Ward reviews the details of inflight refueling in the F14 including the difference between mobility tanking and mission tanking within the carrier air wing. He also goes over the flow of Operation Southern Watch missions, the patrolling of the nofly zone over Southern Iraq and how Air Force tankers made double and triple cycle sorties possible.

He also talks about how pilots preferred tanking off of the KC10 over the KC135 because the 135's hose and drogue lacked a takeup reel and therefore was much less forgiving for the receiving aircraft. It wasn't unusual to damage a probe tip or even have the entire probe come off if a pilot deviated beyond the limits of the hose.

Finally, Ward explores the "brave new world" of the MQ25 "Stingray," the unmanned tanker that will be introduced to carrier air wings in a few years.

(Tomcat behind the Tristar and RIO totalizer footage courtesy of    • F 14 Combat Refueling (Enhanced Video)  )