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id="toc-Development_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Early_experiments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Early_experiments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Early experiments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Early_experiments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Grappled-line_looped-hose" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Grappled-line_looped-hose"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.1</span> <span>Grappled-line looped-hose</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Grappled-line_looped-hose-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Probe-and-drogue_system" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Probe-and-drogue_system"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.2</span> <span>Probe-and-drogue system</span> </div> </a> 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href="#History"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1.1</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Probe-and-drogue" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Probe-and-drogue"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Probe-and-drogue</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Probe-and-drogue-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Buddy_store" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Buddy_store"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2.1</span> <span>Buddy store</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Buddy_store-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Boom_drogue_adapter_units" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Boom_drogue_adapter_units"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Boom drogue adapter units</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Boom_drogue_adapter_units-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Multiple_systems" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Multiple_systems"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Multiple systems</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Multiple_systems-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Wing-to-wing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Wing-to-wing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Wing-to-wing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Wing-to-wing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Simple_grappling" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Simple_grappling"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.6</span> <span>Simple grappling</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Simple_grappling-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Compatibility_issues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Compatibility_issues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Compatibility issues</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Compatibility_issues-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Compatibility issues subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Compatibility_issues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Strategic" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Strategic"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Strategic</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Strategic-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tactical" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tactical"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Tactical</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tactical-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Operational_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Operational_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Operational history</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Operational_history-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Operational history subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Operational_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Cold_War" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cold_War"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Cold War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cold_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Korean_War" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Korean_War"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Korean War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Korean_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Vietnam_War" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Vietnam_War"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Vietnam War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Vietnam_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Middle_East" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Middle_East"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Middle East</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Middle_East-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Falklands_War" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Falklands_War"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Falklands War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Falklands_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gulf_War" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gulf_War"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.6</span> <span>Gulf War</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gulf_War-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Centennial_Contact" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Centennial_Contact"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.7</span> <span>Centennial Contact</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Centennial_Contact-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Helicopters" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Helicopters"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Helicopters</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Helicopters-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Longest_crewed_flight_record" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Longest_crewed_flight_record"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Longest