 4456: 4440: 4436: 4430: 4428: 4411: 4407: 4401: 4393: 4387: 4383: 4376: 4368: 4361: 4354: 4350: 4347: 4342: 4335: 4331: 4328: 4323: 4314: 4307: 4304: 4299: 4292: 4288: 4284: 4283: 4280:Kev Darling, 4276: 4267: 4261: 4257: 4253: 4250: 4245: 4238: 4233: 4217: 4213: 4207: 4205: 4188: 4184: 4178: 4162: 4158: 4151: 4135: 4131: 4128:Cooper, Tom. 4124: 4105: 4098: 4091: 4084: 4083:0-946219-46-X 4080: 4076: 4070: 4054: 4050: 4046: 4040: 4024: 4020: 4014: 3998: 3994: 3988: 3972: 3968: 3962: 3953: 3946: 3931: 3927: 3923: 3916: 3909: 3900: 3891: 3882: 3873: 3871: 3861: 3854: 3848: 3839: 3837: 3827: 3818: 3809: 3800: 3784: 3780: 3773: 3771: 3769: 3752: 3748: 3742: 3726: 3722: 3718: 3712: 3704: 3698: 3682: 3678: 3674: 3667: 3658: 3651: 3650:Marck R. Cobb 3645: 3638: 3633: 3617: 3613: 3609: 3603: 3595: 3591: 3584: 3582: 3566: 3562: 3561:"KC-30A MRTT" 3556: 3540: 3536: 3530: 3515: 3511: 3507: 3501: 3485: 3481: 3477: 3470: 3454: 3450: 3444: 3436: 3432: 3425: 3418: 3413: 3397: 3393: 3387: 3371: 3367: 3363: 3356: 3340: 3336: 3330: 3321: 3305: 3301: 3295: 3288: 3284: 3281: 3279: 3273: 3265: 3261: 3254: 3238: 3234: 3228: 3209: 3202: 3195: 3186: 3177: 3161: 3157: 3153: 3146: 3137: 3135: 3126: 3122: 3116: 3107: 3100: 3096: 3092: 3088: 3084: 3083:0-85130-376-5 3080: 3076: 3070: 3051: 3047: 3043: 3039: 3035: 3031: 3024: 3017: 3013: 2995: 2991: 2985: 2981: 2971: 2968: 2965: 2962: 2960: 2957: 2955: 2952: 2951: 2943: 2940: 2939: 2936: 2925: 2924: 2921: 2918: 2916: 2913: 2911: 2908: 2907: 2904: 2903:United States 2893: 2892: 2889: 2885: 2881: 2880:KC-46 Pegasus 2876: 2870: 2867: 2866: 2863: 2852: 2851: 2848: 2845: 2844: 2841: 2830: 2829: 2826: 2823: 2822: 2819: 2808: 2807: 2804: 2801: 2800: 2797: 2786: 2785: 2782: 2779: 2778: 2775: 2764: 2763: 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1508: 1503: 1501: 1497: 1494:, Hawaii and 1493: 1489: 1485: 1481: 1477: 1469: 1464: 1460: 1457: 1453: 1449: 1443: 1441: 1437: 1433: 1429: 1426: 1422: 1418: 1414: 1410: 1406: 1398: 1393: 1384: 1380: 1378: 1374: 1370: 1366: 1355: 1353: 1352:Question Mark 1349: 1338: 1336: 1332: 1322: 1320: 1316: 1312: 1308: 1304: 1295: 1286: 1282: 1279: 1274: 1265: 1256: 1253: 1249: 1245: 1241: 1237: 1233: 1228: 1224: 1222: 1213: 1209: 1206: 1201: 1197: 1195: 1191: 1187: 1183: 1179: 1175: 1170: 1162: 1158: 1154: 1150: 1146: 1141: 1132: 1128: 1126: 1122: 1116: 1114: 1109: 1107: 1103: 1099: 1095: 1087: 1083: 1078: 1069: 1065: 1063: 1059: 1054: 1050: 1048: 1039: 1038:boom operator 1036: 1033: 1029: 1025: 1021: 1019: 1018:boom operator 1015: 1014:hydraulically 1011: 1007: 1003: 998: 996: 992: 988: 983: 981: 977: 976:Boeing 367-80 973: 969: 965: 961: 957: 953: 948: 945:(SAC), asked 944: 940: 930: 928: 927:KC-46 Pegasus 924: 920: 916: 915:boom operator 912: 904: 899: 884: 881: 873: 863: 859: 853: 852: 847:This 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Retrieved 4780: 4770: 4758:. Retrieved 4749: 4739: 4727:. Retrieved 4718: 4708: 4696:. Retrieved 4603:. Retrieved 4589: 4577:. Retrieved 4573: 4563: 4551:. Retrieved 4542: 4533: 4521:. Retrieved 4517:the original 4507: 4495:. Retrieved 4481: 4469:. Retrieved 4455: 4443:. Retrieved 4438: 4414:. Retrieved 4409: 4400: 4381: 4375: 4366: 4360: 4341: 4322: 4313: 4305: 4298: 4281: 4275: 4266: 4251: 4244: 4237:Bergman 2018 4232: 4220:. Retrieved 4191:. Retrieved 4177: 4165:. Retrieved 4150: 4138:. Retrieved 4123: 4111:. Retrieved 4090: 4075:F-4 Phantom. 4074: 4069: 4057:. Retrieved 4048: 4039: 4027:. Retrieved 4013: 4001:. Retrieved 3997:the original 3987: 3975:. Retrieved 3961: 3952: 3944: 3937:, retrieved 3930:the original 3925: 3921: 3908: 3899: 3890: 3881: 3860: 3852: 3847: 3826: 3817: 3808: 3799: 3787:. Retrieved 3755:. Retrieved 3741: 3729:. Retrieved 3720: 3711: 3697:cite journal 3685:. Retrieved 3676: 3666: 3657: 3644: 3632: 3620:. Retrieved 3616:the original 3611: 3602: 3589: 3568:. 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