Inflight refueling

[GGTharos]

Are the tanker lights not described in the manual?

 

Can anyone give me idea where to find more information on the belly guiding light of the KC-135? They change wile I maneuver but I still can not figure where exactly should I place the A-10 to be in the best position. At the same time the boom is chasing me and the result is one big mess... Thanks...

[skypirate]

I could not find anything about the lights.

There is short description how the process should flow (482-485)...

Maybe I'm missing something?

[GGTharos]

I don't think you're missing anything. I'll report this.

[robmlufc]

Bonus to those of you who can contact and refuel in a turn during race-track orbit ... I did it, you should be able to as well :D

 

I tried that last night .... epic fail

[Frederf]

Can anyone give me idea where to find more information on the belly guiding light of the KC-135? They change wile I maneuver but I still can not figure where exactly should I place the A-10 to be in the best position. At the same time the boom is chasing me and the result is one big mess... Thanks...

 

Here's a close up of the KC-10 PDI lights. They are called PDL on the KC-135. It's worth it to note that the PDL are controlled by boom position and not aircraft position. If the boom operator's technique is to follow the aircraft around with the boom then the PDL can help establish contact but otherwise is only useful for maintaining limits while in contact.

 

Fore/aft position is on the right hand side, which is the throttle hand on most/all large USAF aircraft. Up/down is on the left side for the left hand on the yoke. Small jets are the other way around of course. Flashing lights indicate minor movement while solid indicates more significant movement. Off lights mean disconnect while flashing PDL+aircraft lighting means breakaway.

 

This PDF gives good information about a lot of AAR. Pages of note are 4 and 9. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/6ACABD83_1143_EC82_2EE2BBB48BDF8D3C.pdf

[Echonomix]

Why bother with lights? Most of the pilots do this blindfolded right? :D

 

I was driving today. I kept syncing speed with the cars around me in preparation for in flight refueling....not kidding here :)

 

Slightly OT question: Is there a way, or going to be a way, to change the mission editor measurements from metric to imperial?

[Revelation]

*Disclaimer* I know this is a beta and it may be just how it is for now.

 

Has anyone been able to actaully get gas from the Tanker? I can connect just fine and after a short moment it disconnects and that's it. The tanker will not respond further to my requests for fuel. I'm just wondering if maybe there's a setting inside of the ME to give the Tanker fuel to give my AC.

 

I've set the orbit as race track, and as circle - no changes. I can connect just fine. Anyone have better luck?

[ESzczesniak]

*Disclaimer* I know this is a beta and it may be just how it is for now.

 

Has anyone been able to actaully get gas from the Tanker? I can connect just fine and after a short moment it disconnects and that's it. The tanker will not respond further to my requests for fuel. I'm just wondering if maybe there's a setting inside of the ME to give the Tanker fuel to give my AC.

 

I've set the orbit as race track, and as circle - no changes. I can connect just fine. Anyone have better luck?

 

My default answer is that you're probably not holding steady enough behind the tanker once connected. However, you may have something here. I stayed connected for about 30 seconds and I don't think I recieved any fuel. If I recall correctly, the flow is something on the order of 2,000 gallons/min. I should have gotten close to 1,000 gallons and at best got 100.

[Revelation]

My default answer is that you're probably not holding steady enough behind the tanker once connected. However, you may have something here. I stayed connected for about 30 seconds and I don't think I recieved any fuel. If I recall correctly, the flow is something on the order of 2,000 gallons/min. I should have gotten close to 1,000 gallons and at best got 100.

 

Normally I would agree, but I've now done it 7 times with the same result, it immediatley disconnects once I get connected and I can't contact the Tanker again.

[braden]

how much was Stephen Hawking paid to do the voice for 'Shell' ?

[skypirate]

This PDF gives good information about a lot of AAR. Pages of note are 4 and 9. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/6ACABD83_1143_EC82_2EE2BBB48BDF8D3C.pdf

 

Great reference!

This is what I needed.

Thanks!

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Slightly off topic, is it possible to get A/A TACAN working for the tanker? At the mo I have to cheat and use F10 to find it!

[andysim]

it does work yes. you need to set the option in the editor though.

 

Advance Tab set

Perform Command/ Activate TACAN

Channel mode X or Y

Channel 1 or what ever you want.

 

 

Start up the mission and turn on the TACAN to AAR and set channel 1. Be aware you will have to turn off the TACAN unit in order to use the radios. This is a know bug I think.