crewed flight record</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Longest_crewed_flight_record-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Developments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Developments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Developments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Developments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Operators" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Operators"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Operators</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Operators-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-References-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle References subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Citations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Citations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.1</span> <span>Citations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Citations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bibliography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bibliography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.2</span> <span>Bibliography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bibliography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerial refueling</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 32 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-32" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">32 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF_%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7" title="التزود بالوقود جوا – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="التزود بالوقود جوا" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadopuna_goriva_tokom_leta" title="Nadopuna goriva tokom leta – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="Nadopuna goriva tokom leta" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abastament_en_vol" title="Abastament en vol – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Abastament en vol" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tankov%C3%A1n%C3%AD_paliva_za_letu" title="Tankování paliva za letu – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Tankování paliva za letu" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lufttankning" title="Lufttankning – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Lufttankning" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftbetankung" title="Luftbetankung – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Luftbetankung" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reabastecimiento_en_vuelo" title="Reabastecimiento en vuelo – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Reabastecimiento en vuelo" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C" title="سوخت‌گیری هوایی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="سوخت‌گیری هوایی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle mw-list-item" title="good article badge"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravitaillement_en_vol" title="Ravitaillement en vol – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Ravitaillement en vol" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B3%B5%EC%A4%91_%EA%B8%89%EC%9C%A0" title="공중 급유 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="공중 급유" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadopuna_goriva_tijekom_leta" title="Nadopuna goriva tijekom leta – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Nadopuna goriva tijekom leta" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pengisian_bahan_bakar_di_udara" title="Pengisian bahan bakar di udara – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Pengisian bahan bakar di udara" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifornimento_in_volo" title="Rifornimento in volo – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Rifornimento in volo" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%AA%D7%93%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%90%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99" title="תדלוק אווירי – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="תדלוק אווירי" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk mw-list-item"><a href="https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D3%98%D1%83%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B5_%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9_%D2%9B%D2%B1%D1%8E" title="Әуеде жанармай құю – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk" data-title="Әуеде жанармай құю" data-language-autonym="Қазақша" data-language-local-name="Kazakh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Қазақша</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuro_papildymas_ore" title="Kuro papildymas ore – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Kuro papildymas ore" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9gi_ut%C3%A1nt%C3%B6lt%C3%A9s" title="Légi utántöltés – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Légi utántöltés" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesawat_penangki_minyak" title="Pesawat penangki minyak – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Pesawat penangki minyak" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-my mw-list-item"><a href="https://my.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%9D%E1%80%B1%E1%80%9F%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA%E1%80%86%E1%80%AE%E1%80%96%E1%80%BC%E1%80%8A%E1%80%B7%E1%80%BA%E1%80%85%E1%80%94%E1%80%85%E1%80%BA" title="ဝေဟင်ဆီဖြည့်စနစ် – Burmese" lang="my" hreflang="my" data-title="ဝေဟင်ဆီဖြည့်စနစ်" data-language-autonym="မြန်မာဘာသာ" data-language-local-name="Burmese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>မြန်မာဘာသာ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bijtanken_in_de_lucht" title="Bijtanken in de lucht – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Bijtanken in de lucht" 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title="Air refueling">Air refueling</a>)</span></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Procedure in which flying aircraft receive fuel from another aircraft</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 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.compact-ambox .hide-when-compact{display:none}</style><table class="box-Multiple_issues plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-multiple_issues compact-ambox" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/40px-Ambox_important.