Description
Aerial Refuelling Process
A SEMINAR ON
AERIAL REFUELING
WHAT IS AERIAL REFUELING?
?
Definition: Aerial refueling is the practice of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another. It is also called as IN-FLIGHT REFUELING (IFR).
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
? ?
?
Early Days Pre-war Development Post-war Development
History
?
The history of Aerial Refueling stretches way back to the 1920’s.At that time the primary purpose for development of such a system was to create endurance records (staying in air as long as possible). In the 1930’s, it was thought that air-toair refueling could have great advantages in commercial aviation. However, this idea never really took off. After the World War II, aerial refueling was developed completely for military purposes.
Pre-war Development
?
Despite all this activity, the technology for aerial refueling had not
advanced significantly and pilots still used the clumsy and dangerous dangling-hose method. In 1930, a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron
leader, Richard L.R. Atcherly, developed a safer and simpler method,
called the looped hose method.
?
In this method, the receiving aircraft trailed a long horizontal line with
a grapnel at the end. The tanker trailed a weighted line and approached the receiver from behind and to one side. It then crossed to the other side, causing the two lines to cross and touch. The receiver aircraft then hauled in the lines and the hose from the tanker
Post-war Development
?
World War II brought about a hiatus in aerial refueling technology
development as combatants sought to develop extremely long-range aircraft with large internal fuel capacity. In 1942, the hose system was fitted on to a B-24 Liberator tanker and a B-17 Flying Fortress receiver. The Army Air Forces planned to develop fleets of tanker and receiver aircraft. However, aircraft with large internal fuel capacity, such as the B29 Super fortress, alleviated the need for aerial refueling.
TYPES OF REFUELING SYSTEMS
? ?
?
Probe and Drogue System. Boom and Receiver System. Buddy Stores System
PROBE AND DROGUE SYSTEM
Set up
?
?
?
The drogue, sometimes called a basket, is a fitting resembling a plastic badminton shuttlecock, attached to a flexible hose at its narrow end, with a valve where the two meet. It is carried by the tanker, as seen in fig , where the Harriet's left wing meets the body. The receiver has a probe, which is a rigid, sometimes jointed, arm placed usually on the side of the airplane. Again, the tanker flies straight and level, and the drogue is allowed to trail out behind and below it.
Conti..
?
?
The drogue is not controllable other than by flying the tanker, so the receiver pilot must fly his probe directly into the basket, at which point wind drag on the basket forces the probe into the valve, which opens to allow fuel to be pumped through. The receiver maintains its position during refueling, keeping an eye on the hose to make sure it remains in a suitable position. When fueling is complete, the receiver decelerates hard enough to yank the probe out of the basket.
LIMITATIONS OF PROBE AND DROGUE SYSTEM.
? ?
?
Slow fuel transfer rates. High workload on pilot of receiving aircraft because the drogues were not very stable and wandered in tight circles. Successful hooking up took much practice and training.
BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
? ?
?
The boom is a long, rigid, hollow shaft, usually fitted to the rear of the aircraft. It usually has a telescoping extension, a valve at the end to keep fuel in and permit it to flow, and small wings, sometimes known as ruddevators depending on design particulars (generally in the "V" shape), to enable it to be "flown" into the receiver of the aircraft to be refueled. This receiver is fitted onto the top of the aircraft. The receiver is a round opening which connects to the fuel tanks, with a valve to keep the fuel in when not being refueled, and dust and debris out. The boom has a nozzle which fits into this opening.
ADVANTAGES OF BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
? ? ?
High fuel transfer rate. The shaft with the attached wings is more stable. More safer because valves are opened and closed by electrical signals.
BUDDY STORES SYSTEM.
BUDDY STORES SYSTEM.
?
?
It finally phased out the latter in favor of the boom, which could operate at significantly higher speeds and deliver fuel much faster. This consisted of a fuel tank with a hose and drogue and enabled one aircraft to refuel an identical aircraft and did not require dedicated tanker aircraft
The Buddy Store System is thus, a Modification of the
?
probe and drogue system.
?
Fuel was transferred from the tanker via a "drogue" to a
"probe" in the leading edge of the receiving aircraft. This
system is also called the Republic Buddy System.
ADVANTAGES OF BUDDY STORES SYSTEM
? ? ?
High fuel transfer rate. The shaft with the attached wings is more stable. More safer because valves are opened and closed by electrical signals.
