High Speed Air Refueling Shows F 16 Pilot's Skill . AAR . IFR

A KC-135 Stratotanker crew conducts a refueling mission during RED FLAG- Alaska June 18, 2019. The KC-135 refuels F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron conducting aerial operations. The 18th AGRS prepares combat Air Force, joint and allied aircrews through challenging, realistic threat replication, training, test support, academics, and feedback. The 168th ARS is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard 168th Air Refueling Wing. RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment.

The Refueling mission provides for aerial aircraft (in-flight) refueling for the U.S. military and allied nations' aircraft, extending the range that these aircraft fly globally. The KC-135 also has the added capability as a limited cargo and personnel carrier to be adapted to evacuate both ambulatory and litter patients during emergencies.
#Arial_Refueling #AAR #IFR
Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one military aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight.[1] The two main refueling systems are probe-and-drogue, which is simpler to adapt to existing aircraft, and the flying boom, which offers faster fuel transfer, but requires a dedicated boom operator station.

The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, extending its range or loiter time on station. A series of air refuelings can give range limited only by crew fatigue and engineering factors such as engine oil consumption. Because the receiver aircraft can be topped up with extra fuel in the air, air refueling can allow a takeoff with a greater payload which could be weapons, cargo, or personnel: the maximum takeoff weight is maintained by carrying less fuel and topping up once airborne. Alternatively, a shorter take-off roll can be achieved because take-off can be at a lighter weight before refueling once airborne. Aerial refueling has also been considered as a means to reduce fuel consumption on long-distance flights greater than 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). Potential fuel savings in the range of 35–40% have been estimated for long haul flights (including the fuel used during the tanker missions)

Credit:
Master Sgt. Burt Traynor
1st Combat Camera Squadron