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/60px-Ambox_important.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Ambox_important.svg/80px-Ambox_important.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="40" data-file-height="40" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span"><div class="multiple-issues-text mw-collapsible"><b>This article has multiple issues.</b> Please help <b><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Aerial_refueling" title="Special:EditPage/Aerial refueling">improve it</a></b> 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class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">The examples and perspective in this article <b>may not represent a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias">worldwide view</a> of the subject</b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> You may <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit">improve this article</a>, discuss the issue on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Aerial_refueling" title="Talk:Aerial refueling">talk page</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Article_wizard" title="Wikipedia:Article wizard">create a new article</a>, as appropriate.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">August 2017</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> </div> </div><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg/300px-KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="205" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg/450px-KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg/600px-KC-135_refuels_an_F-16_Fighting_Falcon.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1974" data-file-height="1350" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">KC-135 Stratotanker</a> refuels an <a href="/wiki/F-16_Fighting_Falcon" class="mw-redirect" title="F-16 Fighting Falcon">F-16 Fighting Falcon</a> using a flying boom</figcaption></figure> <p><b>Aerial refueling</b> (<a href="/wiki/American_English" title="American English">en-us</a>), or <b>aerial refuelling</b> (<a href="/wiki/British_English" title="British English">en-gb</a>), also referred to as <b>air refueling</b>, <b>in-flight refueling</b> (<b>IFR</b>), <b>air-to-air refueling</b> (<b>AAR</b>), and <b>tanking</b>, is the process of transferring <a href="/wiki/Aviation_fuel" title="Aviation fuel">aviation fuel</a> from one aircraft (the <a href="/wiki/List_of_tanker_aircraft" title="List of tanker aircraft">tanker</a>) to another (the receiver) while both aircraft are in flight.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>a<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The two main refueling systems are <i><a href="#Probe-and-drogue">probe-and-drogue</a></i>, which is simpler to adapt to existing aircraft and the <i><a href="#Flying_boom">flying boom</a></i>, which offers faster fuel transfer, but requires a dedicated <a href="/wiki/Boom_operator_(military)" title="Boom operator (military)">boom operator</a> station. </p><p>The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, extending its range or <a href="/wiki/Loiter_(aeronautics)" title="Loiter (aeronautics)">loiter</a> time. A series of air refuelings can give range limited only by crew <a href="/wiki/Fatigue_testing" title="Fatigue testing">fatigue</a>/physical needs and engineering factors such as engine oil consumption. Because the receiver aircraft is topped-off with extra fuel in the air, air refueling can allow a <a href="/wiki/Takeoff" title="Takeoff">takeoff</a> with a greater <a href="/wiki/Payload_(air_and_space_craft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Payload (air and space craft)">payload</a> which could be weapons, cargo, or personnel: the <a href="/wiki/Maximum_takeoff_weight" title="Maximum takeoff weight">maximum takeoff weight</a> is maintained by carrying less fuel and topping up 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).<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Usually, the aircraft providing the fuel is specially designed for the task, although refueling pods may be fitted to existing aircraft designs in the case of "probe-and-drogue" systems. The cost of the refueling equipment on both tanker and receiver aircraft and the specialized aircraft handling of the aircraft to be refueled (very close "line astern" formation flying) has resulted in the activity only being used in <a href="/wiki/Military_aviation" title="Military aviation">military operations</a>; there are no regular civilian in-flight refueling activities. Originally trialed shortly before <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> on a limited scale to extend the range of British civilian <a href="/wiki/Transatlantic_flight" title="Transatlantic flight">transatlantic</a> <a href="/wiki/Flying_boat" title="Flying boat">flying boats</a>, and then employed after World War II on a large scale to extend the range of <a href="/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bombers</a>, aerial refueling since the <a href="/wiki/Vietnam_War" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a> has been extensively used in large-scale military operations. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Development_history">Development history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Development history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Early_experiments">Early experiments</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Early experiments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Refueling,_1923.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Refueling%2C_1923.jpg/220px-Refueling%2C_1923.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="169" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Refueling%2C_1923.jpg/330px-Refueling%2C_1923.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Refueling%2C_1923.jpg/440px-Refueling%2C_1923.