Tanker for the F-18 ?

[Shadow KT]

As I was practicing some A2A refueling, and complaining how much harder a boom vs a basket is, it clicked me. Isn't the F-18 only a basket refueling capable ?How are we going to refuel it ? Are we going to have to ask the russkies to lend us a tanker ? :D

[Sverre]

There's the S-3 Viking - but it looks very outdated so an updated model would be nice.

[Shadow KT]

Aren't there KC-135 with the basket adapter ? Pretty sure I've seen such. On pictures

 

https://airrefuelingarchive.wordpress.com/tag/bda/

Edited August 23, 2017 by Shadow KT

[Hog_No32]

IRL there are other hose-drogue (i.e. basket) tankers such as A310, A330, KC-135. In DCS we currently have the S-3 and the Il-78.

[CheckGear]

More than likely, the KC-10 and KC-135 will be refueling in the F/A-18, especially considering the lack of organic tanking within carrier air wings today. The Super Hornet is the only aircraft capable of tanking.

[Shadow KT]

We will see what happens ^.^ Maybe ED has a surprise for us

[mytai01]

We will see what happens ^.^ Maybe ED has a surprise for us

 

The surprise will be that you need to do a great job of fuel management! More than likely, your carrier will have collided with a civilian cargo ship and sunk before you get back. So, have that divert as a waypoint!

Edited August 23, 2017 by mytai01

[razo+r]

Or just take fuel from the current KC-135. It may look wrong but it works.

[Shadow KT]

Or just take fuel from the current KC-135. It may look wrong but it works.

 

picture :D ?

[SkateZilla]

There will eventually be other options:

[RyboPops]

Oh my....that's going to be lots of fun.

[Shadow KT]

There will eventually be other options:

 

I am guessing this is from the "What If" section :D

[addde]

I am guessing this is from the "What If" section :D

 

What if? The super hornet is perfectly capable of buddy-tankering

[Sverre]

What if? The super hornet is perfectly capable of buddy-tankering

 

 

Im sure he means from the "what if" screenshot thread where people post screens of usermade mods like the superhornet skatezilla showed.

[Alfa]

I think he was referring to the screenshot being from the "What If" section(thread) of the forum - more specifically SkateZilla's own mod project :)

 

Edit: sniped by Sverre.

[TonyG]

There's a modification for the KC-135 that's referred to as the Iron Maiden, not popular with Navy pilots and very temperamental.

 

https://fightersweep.com/2881/why-navy-pilots-hate-the-kc-135/

[Baz000]

 

here is what we need folks, I have actually seen this very thing where I live (2 F-18s refueling off a KC-130) the navy flies training right over my house as i'm near NAS Pax River. These guys where flying really low and very slow when they were doing this training.

 

(note I didn't take this picture, I just searched the web for something similar to what I saw)

 

Apparently, the KC-130 can air refuel quite a bit of probe aircraft... F-14, AV-8B, CH-53, A-6, Mig-29... Etc, you name it... Now the only thing is, it is not launched from a carrier obviously but rather from a ground base.

 

 

here is a web article on the USMC KC-130J from the commanding officer of one of the squadrons.

 

http://www.sldinfo.com/the-kc-130j-and-usmc-operations-the-maturing-of-the-osprey-as-a-partner-for-change/

 

so, food for thought...

[Shadow KT]

Yeah, looks great to me :)

[Magic Zach]

We don't need any new aircraft. The KC-135 had a basket adapter.

[Winterz]

Here is what we need: an option for the KC135.

[razo+r]

picture :D ?

 

If it works with the mirage it will work with the hornet too since they use the same system...

 

[5e EVC Chappy]

We don't need any new aircraft. The KC-135 had a basket adapter.

 

It's not implemented in DCS. Yet(?)

[sideshow]

I can attest to the destruction of the Iron Maiden. Back in 01, the airforce ripped so many of our probes off, the supply system ran out. We had to swap probes from down jets, to up jets, just to make the flight schedule. It's another reason you'll see pictures of Hornets, with the probe fairing removed. Less chance of it getting knocked off, and sucked down an intake if you just take it off.

 

I like the idea of an adapter for the KC-135, but I think DCS needs the KC-130 also. Imagine a KC-130 with Marine Harrier on one wing, and a Marine Hornet on the other.

Edited August 24, 2017 by sideshow

[Weasel]

I really can't imagine that ED won't provide us with an AAR solution when they release the hornet

[Magic Zach]

It's not implemented in DCS. Yet(?)

Obviously. Never did I say that the KC-135 in DCS has this. I said the real thing has this option.