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

While it is physically possible to refuel three aircraft simultaneously,
it is not allowed as the receiver's wingspans would be too close.

What does the following photo show? Looks a lot like three F/A-18's hooked
up simultaneously to a KC-10 to me.... I doubt it is done routinely, but
apparently it has been done.

I did say it was physically possible. T.O.1-1C-1-33 specifically prohibits
refueling three receivers simultaneously. In fact, refueling from the
centerline
hose, or boom, and either WARP is prohibited. That pic may have been taken
during the WARP trials, when it was determined that three receivers were
just too close. (It was also determined that the original hose was not long
enough.) I suppose, if some receivers were about to ditch due to a fuel
emergency, the KC-10 crew go ahead and refuel three at a time. I spent 20
years on the KC-10 and never heard of it, outside of the initial trials
work.

This is from the KC-135 section of ATP-56:
Note: Simultaneous refuelling from the centreline BDA and wing tip mounted
MPRS AAR pod(s) is prohibited due to inadequate refuelling envelope
clearance between receiver aircraft.

The KC-10 has a permanent centerline drogue next to the boom pivot area.
So a Ten can refuel any fixed wing aircraft on a single mission. The
KC-135 can do one or the other but not both.

Unless it has the MPRS for hose receivers while keeping its boom "intact".

Obviously.

Curt


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