Re: Air Force Aerial Refueling Methods: Flying Boom versus Hose-and-Drogue

"tscottme" <blahblah@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:wZidnYuwrImWJTnZnZ2dnUVZ_oWdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What kind of airspeeds would one use while refueling? I'm just curious
about a ballpark number 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 kts? I ask because it
appears the F-18s in the photo have some flaps deployed. How does that
tanking speed compare to a cross-country redeploy speed? Do you slow down
to fill up?

From ATP-56:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/documents/Pt2/Pt2Ch10Q-UnitedStatesofAmerica.pdf
AFAIK, TO 1-1C-1-33 is not available online.

Boom AAR height band is sea level to 37,000 ft; speed range is 180 to 350
KIAS. Fuselage hose AAR height band is sea level to 35,000 ft; speed range
is 200 to 280 KIAS. Wing pod AAR height band is sea level to 32,000 ft;
speed range is 200 to 325 KIAS.

Each receiver has an optimum speed but it can adjusted for conditions. It
can vary a lot based on the receiver's weight. 280-300 KIAS for fighters is
a good ballpark figure. 275 for heavies. A-10s and C-130s were in the lower
200s, sometimes with the tanker's flaps and/or slats deployed. The F-18s do
not appear to have flaps deployed; there would be no reason for flaps. The
Ten can easily fly at any receiver's AR speed, with a clean wing, at max
weight. The tanker usually has to slow for refueling. The KC-10 refuelled
at 290 KIAS, although we might accelerate up to 310 knots when heavy.

Curt


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