Top it up, please! Air-to-air refuelling extends the endurance of patrolling aircraft, increases the radius of strike aircraft and makes passible safer, longer-range deployments. Today more than ever, the latter consideration is taking all its significance.

Armada International › Vol. 33 Nbr. 2, April 2009

Author: Braybrook, Roy

Position:: Aircraft: technology

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Aircraft: technology

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Top it up, please! Air-to-air refuelling extends the endurance of patrolling aircraft, increases the radius of strike aircraft and makes passible safer, longer-range deployments. Today more than ever, the latter consideration is taking all its significance.

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The world's principal tanker is still the Eisenhower-era, 146,285-kg Boeing KC-135, which carries 90,700 kg of fuel. It transfers fuel primarily via a Boeing 'flying boom' at 2700 kg/min. This boom may be fitted with a short hose-and-drogue unit to refuel US Navy and Marine Corps (and Allied) aircraft, but many KC135s now have two 1900 kg/min Sargent-Fletcher underwing pods for this role. Most KC-135s have been re-engined with CFM International F108s (CFM56-281), bringing them to KC-135RFF standard.

The US Air Force has over 530 KC135s serving alongside 59 larger (265,500 kg) McDonnell Dougla...

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