Foreword
Aerial refueling or AAR (air-to-air refueling), is the thing that every DCS pilot hates at least as much as his mother-in-law. But if you want to keep having fun, you need to get along with it, respect it (at least when in close proximity) and do as it tells you.
Tanker, like your mother-in-law, is not your friend. It's there to make your life harder, it's there to make you sweat before you can keep doing what you like.
Think of it as a necessary evil, if you don't please the tanker, you will crash and burn. Literally.
Aerial refueling or AAR (air-to-air refueling), is the thing that every DCS pilot hates at least as much as his mother-in-law. But if you want to keep having fun, you need to get along with it, respect it (at least when in close proximity) and do as it tells you.
Tanker, like your mother-in-law, is not your friend. It's there to make your life harder, it's there to make you sweat before you can keep doing what you like.
Think of it as a necessary evil, if you don't please the tanker, you will crash and burn. Literally.
Intent to refuel
When the need for aerial refuel arises, you need to follow the next steps:
1. Locate the tanker. There are a few ways to do it:
Once cleared to join, fly to tankers left-hand side, this is called the observation area. Planes that have yet to refuel, wait in this area for their turn.
When the need for aerial refuel arises, you need to follow the next steps:
1. Locate the tanker. There are a few ways to do it:
- Check the briefing for tanker location
- Contact AWACS and ask for vector to tanker
- Find tanker via TACAN
- Call the tanker via radio and declare an intent to refuel. If all is well, tanker will clear you for joining him, and tell you it's operating altitude.
Once cleared to join, fly to tankers left-hand side, this is called the observation area. Planes that have yet to refuel, wait in this area for their turn.
4. Move to pre-contact
When in observation area, and next in line for refuel, move into the position behind the drogue. You will know which position to take by knowing the following:
- One Receiver on Tanker with 2 Wing Refueling Stations. When the tanker has 2 wing refueling stations and both are available, the receiver moves to the right hand refueling position.
- Two or More Receivers on Tanker with 2 Wing Refueling Stations. If there is more than one receiver and both refueling stations are vacant, the first receiver moves behind the right hand hose into the astern position, and the second receiver moves in turn behind the left hand hose into the astern position.
- Receivers Waiting on the Tanker Wing. Until directed by the tanker, all other aircraft should remain steady in the observation area.
5. Ready pre-contact
- When you are ready and in position, call the tanker again and declare »Ready pre-contact«. If tanker is happy with your positioning, it will call you back and say »Cleared contact«. If tanker is not happy with your position, it will say »Return pre-contact«. If that is the case, move closer to the drogue and call it again.
6. Cleared contact
- This is it. The D-Day, first dinner with your mother-in-law. Tanker will release the drogue and it will slowly float to your position. Slowly and carefully fly towards the drogue and with little skill, plenty of luck and a lot of black magic, you will place your probe in the tankers drogue. Keep it there for a few minutes until your tanks are full again.
7. Transfer complete. Disconnect
When your tanks are full, tanker will let you know that it's done with you for today. Slowly pull back on the throttle and let tanker get ahead of you. After tanker is a hundred or so feet in front of you, start moving right into the reform area.
When your tanks are full, tanker will let you know that it's done with you for today. Slowly pull back on the throttle and let tanker get ahead of you. After tanker is a hundred or so feet in front of you, start moving right into the reform area.
8. Reform area
Congratulations, you are done. Now just fly in formation with the tanker, while staying inside the reform area, and wait for your buddies to complete the AAR.
Congratulations, you are done. Now just fly in formation with the tanker, while staying inside the reform area, and wait for your buddies to complete the AAR.
Afterword
Hornet has short legs, therefore AAR is a necessity. It is hard, but with practice, anyone can do it. I hope that this tutorial has shed some light onto this difficult, yet oddly satisfying, procedure.
This tutorial was based on document ATP-56(b) 2-1. All pictures are from also from that document.
Hornet has short legs, therefore AAR is a necessity. It is hard, but with practice, anyone can do it. I hope that this tutorial has shed some light onto this difficult, yet oddly satisfying, procedure.
This tutorial was based on document ATP-56(b) 2-1. All pictures are from also from that document.