TANKERS USED IN AERIAL REFUELING.
TANKERS USED IN AERIAL REFUELING.
?
Tankers are nothing, but aircrafts that have been built solely for the purpose of refueling. Today most tankers have been modified to act as a cargo aircraft to the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. The commonly used tankers include the KC-10A
Extender and the KC-135.
?
REFUELING PROCEDURE
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
?
?
?
Normally, the tanker aircraft enters the track at the ARCP (air refueling control point), and the receiver aircraft enters at the air refueling initial point (ARIP). Tanker requests delay at the ARCP and advise ATC (air traffic control) of the requested aerial refueling block altitudes. ATC approves delay and issues clearance. Tanker enters orbit pattern airspace for delay at ARCP
Conti……
?
?
?
Receivers are cleared to request altitude and receiver to tanker communication is established. ATC issues clearance to conduct aerial refueling along the track. ATC shall ensure that nonparticipating aircraft remain clear of the area until the rendezvous is complete.
Conti……
?
?
?
Tanker and receiver aircraft complete rendezvous and proceed down track. During aerial refueling, the tanker is responsible for receiver aircraft navigation along the track and for all tanker/receiver communications with ATC. Tanker advises ATC of tanker and receiver end aerial refueling altitude requests at least five (5) minutes prior to exit. prior to the exit point, ATC issues tanker and receiver altitude clearances.
Conti………
?
Prior to exit, tanker vertically positions the aircraft in the formation within the air refueling airspace to facilitate breakup at the exit point (normally, tanker at highest altitude of aerial refueling block and receiver at lowest altitude).
DANGERS DURING AERIAL REFUELING
?
?
?
?
Exceeding the limits of the boom’s travel or encounter with unexpected turbulence may cause breakage of boom. If pilot gets too high and too close to the tanker before the boom can disconnect may prove very dangerous. Mistake during approach or break off may result in scratched canopy or broken antenna. A pilot may get locked on to the boom to be towed.
CONCLUSION:
?
?
?
Because of aerial refueling combat aircrafts can fly thousands of kilometers without running dry. It will help to bring down the cost and time especially for long-haul flights. It will also help in regulation of air traffic.
THANK YOU
doc_110102721.ppt
Aerial Refuelling Process
A SEMINAR ON
AERIAL REFUELING
WHAT IS AERIAL REFUELING?
?
Definition: Aerial refueling is the practice of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another. It is also called as IN-FLIGHT REFUELING (IFR).
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
? ?
?
Early Days Pre-war Development Post-war Development
History
?
The history of Aerial Refueling stretches way back to the 1920’s.At that time the primary purpose for development of such a system was to create endurance records (staying in air as long as possible). In the 1930’s, it was thought that air-toair refueling could have great advantages in commercial aviation. However, this idea never really took off. After the World War II, aerial refueling was developed completely for military purposes.
Pre-war Development
?
Despite all this activity, the technology for aerial refueling had not
advanced significantly and pilots still used the clumsy and dangerous dangling-hose method. In 1930, a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron
leader, Richard L.R. Atcherly, developed a safer and simpler method,
called the looped hose method.
?
In this method, the receiving aircraft trailed a long horizontal line with
a grapnel at the end. The tanker trailed a weighted line and approached the receiver from behind and to one side. It then crossed to the other side, causing the two lines to cross and touch. The receiver aircraft then hauled in the lines and the hose from the tanker
Post-war Development
?
World War II brought about a hiatus in aerial refueling technology
development as combatants sought to develop extremely long-range aircraft with large internal fuel capacity. In 1942, the hose system was fitted on to a B-24 Liberator tanker and a B-17 Flying Fortress receiver. The Army Air Forces planned to develop fleets of tanker and receiver aircraft. However, aircraft with large internal fuel capacity, such as the B29 Super fortress, alleviated the need for aerial refueling.
TYPES OF REFUELING SYSTEMS
? ?
?
Probe and Drogue System. Boom and Receiver System. Buddy Stores System
PROBE AND DROGUE SYSTEM
Set up
?
?
?
The drogue, sometimes called a basket, is a fitting resembling a plastic badminton shuttlecock, attached to a flexible hose at its narrow end, with a valve where the two meet. It is carried by the tanker, as seen in fig , where the Harriet's left wing meets the body. The receiver has a probe, which is a rigid, sometimes jointed, arm placed usually on the side of the airplane. Again, the tanker flies straight and level, and the drogue is allowed to trail out behind and below it.
