Airline Pilot Central Forums - Turbulent Tanking

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Dubes

07-27-2009 08:25 PM

Turbulent Tanking

Hey guys, I'm not a regular poster in this section, but I saw a video posted on You-Tube which might make some of you chuckle:

YouTube - Turbulent Tanking

Have any of you been in a situation like this? Would any of you guys consider this "embarrassing" between fellow comrades?

USMCFLYR

07-27-2009 08:41 PM

Yes and Yes!
Notice how they didn't show the approach to the KC-10 basket ;)
Easy day compared to the KC-135 - especially in weather. At least those approaches to the -135 were in clear air (good job tanker guys!)
Thanks for sharing the video Dubes.

USMCFLYR

blastoff

07-28-2009 09:23 AM

I heard the Squadron at Lemoore has one of our -135 drogues (basket) made into a coffee table :p

BDGERJMN

07-28-2009 11:03 AM

heard the same....but I also heard that the AF always asks for and takes them back for mishap investigations.

USMCFLYR

07-28-2009 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastoff (Post 652060)

I heard the Squadron at Lemoore has one of our -135 drogues (basket) made into a coffee table :p

There must be like 13 squadrons at Lemoore! ;)
If I spy one I'll try to get it back for you :D

USMCFLYR

KC10 FATboy

07-28-2009 07:24 PM

Stupid question to the fighter guys ...

Does the basket move around more, same, less on a KC-10 than on the KC-135?

The KC-10 can withstand a higher turbulence gust than a KC-135 .. and as such, moderate tubulence forecasted by the weather folks gets downgraded to light with occaisional moderate. I would also guess that the smaller size of the KC-135 means they get tossed about more than the KC-10.

USMCFLYR

07-28-2009 07:47 PM

KC10 -

It has been my experience that the baskets on both the -10 and -135 are fairly stable - especially when compared to the Sargent Fletcher drogue (Aerial Refueling) that is more common on USN/USMC tankers. I've seen both move around quite a bit; but in general I think that the KC-10 basket moves around more, but then it is bigger and softer and more forgiving. The -135 basket is usually steady - but it is a VERY unforgiving basket and putting that 90 deg kink to get the fuel flowing and holding it there in - especially in weather - can be nerve racking!

USMCFLYR

papyco

07-29-2009 11:25 AM

I hate the 135. Damn that basket and that 90 deg kink.

BDGERJMN

07-29-2009 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC10 FATboy (Post 652413)

Stupid question to the fighter guys ...

Does the basket move around more, same, less on a KC-10 than on the KC-135?

My experience has been the 135 moves around less than the 10 in choppy air. That said, when the 135 basket is moving its much more difficult to plug. When plugging the 10 when its moving around we tend to over control the entry and either lip the basket or worse yet hit with too much closure creating the infamous "sine" wave and the follow-on "rapid exit of the IFR probe". The 10 basket itself is much more forgiving if you lip it which is why we use Superhornets or Omega for initial tanking quals.

BDGERJMN

07-29-2009 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 652429)

I tend to just put an entire loop in the hose and let it rest on the nose..which is fine right up until you need to back out....that actually happened to me once and I still to this day don't know how I didnt rip the probe off or clip and AOA probe. I think I said to myself......whoa I don't want to ever do that again.

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