A2A Refueling

[CBenson89]

When it comes to air refueling does the tanker change altitude a lot? I have just started trying to air refuel the tomcat and while this my first attempt to refuel I have probably spent 2-3 hours on it maybe made contact a dozen times and have taken in maybe 10 gallons. It seems like when I’m trying to get setup behind the Viking they it is constantly making small increases and decreases in altitude. Also can’t anyone clarify how to trim my aircraft properly for air refueling? What am I looking for and how do I know when my cat is properly trimmed. Thank you so much for any help offered! I love the F-14!

 

 

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[punk]

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=233889

[Larkis]

I think its not the tanker who change altitute. Its you.

[*Aquila*]

When it comes to air refueling does the tanker change altitude a lot? I have just started trying to air refuel the tomcat and while this my first attempt to refuel I have probably spent 2-3 hours on it maybe made contact a dozen times and have taken in maybe 10 gallons. It seems like when I’m trying to get setup behind the Viking they it is constantly making small increases and decreases in altitude. Also can’t anyone clarify how to trim my aircraft properly for air refueling? What am I looking for and how do I know when my cat is properly trimmed. Thank you so much for any help offered! I love the F-14!

 

 

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The tanker doesn't change altitude. As said Larkis in the post just above, you do. I suggest you sweep the wings to the bombing position. This will force the F-14 in a higher AoA, thus turning its airframe into more of a giant airbrake, making thrust management way smoother. As well, it will keep the automatism from constantly changing the plane's aerodynamic configuration.

 

 

 

When you're familiar with AAR, you'll chose a manual setting for the wings depending on the situation, tanker altitude and speed, as well as your own payload.

[Eaglewings]

Your notion of the tanker changing altitude may well be you oscillating. Tankers in all my experience in aerial refuel mostly maintain a constant altitude.

Wings sweep in auto with tiny pitch trimming helps me a lot.

Unlike the fly-by-wire aircraft where the fcs assist, the Tomcat is different, more involving and fun.

[Nexus-6]

- Wings set to "Bomb Mode"

 

- Trim, trim, trim, trim

 

Rinse and Repeat until you achieve success.

 

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[Whirley]

Wings to 55° works for me.

Also it is more difficult to refuel at the small Viking than with bigger tankers, because you can't see it very well behind the canopy frame. The big tankers give better visual reference.

 

It is easier to judge your alignment or drifts if you see the tankers tail and wing for reference.

 

Another thing that helped me was to just back off and try again if you miss the hose. If you try to correct the alignment in the last moment you naturally tend to start oscillations.

 

So if you miss, back off and try again from a distance.

 

No worries, you will get there eventually.

[Uxi]

Biggest thing for me was figuring out the right amount of slow constant acceleration relative to the tanker until just after the connection. Makes corrections much easier and don't end up chasing the basket and oscillating.

 

My biggest wtf has been after disconnect, retract the probe and set the air back to both engines, as soon as I put the throttles forward, the plane pulls up hard. I have to push the stick down to stay level and if I let go, nose goes way up and AoA past 15 units. Only way I can keep control is to invert or roll 90 degrees then level out. Sometimes takes 2 or 3 times. Trimming doesn't do anything. Anyone else see this?

Edited March 16, 2020 by Uxi

[CBenson89]

Biggest thing for me was figuring out the right amount of slow constant acceleration relative to the tanker until just after the connection. Makes corrections much easier and don't end up chasing the basket and oscillating.

 

My biggest wtf has been after disconnect, retract the probe and set the air back to both enginesthe plane pulls up hard. I have to push the stick down to stay level and if I let go, nose gos way up and AoA past 15 units. Only way I can keep control is to invert or roll 90 degrees then level out. Sometimes takes 2 or 3 times. Anyone else see this?

 

 

Thanks for all of the help! I find myself constantly running into the the boom or it ends up between my nose and probe. I wish they fixed it so the probe slid down the basket instead of through it but I’m just gonna keep practicing!

 

 

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[viper2097]

The probe slides down the basket. If it just goes through, then you didn't hear a "cleared contact" before.

 

It is unfortunately a DCS bug since over a year that the drogues are optical extended while they are technicaly still retracted when you are in singleplayer or the host of a mp session.

 

BTW: Refueling was never done in bomb mode. Either in auto for experienced pilots, or with 40° for rookies.

Here is also a real long thread about A2A refueling: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=233889