Great Q&A with an Air Force Mid-Air Refueler

[Grimes]

 

Reddit has a little section where people state what they do or some experience they've had and people just ask em whatever the hell the want about it. This guy was a boom operator on a KC-10/ KC-135. Interesting read.

[Griffin]

The comments have alot of interesting stuff too where the operator answers some question. Ever wonder why A-10's have dented noses?

 

A-10's have that nose-mounted receptacle, and most A-10 pilots are trained to focus on the end of the boom when they approach the contact position and they typically ignore the pilot director lights that the boom operator is using to signal them.

They always come in high using that closure technique. It's just that simple. The drive it in too high and bonk! bump right into the end of the boom if the boom operator doesn't get it out of the way. Often the boom operator will raise the boom only to have the A-10 pilot follow and do the nose-bonk thing. So that's why they all have dented beaks.

In fairness, the nose receptacle layout means that the boom itself probably blocks some of their view of the pilot director lights.

Also, A-10's are slow, and at slower refueling airspeeds the boom's a bit sluggish, so it's harder to get it out of their way when they're intent on doing the nose-bonk thing.

 

 

Thanks for sharing!

[Vekkinho]

 

Reddit has a little section where people state what they do or some experience they've had and people just ask em whatever the hell the want about it. This guy was a boom operator on a KC-10/ KC-135. Interesting read.

 

Nice read, thanks 4 sharing!