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Howto:Aerial refueling: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Airrefuelingready.png]] | [[File:Airrefuelingready.png]] | ||
[[File:F-8E_refueling_behind_KA-6.jpg|thumb|270px|A F-8E receiving fuel from a hose-equipped KA-6.]] | |||
'''Aerial refueling''', also called '''air refueling''', '''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. | '''Aerial refueling''', also called '''air refueling''', '''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. | ||
== What is possible == | == What is possible == | ||
At present, there are three tanker [[aircraft]] and several receiving aircraft capable of in-air refuelling: | At present, there are three tanker [[aircraft]] and several receiving aircraft capable of in-air refuelling: | ||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! style="background:#efefef" |Aircraft | ! style="background:#efefef" |Aircraft | ||
! style="background:#efefef" |Can be refueled by | ! style="background:#efefef" |Can be refueled by | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Douglas A4 Skyhawk]] | |[[Douglas A4 Skyhawk]] | ||
|rowspan="5"| | |rowspan="5"|Grumman KA-6 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[English Electric Lightning]] | |[[English Electric Lightning]] | ||
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|[[Fairchild A-10]] | |[[Fairchild A-10]] | ||
|rowspan="5"|[[Boeing KC-135E]] | |rowspan="5"|[[Boeing KC-135E]] | ||
[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30|McDonnell Douglas KC-10A]] | [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30|McDonnell Douglas KC-10A]] | ||
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|} | |} | ||
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 [[Howto: Multiplayer|multiplayer]] session. It is not possible to control the boom/hose position yet; they are always | 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 [[Howto: Multiplayer|multiplayer]] session. It is not possible to control the boom/hose position yet; they are always operable when the tankers are air-born. | ||
Implementing aerial refueling capability to other aircraft is pretty straight forward, as explained in [[Howto: Implement aerial refueling capability|this article]]. It does not require much coding-skills and can be done by the average FlightGear user. | Implementing aerial refueling capability to other aircraft is pretty straight forward, as explained in [[Howto: Implement aerial refueling capability|this article]]. It does not require much coding-skills and can be done by the average FlightGear user. | ||
== Receiving fuel == | == Receiving fuel == | ||
[[File:Tanker.jpg|thumb|270px|The tanker control dialog in FG 2.11]] | |||
=== Necessary preparations === | === Necessary preparations === | ||
==== Request a tanker at current position ==== | ==== Request a tanker at current position ==== | ||
As of FlightGear 2.4.0 you can request a tanker close to your current position, via the in-sim <tt>AI > Tanker Controls</tt> dialog. | As of FlightGear 2.4.0 you can request a tanker close to your current position, via the in-sim <tt>AI > Tanker Controls</tt> dialog. | ||
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Perhaps the first thing to do after starting the engines, if necessary, is to select the appropriate TACAN channel if your aircraft is so equipped (the A4F and Lightning both are). Enter the channel using the relevant dropdown boxes in the radios dialogue (<tt>Equipment > Radio Settings</tt> or press {{Key press|F12}}). Note that you should pick the channel of the tanker-type that you aircraft can receive from ([[#What is possible|see the table above]]). | Perhaps the first thing to do after starting the engines, if necessary, is to select the appropriate TACAN channel if your aircraft is so equipped (the A4F and Lightning both are). Enter the channel using the relevant dropdown boxes in the radios dialogue (<tt>Equipment > Radio Settings</tt> or press {{Key press|F12}}). Note that you should pick the channel of the tanker-type that you aircraft can receive from ([[#What is possible|see the table above]]). | ||
{| class=" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! style="background:#efefef" |Tanker | ! style="background:#efefef" |Tanker | ||
! style="background:#efefef" |TACAN | ! style="background:#efefef" |TACAN | ||
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=== In the air === | === In the air === | ||
[[File:KC-135E.jpg|thumb|270px|The KC-135E aircraft with the boom.]] | |||
==== General procedure ==== | ==== General procedure ==== | ||
Turn to an appropriate heading, guided by the TACAN bearing (you should try a "leading" approach to close in on the tanker) and look for the tanker on the radar or nav screen. Around 5nm away, you should reduce your 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 your speed should you find yourself overshooting. | Turn to an appropriate heading, guided by the TACAN bearing (you should try a "leading" approach to close in on the tanker) and look for the tanker on the radar or nav screen. Around 5nm away, you should reduce your 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 your speed should you find yourself overshooting. | ||
Close to within 50ft of the tanker (do not get too close, or visual artifacts might hide the boom from view). You 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 you should see the indicated tank load increase. | Close to within 50ft of the tanker (do not get too close, or visual artifacts might hide the boom from view). You 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 you should see the indicated tank load increase. | ||
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== Simulation vs. reality == | == Simulation vs. reality == | ||
[[File:f16-air-air-refuel.jpg|thumb|270px|Approaching the tanker with a [[F-16]] - and receiving fuel already (FG 1.9.1)!]] | [[File:f16-air-air-refuel.jpg|thumb|270px|Approaching the tanker with a [[F-16]] - and receiving fuel already (FG 1.9.1)!]] | ||
[[File:Refueling pos.jpg|thumb|270px|The view from the F-16 cockpit with the plane in a realistic refueling position (FG 2.11)]] | |||
There are a few things which are (presumably) easier in the simulation as compared with the real world, but there are also some that are harder. First, the envelope for refueling is actually quite generous - you start getting fuel in a position where in the real world this could not possibly work (see picture). The real refueling position of the F-16 feels a lot less comfortable! It is also mercifully short - usually holding the plane in the correct spot for about 30 seconds is all you need. There is also no turbulence or other change in the airstream induced by the tanker modelled. | There are a few things which are (presumably) easier in the simulation as compared with the real world, but there are also some that are harder. First, the envelope for refueling is actually quite generous - you start getting fuel in a position where in the real world this could not possibly work (see picture). The real refueling position of the F-16 feels a lot less comfortable! It is also mercifully short - usually holding the plane in the correct spot for about 30 seconds is all you need. There is also no turbulence or other change in the airstream induced by the tanker modelled. | ||
As of Flightgear 2.11, it is now possible to select a realistic refueling envelope, forcing the pilot to get much closer to the tanker (see picture). | As of Flightgear 2.11, it is now possible to select a realistic refueling envelope, forcing the pilot to get much closer to the tanker (see picture). | ||
What is on the other hand probably easier in real life is flying by eye - in reality, we usually don't have any problems accurately gauging relative motions of a few feet per second. On the screen, with finite resolution and not-exactly-real textures and shadows, a lot of visual cues are missing and gauging a small relative motion becomes difficult. Also, in real life both the tanker and the refueling plane fly in the same airstream and wind effects not being felt by the tanker AI model are not an issue. | What is on the other hand probably easier in real life is flying by eye - in reality, we usually don't have any problems accurately gauging relative motions of a few feet per second. On the screen, with finite resolution and not-exactly-real textures and shadows, a lot of visual cues are missing and gauging a small relative motion becomes difficult. Also, in real life both the tanker and the refueling plane fly in the same airstream and wind effects not being felt by the tanker AI model are not an issue. | ||
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== Related content == | == Related content == | ||
* [[Howto: Implement aerial refueling capability]] | * [[Howto: Implement aerial refueling capability]] | ||
[[de:Luft zu Luft Betankung]] | [[de:Luft zu Luft Betankung]] | ||
[[fr:Ravitaillement_en_vol]] | [[fr:Ravitaillement_en_vol]] | ||