Is the F-14B Harder to A2A Refuel or is it just me?

[Weegie]

Doing the Air 2 Air thang with the C-130

 

I find it's more difficult to plug in generally, far from an easy module to refuel with.

 

However as if that's not hard enough there are times I'm slowly placing the probe down the basket's throat & yet the probe just goes straight through. It's almost as if the window to get an engagment is narrower than other modules (thinking about the Hornet as an example)

 

I also think the Tomcat appears to unplug easier than any other module I've got. For instance if you fly too close to the Tanker or get back too far, just my perception that unless you are around 90% on the money you are going to loose that basket. I know the other modules also unplug but the window again seems narrower

 

Be interested to know what others think on this and any tips.

 

Seen the videos and also fly the hose not the basket, I've refuelled many many times in just about everyting else but the Cat is giving me fits (I find the AV-8B easier).

 

Connected and completed refuelling a few times but at the moment I'm just not comfortable with knowing that I'm going to get some gas as I approach, it's a bit hit and miss for me right now

[DD_Fenrir]

Wings in bomb mode?

[Manhorne]

Putting the wings in bomb mode makes a big difference. I struggled a lot until I did that. After I got efficient refueling in bomb mode I have started practicing without bomb mode on but with out it on the aircraft pitches a lot more and makes it hard.

[Weegie]

Yup in bomb mode & getting better thanks for the replies

 

 

Maybe I'm either

a) Useless

b) Need more practice

[Biggus]

I did it in bomb mode for a long time, but I've recently changed to 40deg following some discussion in another thread here. So long as you're in a manual mode and you've got enough lift and throttle resolution (aka very fine control over your airspeed) at your chosen position, I don't think it matters enormously starting out.

 

 

Quick edit:

Your hardware can make a big difference too, so don't beat yourself up too much. I was far, far below average in performance with my Warthog stick. Constant disconnects, great difficulty approaching the drogue, etc. Replaced the base with a Virpil one and immediately was able to hook up and stay connected.

Edited August 1, 2019 by Biggus
Responding to a post published just prior to this one.

[Kappi]

For me I found the bomb mode very handy. Then using the wing of the tanker as reference for altitude. And with the X52Pro throttle I have the luxury that the refueling speed is just above the lower detent :)

[grant977]

I just leave it in auto but that’s after lots and lots or practice hook ups.

[Nealius]

I've found S-3s much easier to tank from with wings in AUTO due to the tanker's higher speed. The KC-130 is way too slow, so your maneuver flaps/slats occasionally pop out and spoil your lineup.

[draconus]

Your hardware can make a big difference too, so don't beat yourself up too much. I was far, far below average in performance with my Warthog stick. Constant disconnects, great difficulty approaching the drogue, etc. Replaced the base with a Virpil one and immediately was able to hook up and stay connected.

Considering myself intermediate at least I thought budget HOTAS X may be holding me back so I just upgraded to T16000M HOTAS and... no magic happened. Still struggling for my first AAR. Always good to know a few hundreds dollars more would help :)

Edited August 4, 2019 by draconus

[bies]

3D googles did it for me, a tanker is huge now and i can see precise position of the basket not only in X and Y but also in Z. And it's a lot easier to fly in formation with the tanker, i feel every tiny difference in speed between me and the tanker so i can react far earlier then in 2D.

Edited August 2, 2019 by bies

[Weegie]

Yeah VR is in my future, just waiting for all the market offerings to be fully reviewed and all the hardware available

 

I discovered a BIG stupid fat error, had the tanker going around 300 KIAS, dropped that to 240 and bingo a lot more controllable

 

Also found that at the slower airspeed you use more throttle so it's easier to micro manage the airspeed and approach the basket slowly

 

Thanks for all the replies