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2771" data-file-height="2125" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Captain_(land)" class="mw-redirect" title="Captain (land)">Capt.</a> <a href="/wiki/Lowell_Smith" title="Lowell Smith">Lowell Smith</a> and Lt. John P. Richter receiving the first mid-air refueling on 27 June 1923</figcaption></figure> <p>Some of the earliest experiments in aerial refueling took place in the 1920s; two slow-flying aircraft flew in formation, with a hose run down from a hand-held fuel tank on one aircraft and placed into the usual fuel filler of the other. The first mid-air refueling, based on the development of <a href="/wiki/Alexander_P._de_Seversky" class="mw-redirect" title="Alexander P. de Seversky">Alexander P. de Seversky</a>, between two planes occurred on 25 June 1923, between two <a href="/wiki/Airco_DH-4B" class="mw-redirect" title="Airco DH-4B">Airco DH-4B</a> <a href="/wiki/Biplane" title="Biplane">biplanes</a> of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Service" title="United States Army Air Service">United States Army Air Service</a>. An endurance record was set by three DH-4Bs (a receiver and two tankers) on 27–28 August 1923, in which the receiver airplane remained aloft for more than 37 hours using nine mid-air refueling to transfer 687 US gallons (2,600 L) of <a href="/wiki/Aviation_gasoline" class="mw-redirect" title="Aviation gasoline">aviation gasoline</a> and 38 US gallons (140 L) of engine oil. The same crews demonstrated the utility of the technique on 25 October 1923, when a DH-4 flew from <a href="/wiki/Sumas,_Washington" title="Sumas, Washington">Sumas, Washington</a>, on the <a href="/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93United_States_border" title="Canada–United States border">Canada–United States border</a>, to <a href="/wiki/Tijuana,_Mexico" class="mw-redirect" title="Tijuana, Mexico">Tijuana, Mexico</a>, landing in <a href="/wiki/San_Diego" title="San Diego">San Diego</a>, using mid-air refuelings at <a href="/wiki/Eugene,_Oregon" title="Eugene, Oregon">Eugene, Oregon</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Sacramento,_California" title="Sacramento, California">Sacramento, California</a>. </p><p>Similar trial demonstrations of mid-air refueling technique took place at the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Establishment" title="Royal Aircraft Establishment">Royal Aircraft Establishment</a> in <a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a> and by the <a href="/wiki/Arm%C3%A9e_de_l%27Air" class="mw-redirect" title="Armée de l'Air">Armée de l'Air</a> in <a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a> in the same year, but these early experiments were not yet regarded as a practical proposition, and were generally dismissed as stunts. </p><p>As the 1920s progressed, greater numbers of aviation enthusiasts vied to set new aerial long-distance records, using inflight air refueling. One such enthusiast, who would revolutionize aerial refueling was Sir <a href="/wiki/Alan_Cobham" title="Alan Cobham">Alan Cobham</a>, member of the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Flying_Corps" title="Royal Flying Corps">Royal Flying Corps</a> in <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, and a pioneer of long-distance aviation. During the 1920s, he made long-distance flights to places as far afield as <a href="/wiki/Africa" title="Africa">Africa</a> and <a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> and he began experimenting with the possibilities of in-flight refueling to extend the range of flight.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Cobham was one of the founding directors of <a href="/wiki/Airspeed_Ltd." title="Airspeed Ltd.">Airspeed Limited</a>, an aircraft manufacturing company that went on to produce a specially-adapted <a href="/wiki/Airspeed_Courier" title="Airspeed Courier">Airspeed Courier</a> that Cobham used for his early experiments with in-flight refueling. This craft was eventually modified by Airspeed to Cobham's specification, for a non-stop flight from <a href="/wiki/London" title="London">London</a> to <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, using in-flight refueling to extend the plane's flight duration. </p><p>Meanwhile, in 1929, a group of <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corps" title="United States Army Air Corps">US Army Air Corps</a> fliers, led by then Major <a href="/wiki/Carl_Andrew_Spaatz" class="mw-redirect" title="Carl Andrew Spaatz">Carl Spaatz</a>, set an endurance record of over 150 hours with a Fokker C-2A named the <a href="/wiki/Question_Mark_(airplane)" class="mw-redirect" title="Question Mark (airplane)"><i>Question Mark</i></a> over Los Angeles. Between 11 June and 4 July 1930, the brothers John, Kenneth, Albert, and Walter Hunter set a new record of 553 hours 40 minutes over <a href="/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago</a> using two <a href="/wiki/Stinson_Detroiter" title="Stinson Detroiter">Stinson SM-1 Detroiters</a> as refueler and receiver. Aerial refueling remained a very dangerous process until 1935, when brothers <a href="/wiki/The_Flying_Keys" title="The Flying Keys">Fred and Al Key</a> demonstrated a spill-free refueling nozzle, designed by <a href="/wiki/Aylmer_Hunter-Weston" title="Aylmer Hunter-Weston">A. D. Hunter</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They exceeded the Hunters' record by nearly 100 hours in a <a href="/wiki/Curtiss_Robin" title="Curtiss Robin">Curtiss Robin</a> monoplane,<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> staying aloft for more than 27 days.<sup id="cite_ref-HistAv19_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-HistAv19-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The US was mainly concerned about transatlantic flights for faster postal service between Europe and America. In 1931 W. Irving Glover, the second assistant postmaster, wrote an extensive article for <i>Popular Mechanics</i> concerning the challenges and the need for such a regular service. In his article he even mentioned the use of aerial refueling after takeoff as a possible solution.