Tankers not enough lights at night?

[Nightwolf]

I'm no expert in these things, but shouldn't there be formation lights and maybe even floodlights on tankers at night? I've been trying to practice my night time AAR, and I can barely see the boom or drouge, and then only be pure chance of getting close enough. I have to first fly close enough for the nav lights on the tanker to show up using radar, then guess based on the nav lights where the refueling instrument is (depending on the tanker).

 

Are there supposed to be flood lights to light up the thing you're supposed to be flying to, or do you have to rely on your own aircraft lights? Even formation lights would help, flying off the nav lights alone is extremely difficult.

 

I've tried it with and without clouds, and with and without a full moon, nothing really helps. I'm aware that there are some problems with deferred shading at night right now, but I can't do anything, or see anything really. Do I just have to get good at guessing, or is night AAR just not a thing that happens ever?

[ST0RM]

The KC-135 was built in the 50s-60s. Formation strip lights were not and do not equip it. The later KC-10 has them.

 

And yes, there are lights that help but arent done on the model. Underbody/underwing lights shine from the #1 & 3 engine nacelles illuminate the belly and from the belly outward to the wings. Nacelle Illumination lights shine outward from the fuselage toward the wings. Lastly, at the top of the tail, the Tail Mounted Flood Light shines straight down into the AR envelope. This is adjustable in brightness.

 

As a receiver (KC-135RTs at McConnell were receiver capable), we would use the TMFL and Underbody lights to form a triangle with the black void of the boom pod at it's center to get into precontact, 50ft aft. Then use the PDLs (strip lights on the belly) to move in.

 

On the wings, The Nacelle lights were dimmed for the receivers to use and not blind them, to keep formation on the wings. Sadly, ED will need some work there.