2007-01-23 02:06:23 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Only military aircraft have mid-air refuel capabilities.
As other guy explained, there are two ways to get it done: the boom and receptacle, or the "flying basket /drogue" method.
The boom the receptable was preferred by USAF, who flies bigger dedicated tankers with a rear refuel boom, and a special operator. The plane getting the fuel just get behind the tanker, slightly lower, then the boom operator flies the boom into the receptacle on the receiving aircraft. As you can guess, this requires dedicated operators and BIG tankers, which aren't always practical!
The other way basically reverses the role, as it's basically used on smaller planes. In this one, the plane getting the fuel does all the work. The tanker generally are the same type as the type getting the fuel, with a "basket" flying out with the fuel line from a tank on one wing. Then the incoming plane extends refuel tip, and flies it into the basket and gets a connection.
2007-01-23 06:47:12 · answer #1 · answered by Kasey C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all lets clarify types of tankers. First you have the Airforce KC-135 a/c which has the refuel boom. All Airforce planes are set-up to recieve fuel by way of a receptacle. The plane flies just below the tanker. The boom operator lowers the boom and then maneuvers it to the a/c receptacle. As the boom is manuevering the little wings also manuever the reciving a/c to help align it for coupling. Once the boom is connectected to the reciever, the boom operator then turns on pumps to start fueling. Now the boom can be configured with a short hose and basket configuration to fuel Navy and Marine aircraft. This is attached to the end of the boom. Now you have KC-10, KC-130, MC-130, and F-18, and the KC-135 that are/can be configured with a reel system to refuel Navy and Marine Corps A/C. On this system the A/C approaches the basket and plugs his probe into it. It then pushes forward on the hose till it pushes the hose back into the refueling range where switches aautomatically open up and start fuel flow. Once fuel load reached, they back out until they disengage from the basket. The Navy E-6B Mercury is configured to refuel by the KC-135 boom.
2007-01-23 09:38:35 · answer #2 · answered by c130ft 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the Air Force has a rigid pipe ( the boom) that extends below the tanker aircraft, with little wings on the end to direct it.......the plane to fuel flies up close and the boom operator directs it into the plane to fuel........
the Navy and Marines and all helicopters do it differently........the tanker extends a flexible hose behind it, with a basket that looks like a badmitton shuttlecock at the end..this basket keeps the end of the hose somewhat stable in flight....the plane to refuel extends a rigid pipe and the pilot flies up and into the basket till it and the fuel tube connects...
2007-01-23 02:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tanker flies over the airplane to be fueled. The spout has little wings on it and an operator "flies" it to the right spot.
2007-01-23 02:11:55 · answer #4 · answered by frigon_p 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A person in the front plane throws buckets of fuel out the window, a person in the second plane catches them and dumps the fuel in the tank, actually real simple operation
2007-01-23 05:12:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
i havce absolutly no clue, but it looks kool!
2007-01-23 02:39:26 · answer #6 · answered by Robert S 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