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At <a href="/wiki/Le_Bourget_Airport" class="mw-redirect" title="Le Bourget Airport">Le Bourget Airport</a> near Paris, the <a href="/wiki/A%C3%A9ro-Club_de_France" title="Aéro-Club de France">Aéro-Club de France</a> and the 34th Aviation Regiment of the <a href="/wiki/French_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a> were able to demonstrate passing fuel between machines at the annual aviation fete at <a href="/wiki/Vincennes" title="Vincennes">Vincennes</a> in 1928.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The UK's <a href="/wiki/Royal_Aircraft_Establishment" title="Royal Aircraft Establishment">Royal Aircraft Establishment</a> was also running mid-air refueling trials, with the aim to use this technique to extend the range of the long-distance <a href="/wiki/Flying_boats" class="mw-redirect" title="Flying boats">flying boats</a> that serviced the <a href="/wiki/British_Empire" title="British Empire">British Empire</a>. By 1931 they had demonstrated refueling between two <a href="/wiki/Vickers_Virginia" title="Vickers Virginia">Vickers Virginias</a>, with fuel flow controlled by an automatic valve on the hose which would cut off if contact was lost.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a> <a href="/wiki/Officer" title="Officer">officer</a> <a href="/wiki/Richard_Atcherley" title="Richard Atcherley">Richard Atcherley</a> had observed the dangerous aerial-refueling techniques in use at <a href="/wiki/Barnstorming" title="Barnstorming">barnstorming</a> events in the US and determined to create a workable system.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While posted to the <a href="/wiki/Middle_East" title="Middle East">Middle East</a> he developed and patented his 'crossover' system in 1934, in which the tanker trailed a large hooked line that would reel in a similar dropped line from the receiver, allowing the refueling to commence. In 1935, Cobham sold off the airline Cobham Air Routes Ltd to <a href="/wiki/Morton_Air_Services#Olley_Air_Service" title="Morton Air Services">Olley Air Service</a> and turned to the development of inflight refueling, founding the company <a href="/wiki/Flight_Refuelling_Ltd" class="mw-redirect" title="Flight Refuelling Ltd">Flight Refuelling Ltd</a>. Atcherly's system was bought up by Cobham's company, and with some refinement and continuous improvement through the late '30s, it became the first practical refueling system.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Grappled-line_looped-hose">Grappled-line looped-hose</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Grappled-line looped-hose"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg/220px-%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="157" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg/330px-%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg/440px-%27Lucky_Lady_II%22_being_refuelled_by_B-29M_45-21708_061215-F-1234S-002.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="731" /></a><figcaption>The US Air Force <a href="/wiki/Boeing_B-50_Superfortress" title="Boeing B-50 Superfortress">Boeing B-50 Superfortress</a> <i><a href="/wiki/Lucky_Lady_II" title="Lucky Lady II">Lucky Lady II</a></i> being refueled by grappled-line looped-hose during the first non-stop circumnavigation of the world by air (1949)</figcaption></figure> <p>Sir <a href="/wiki/Alan_Cobham" title="Alan Cobham">Alan Cobham</a>'s <i>grappled-line looped-hose</i> air-to-air refueling system borrowed from techniques patented by David Nicolson and John Lord, and was publicly demonstrated for the first time in 1935. In the system the receiver aircraft, at one time an <a href="/wiki/Airspeed_Courier" title="Airspeed Courier">Airspeed Courier</a>, trailed a steel cable which was then grappled by a line shot from the tanker, a <a href="/wiki/Handley_Page_Type_W#W10" title="Handley Page Type W">Handley Page Type W10</a>. The line was then drawn back into the tanker where the receiver's cable was connected to the refueling hose. The receiver could then haul back in its cable bringing the hose to it. Once the hose was connected, the tanker climbed sufficiently above the receiver aircraft to allow the fuel to flow under gravity.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When Cobham was developing his system, he saw the need as purely for long-range transoceanic commercial aircraft flights,<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but modern aerial refueling is used exclusively by military aircraft. </p><p>In 1934, Cobham had founded <a href="/wiki/Flight_Refuelling_Ltd" class="mw-redirect" title="Flight Refuelling Ltd">Flight Refuelling Ltd</a> (FRL) and by 1938 had used its <i>looped-hose</i> system to refuel aircraft as large as the <a href="/wiki/Short_Empire" title="Short Empire">Short Empire</a> flying boat <i>Cambria</i> from an <a href="/wiki/Armstrong_Whitworth_AW.23" class="mw-redirect" title="Armstrong Whitworth AW.23">Armstrong Whitworth AW.23</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-HistAv19_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-HistAv19-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Handley_Page_H.P.54_Harrow" title="Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow">Handley Page Harrows</a> were used in the 1939 trials to perform aerial refueling of the Empire flying boats for regular transatlantic crossings. From 5 August to 1 October 1939, sixteen crossings of the Atlantic were made by Empire flying boats, with fifteen crossings using FRL's aerial refueling system.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After the sixteen crossings further trials were suspended due to the outbreak of World War II.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the closing months of World War II, it had been intended that <a href="/wiki/Tiger_Force_(air)" title="Tiger Force (air)">Tiger Force</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Avro_Lancaster" title="Avro Lancaster">Lancaster</a> and <a href="/wiki/Avro_Lincoln" title="Avro Lincoln">Lincoln</a> bombers would be in-flight refueled by converted <a href="/wiki/Handley_Page_Halifax" title="Handley Page Halifax">Halifax</a> tanker aircraft, fitted with the FRL's looped-hose units, in operations against the <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japanese homelands</a>, but the war ended before the aircraft could be deployed. After the war ended, the USAF bought a small number of FRL looped-hose units and fitted a number of B-29s as tankers to refuel specially equipped B-29s and later B-50s. The USAF made only one major change in the system used by the RAF. The USAF version had auto-coupling of the refueling nozzle, where the leader line with the refueling hose is pulled to the receiver aircraft and a refueling receptacle on the belly of the aircraft, allowing high-altitude air-to-air refueling and doing away with the aircraft having to fly to a lower altitude to be depressurized so a crew member could manually do the coupling.