Air to Air Refuelling

[wavn]

Last week, I have excercised AAR and I would have liked, if I could tell you that I managed to get the tanks full (beginning with almost empty) in 1 turn (only 1 time coupling on the tanker).

I'am learning and getting better all the time and manage to get the tanks full in about 5 minutes ( or a little more) but certainley not in 1 turn.

With the SU 33, I manage to tank full in 1 turn (but she has autothrust).

 

I'am curious: do you get the A10C in AAR full in 1 time coupling at the tanker? :)

[WildBillKelsoe]

at first I had a lot of disconnects. Then by practice and flying formation and precision flying, I can top off in one connect.

[NeilWillis]

AAR is far and away the hardest evolution in DCS. But yes, given time and practice you can get to the point where you can refuel with a single contact.

 

The difference between basket and boom refuelling is clearly a factor when you compare the SU-33 to the Hog. The basket is far more forgiving if you get out of position during the evolution. That might explain why you find them behaving as they do.

[exray]

I've actually found that all my AAR practice in the Harrier has helped me tremendously in the hog.

 

Even though it's a probe/drogue, the Harrier refueling probe is out of sight off to the left of the pilot, so it really makes you focus on the visual cues of the tanker itself.

 

It seems so much easier now to refuel the hog because you can see the boom in your peripheral vision while keeping your eyes locked on the tanker.

[Yurgon]

Depends. Most of the time I can get the Hog filled up in one connect, but on some days the slightest bit of deceleration triggers a disconnect.

 

With the Harrier, plugging in is still extremely difficult for me, but once I have contact, I've never lost it unless I actually wanted to.

 

For all I know, the KC-135 boom behavior in DCS is fairly terrible when compared to RL. IRL, the boom operator would wait for the jet to be established in the refueling area, and then plug the boom in. In DCS, the guy tries to chase the nose around the sky, which does more harm than good. So if you ever find yourself in a real A-10 and on the way to AAR, it'll probably be easier. :D

[wavn]

Still practicing, I'am making progress: last AAR in almost 1 connect: just in the last phase, there was a disconnect, so it took 2 connects.

Saw in my logbook, that I have made 78 AAR's so it takes me some time to learn but I'am coming close :)

Edited December 8, 2017 by wavn

[Wrench]

10,000 Hours.

[wavn]

10,000 Hours.

 

Whaaaaat: logged 10.000 hours: really?

[WildBillKelsoe]

Whaaaaat: logged 10.000 hours: really?

 

I think he meant you need 10k hours in order to successfully do it blindfolded.

[Wrench]

Supposedly it's from an old (discredited) study.

[Vampyr]

I've got 10,000 hours worth of stalls and crashes. I should be able to do this. :P