Aerial Refueling

Aeroplane or Airplane is a powered fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine or propeller. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectrum of uses for airplanes includes recreation, transportation of goods and people, military, and research. The Wright brothers flights in 1903 are recognized by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the standard setting and record-keeping body for aeronautics, as `The first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight`. By 1905, The Wright Flyer III was capable of fully controllable, stable flight for substantial periods. The Wright brothers credited Otto Lilienthal as a major inspiration for their decision to pursue manned flight.

Obviously flights can fly with some energy, like fuel. Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperature, among other properties. Aviation fuel is often dispensed from a tanker or bowser, which is driven up to parked aircraft and helicopters. Some airports have pumps similar to filling stations to which aircraft must taxi. Some airports have permanent piping to parking areas for large aircraft. Aviation fuel is transferred to an aircraft via one of two methods, overwing or underwing. Overwing fueling is used on smaller planes, helicopters, and all piston-engine aircraft. Overwing fueling is similar to car fueling — one or more fuel ports are opened and fuel is pumped in with a conventional pump. Underwing fueling, also called single-point refueling or pressure refueling where not dependent on gravity, is used on larger aircraft and for jet fuel exclusively.

Aerial refueling/Air refueling also possible. In-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR) or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight.

At present, there are three tanker aircraft and several receiving aircraft capable of in-air refuelling.

When flying one of these aircraft in the default scenery area, one can locate the tanker aircraft using air-air TACAN and/or radar and then receive a full or partial load of fuel by flying in close formation behind the tanker. Refuelling is also possible between aircraft in a multiplayer session. It is not possible to control the boom/hose position yet; they are always operatable when the tankers are air-born.

Turn to an appropriate heading, guided by the TACAN bearing and look for the tanker on the radar or nav screen. Around 5nm away, we should reduce our speed to around 20kts faster than the tanker (these fly at 280 kts TAS). The KC-135 will be visible from about 10nm, the KA6-D, being smaller, just over 1 nm. Use airbrakes to keep control of our speed should we find ourself overshooting. Close to within 50ft of the tanker (do not get too close, or visual artifacts might hide the boom from view). we should see indication in the cockpit that you are receiving fuel (there is a green light in the A4 fuel gauge, as well as a green light on the right side of the T-38's panel), and we should see the indicated tank load increase. Getting to this stage is not necessarily easy - it can take a lot of  practice. As with carrier landings, this is not an easy manoeuver in real life either and there are additional complications in the sim. The tanker, being an AI model, is unaffected by the wind and flies TAS (True Air Speed), while we are flying IAS (Indicated Air Speed) and are affected by the environment. As in real life, our aircraft will also steadily increase in weight as the tanks fill which will affect the trim of the aircraft. We  might find it helpful to use the autothrottle to help control our speed. Once our tanks are full, or we have taken  as  much fuel as our wish, close the throttle a little, back away from the tanker and continue our intended flight.