Tankers - Operational Speeds & Manoeuvers

[Thisdale]

Hey guys,

 

This is mostly a question about for real-life Tanker operators (or people that are in the know); about proper procedures for Tankers (all?).

 

What is the average speed a Tanker goes to when refueling?

 

Do they change speed drastically (like in DCS) when making contact? (from 250 to 310 for example)?

 

How much communication is there between the Tanker and Pilot(s)? Do they share constant radio comms? (little to the left, little power, less power, good altitude... )

 

What's the proper approach to a tanker and connection?

(i always though it was

1. Formation on Left wing

2. Transition to boom/basque as designated by Tanker

3. Formation on the right wing when done (waiting for other members of a flight, if applicable).

 

 

The reasons for these questions is, because we tend to practice that a lot, but we never really know where or how to do it properly.

 

Also, because, well... DCS, in the past 15 years, have not made refueling effective or fonctional, most of the time.

 

Thanks for your time!

 

[BlackSharkAce]

Tankers - Operational Speeds & Manoeuvers

 

AFAIK:

~300 knots

25'000-35'000 ft

There might be a speed and/or altitude change depending on the receiving aircraft.

Information about speed, altitude and proximity are given by the director lights and boom extension indicator, no coms.

Procedure is pre contact on the left wing and move to the right wing after refueling.

 

There's probably official procedures online somewhere for each different receiving aircraft/tanker.

 

In some "com out" scenarios there are no communications at all, TACAN or Radar can be used to locate the tanker.

 

Airspeed change in DCS is a bug with the M2KC, it doesn't happen with the A-10C if I recall correctly.

Edited August 19, 2016 by BlackSharkAce

[NoJoe]

NATO standards are:

 

275 KIAS or Mach .78, whichever is lower. However there are also specific procedures for our beloved A-10, since it's so slow: 15,000 MSL, 220 KIAS

 

 

For the question of whether to join on the left or the right wing, that depends on the air force.

 

NATO standard procedure is for aircraft to join on the tanker's left wing, in echelon left formation. Then after fueling they move to the right wing in echelon right.

 

US Military procedure is the exact opposite (for some reason)... Aircraft join on the right, and move to the left after getting fuel.

Edited August 20, 2016 by NoJoe
I had NATO/US backwards

[VTJS17_Fire]

You can take a look in the ATP-56(B)_AIR-TO-AIR REFUELLING. There are the NATO Standard procedures for Aerial refueling.

 

[ame]http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/9B867BBC_1143_EC82_2EF1BC56D030FEA9.pdf[/ame]

 

And as you can see, NATO Standard is from left (Observation Area) to right (Reform Area).

[NoJoe]

And as you can see, NATO Standard is from left (Observation Area) to right (Reform Area).

 

Whoops, you're right! I had it backwards; sorry about that. Good reference, I've edited my post.