Conti..
?
?
The drogue is not controllable other than by flying the tanker, so the receiver pilot must fly his probe directly into the basket, at which point wind drag on the basket forces the probe into the valve, which opens to allow fuel to be pumped through. The receiver maintains its position during refueling, keeping an eye on the hose to make sure it remains in a suitable position. When fueling is complete, the receiver decelerates hard enough to yank the probe out of the basket.
LIMITATIONS OF PROBE AND DROGUE SYSTEM.
? ?
?
Slow fuel transfer rates. High workload on pilot of receiving aircraft because the drogues were not very stable and wandered in tight circles. Successful hooking up took much practice and training.
BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
? ?
?
The boom is a long, rigid, hollow shaft, usually fitted to the rear of the aircraft. It usually has a telescoping extension, a valve at the end to keep fuel in and permit it to flow, and small wings, sometimes known as ruddevators depending on design particulars (generally in the "V" shape), to enable it to be "flown" into the receiver of the aircraft to be refueled. This receiver is fitted onto the top of the aircraft. The receiver is a round opening which connects to the fuel tanks, with a valve to keep the fuel in when not being refueled, and dust and debris out. The boom has a nozzle which fits into this opening.
ADVANTAGES OF BOOM AND RECEIVER SYSTEM.
? ? ?
High fuel transfer rate. The shaft with the attached wings is more stable. More safer because valves are opened and closed by electrical signals.
BUDDY STORES SYSTEM.
BUDDY STORES SYSTEM.
?
?
It finally phased out the latter in favor of the boom, which could operate at significantly higher speeds and deliver fuel much faster. This consisted of a fuel tank with a hose and drogue and enabled one aircraft to refuel an identical aircraft and did not require dedicated tanker aircraft
The Buddy Store System is thus, a Modification of the
?
probe and drogue system.
?
Fuel was transferred from the tanker via a "drogue" to a
"probe" in the leading edge of the receiving aircraft. This
system is also called the Republic Buddy System.
ADVANTAGES OF BUDDY STORES SYSTEM
? ? ?
High fuel transfer rate. The shaft with the attached wings is more stable. More safer because valves are opened and closed by electrical signals.
TANKERS USED IN AERIAL REFUELING.
TANKERS USED IN AERIAL REFUELING.
?
Tankers are nothing, but aircrafts that have been built solely for the purpose of refueling. Today most tankers have been modified to act as a cargo aircraft to the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. The commonly used tankers include the KC-10A
Extender and the KC-135.
?
REFUELING PROCEDURE
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
?
?
?
Normally, the tanker aircraft enters the track at the ARCP (air refueling control point), and the receiver aircraft enters at the air refueling initial point (ARIP). Tanker requests delay at the ARCP and advise ATC (air traffic control) of the requested aerial refueling block altitudes. ATC approves delay and issues clearance. Tanker enters orbit pattern airspace for delay at ARCP
Conti……
?
?
?
Receivers are cleared to request altitude and receiver to tanker communication is established. ATC issues clearance to conduct aerial refueling along the track. ATC shall ensure that nonparticipating aircraft remain clear of the area until the rendezvous is complete.
Conti……
?
?
?
Tanker and receiver aircraft complete rendezvous and proceed down track. During aerial refueling, the tanker is responsible for receiver aircraft navigation along the track and for all tanker/receiver communications with ATC. Tanker advises ATC of tanker and receiver end aerial refueling altitude requests at least five (5) minutes prior to exit. prior to the exit point, ATC issues tanker and receiver altitude clearances.
Conti………
?
Prior to exit, tanker vertically positions the aircraft in the formation within the air refueling airspace to facilitate breakup at the exit point (normally, tanker at highest altitude of aerial refueling block and receiver at lowest altitude).
DANGERS DURING AERIAL REFUELING
?
?
?
?
Exceeding the limits of the boom’s travel or encounter with unexpected turbulence may cause breakage of boom. If pilot gets too high and too close to the tanker before the boom can disconnect may prove very dangerous. Mistake during approach or break off may result in scratched canopy or broken antenna. A pilot may get locked on to the boom to be towed.
CONCLUSION:
?
?
?
Because of aerial refueling combat aircrafts can fly thousands of kilometers without running dry. It will help to bring down the cost and time especially for long-haul flights. It will also help in regulation of air traffic.
THANK YOU
doc_110102721.ppt