Air to air refueling

Content• Introduction• Probe-and-drogue• Flying boom• Systems in service• Advantages• Disadvantages

Introduction• Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling,in-flight refueling (IFR), air-

to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight.

• The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, extending its range or loiter time on station.

• 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 estimated for long haul flights

• The two main refueling systems are probe-and-drogue, which is simpler to adapt to existing aircraft, and the flying boom, which offers faster fuel transfer, but requires a dedicated operator station.

Probe-and-drogue• Cobham's company FRL soon realized that their looped-hose

system left a lot to be desired and began work on an improved system that is now commonly called the probe-and-drogue.

• The first use of aerial refueling in combat took place during the Korean War.

• The first ARS aircraft used FRL's looped-hose refueling system, but testing with a boom system followed quickly in the autumn of 1948.

• Refueling from converted B-29s using the drogue-and-probe in-flight refueling system with the probe located in one of the F-84's wing-tip fuel tanks.

Flying boom

• The flying boom is a rigid, telescoping tube with movable flight control surfaces that an operator on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the receiving aircraft.

• All boom-equipped tankers (e.g. KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender) have a single boom, and can refuel one aircraft at a time with this mechanism.

Systems in service

• US Air Force fixed-wing aircraft use the flying boom system.

• Typically countries operating F-16 or F-15 variants have had a need for boom equipped tankers.

• Therefore, in addition to the USAF, the boom system is used by the Netherlands (KDC-10), Israel Turkey and Iran (Boeing 747).

• New tankers are under development.

Advantages• Higher fuel flow rates can be achieved with the large

diameter of the pipe in the flying boom, requiring less time to complete refueling operations than probe-and-drogue systems.

• Less susceptible to receiving aircraft pilot error and fatigue.

• Less susceptible to adverse weather conditions.• Boom equipped tankers are readily convertible to

multisystem refuel methods.

Disadvantages• Requires a boom operator.• Added complexity of modification with

attaching a boom to an aircraft.• Boom only allows for one receiver at a time.

Thank You