Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, inflight refueling (IFR), airtoair refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one military aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight. The two main refueling systems are probeanddrogue, 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 takeoff roll can be achieved because takeoff can be at a lighter weight before refueling once airborne. Aerial refueling has also been considered as a means to reduce fuel consumption on longdistance 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 longhaul flights (including the fuel used during the tanker missions).

The Buzz does not own the rights to these pictures or video clips. They have, in accordance with fair use, been repurposed with the intent of educating and inspiring others. However, if any content owners would like their images/clips to be credited or removed, please contact us by email [email protected].
#TankerAircraft #kc10extender