 

 

 

Hope I helped :lol:

Edited November 4, 2010 by andysim

[EagleEye]

.... it immediatley disconnects once I get connected and I can't contact the Tanker again.

Same for me... Have you get the LATCHED light? I´m not sure I had this light on, because my eyes where focused on the boom. I think I just have not the flying skills yet. Need more training.

 

Thanks Fire for the mission file!

[ESzczesniak]

There are two things to keep in mind about those lights.

 

1. As mentioned before in this thread, they are aliased to boom position. This means that they are of little value until you're latched. Before this point, they're not useful, as they're just telling you where the tip of the probe should go. There's a long of discussion on various places that treat these lights as a frensel system where it would depend on your aircraft position. However, aircraft position varies by type of aircraft and there's no easy way to change such a system.

 

2. You can see the probe in an A-10 when latched...fly that. The A-10 is the only aicraft I can think of this moment where you have this gift (F-15 is close being over your left shoulder. The aircraft that really need these lights are the heavies (and that's who they're designed for) who have the boom latching several feet behind they're heads.

 

This isn't fully appropriate, but I'm actually finding myself flying the approahc to the boom a little like a Navy drogue and probe style. Since I can see where the boom is at all times, it's very easy to put the probe right in the recepticle (Obviously aided by the boom operating flying the boom to keep it inline.

[Dejjvid]

I practiced some AAR last night. But with the crappy and uneven resistance in my X52. I find it almost impossible to keep it steady enough. I will give it a new go when my TMW arrives.

[dane48]

what am I doing wrong? With this mission, it starts up with the Kc-135 tanker flying and I am not in the A-10. Was this just a MP mission? Thank you

[kylania]

what am I doing wrong? With this mission, it starts up with the Kc-135 tanker flying and I am not in the A-10. Was this just a MP mission? Thank you

 

Make sure you selected Player for your A-10 and that your start times are all the same and match the mission start time.

[dane48]

Make sure you selected Player for your A-10 and that your start times are all the same and match the mission start time.

 

 

Thank you sir: Much appreciated

[Loz]

Problems getting gas

 

OK I can make contact with the tanker (no problems using Shell c/s) and get into postion but no fuel flows.

I've used LCTL + R to select the refueling flap but even thought I've checked the key assignments (which are correct) the flap doesn't open visually and ther is no ready indication on the indicator to the right of the HUD, and until that works I guess I ain't getting any refuelling.

Any ideas?

When I select LCTL + R to open the sim pauses for a sec or less just like you sometimes get when taking a screenshot, and the RWR starts to bleet, but thats all.

I've checked that the Master Arm, Gun Pac and Laser are all switched to safe, and the Maverick EO power is OFF.

Any help appreciated.

:cry:

[kylania]

Click the handle on the console. :)

[Frederf]

ESzczesniak, knowing what we know it's pretty obvious that Falcon 4.0 etc. got AAR refueling wrong with regards to the PDL/PDI showing directions before even connecting. Does DCS:A-10C follow suit with these mistakes or does it get it right?

 

Also, how's the night lighting for AAR? There should be all manner of reflective strips, flood lighting, boom lighting, etc.

[ESzczesniak]

ESzczesniak, knowing what we know it's pretty obvious that Falcon 4.0 etc. got AAR refueling wrong with regards to the PDL/PDI showing directions before even connecting. Does DCS:A-10C follow suit with these mistakes or does it get it right?

 

Also, how's the night lighting for AAR? There should be all manner of reflective strips, flood lighting, boom lighting, etc.

 

I wish I could give you an answer. Truth is that it's too easy to fly the boom and too hard to see the PDL/PDI lights around the boom that I haven't given them any real thought. You can see where the amber band is and the when teh boom is lowered you get a good sense of your height through this picture. The boom is held at a constant angle until very near contact and at this point I "fly the paint" and keep the same picture outside the aircraft. So far I've managed to get 2,500 lbs on boards before disconnect because I got out of position (on the best try...there are some less worthy examples).

 

Also haven't done any night flying yet (although I really do need to give that a try).

[Loz]

Click the handle on the console. :)

 

Thanks Didn't realise that there was one :doh:

[tusler]

here is a couple of vid's I found.

I would not want to be the next guy in line to get fuel.

 

http://www.pakistan.tv/videos-refueling-fail-%5BpGS8dwQSWzI%5D.cfm :megalol:

 

 

http://www.history.com/videos/refueling-mid-air-what-a-rush#refueling-mid-air-what-a-rush