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>This air-to-air refueling system was used by the <a href="/wiki/B-50_Superfortress" class="mw-redirect" title="B-50 Superfortress">B-50 Superfortress</a> <i><a href="/wiki/Lucky_Lady_II" title="Lucky Lady II">Lucky Lady II</a></i> of the 43rd Bomb Wing to make its famous first non-stop around-the-world flight in 1949.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From 26 February to 3 March 1949, <i>Lucky Lady II</i> flew non-stop around the world in 94 hours and 1 minute, a feat made possible by four aerial refuelings from four pairs of <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KB-29" class="mw-redirect" title="Boeing KB-29">KB-29M</a> tankers of the 43d ARS. Before the mission, crews of the 43rd had experienced only a single operational air refueling contact. The flight started and ended at <a href="/wiki/Carswell_Air_Force_Base" title="Carswell Air Force Base">Carswell Air Force Base</a> in <a href="/wiki/Fort_Worth,_Texas" title="Fort Worth, Texas">Fort Worth, Texas</a> with the refuelings accomplished over <a href="/wiki/The_Azores" class="mw-redirect" title="The Azores">the Azores</a>, <a href="/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>, the Pacific Ocean near <a href="/wiki/Guam" title="Guam">Guam</a>, and between <a href="/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</a> and the <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States" title="West Coast of the United States">West Coast</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Probe-and-drogue_system">Probe-and-drogue system</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Probe-and-drogue system"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cobham's company FRL soon realized that their looped-hose system left much to be desired and began work on an improved system that is now commonly called the <i>probe-and-drogue</i> air-to-air refueling system and today is one of the two systems chosen by air forces for air-to-air refueling, the other being the flying-boom system. In post-war trials the RAF used a modified Lancaster tanker employing the much improved probe-and-drogue system, with a modified <a href="/wiki/Gloster_Meteor" title="Gloster Meteor">Gloster Meteor F.3</a> jet fighter, <a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom_military_aircraft_serials" class="mw-redirect" title="United Kingdom military aircraft serials">serial</a> <i>EE397</i>, fitted with a nose-mounted probe.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 7 August 1949, the Meteor flown by FRL <a href="/wiki/Test_pilot" title="Test pilot">test pilot</a> Pat Hornidge took off from <a href="/wiki/RAF_Tarrant_Rushton" title="RAF Tarrant Rushton">Tarrant Rushton</a> and remained airborne for 12 hours and 3 minutes, receiving 2,352 imperial gallons (10,690 L) of fuel in ten refuelings from a Lancaster tanker. Hornidge flew an overall distance of 3,600 mi (5,800 km), achieving a new jet endurance record.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> FRL still exists as part of <a href="/wiki/Cobham_plc" class="mw-redirect" title="Cobham plc">Cobham plc</a>. </p><p>Modern specialized <a href="/wiki/Tanker_(aircraft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tanker (aircraft)">tanker</a> aircraft have equipment specially designed for the task of offloading fuel to the receiver aircraft, based on drogue and probe, even at the higher speeds modern <a href="/wiki/Jet_aircraft" title="Jet aircraft">jet aircraft</a> typically need to remain airborne. </p><p>In January 1948, General Carl Spaatz, then the first <a href="/wiki/Chief_of_Staff_of_the_United_States_Air_Force" title="Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force">Chief of Staff</a> of the new <a href="/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>, made aerial refueling a top priority of the service. In March 1948, the USAF purchased two sets of FRL's looped-hose in-flight refueling equipment, which had been in practical use with <a href="/wiki/British_Overseas_Airways_Corporation" title="British Overseas Airways Corporation">British Overseas Airways Corporation</a> (BOAC) since 1946, and manufacturing rights to the system. FRL also provided a year of technical assistance. The sets were immediately installed in two <a href="/wiki/Boeing_B-29_Superfortress" title="Boeing B-29 Superfortress">Boeing B-29 Superfortresses</a>, with plans to equip 80 B-29s. </p><p>Flight testing began in May 1948 at <a href="/wiki/Wright-Patterson_Air_Force_Base" title="Wright-Patterson Air Force Base">Wright-Patterson Air Force Base</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a>, and was so successful that in June orders went out to equip all new B-50s and subsequent bombers with receiving equipment. Two dedicated air refueling units were formed on 30 June 1948: the <a href="/wiki/43d_Air_Refueling_Squadron" class="mw-redirect" title="43d Air Refueling Squadron">43d Air Refueling Squadron</a> at <a href="/wiki/Davis-Monthan_Air_Force_Base" class="mw-redirect" title="Davis-Monthan Air Force Base">Davis-Monthan Air Force Base</a>, <a href="/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/509th_Weapons_Squadron" title="509th Weapons Squadron">509th Air Refueling Squadron</a> at <a href="/wiki/Walker_Air_Force_Base" title="Walker Air Force Base">Walker Air Force Base</a>, <a href="/wiki/New_Mexico" title="New Mexico">New Mexico</a>. The first ARS aircraft used FRL's looped-hose refueling system, but testing with a boom system followed quickly in the autumn of 1948. </p><p>The first use of aerial refueling in combat took place during the Korean War, involving F-84 fighter-bombers flying missions from Japanese airfields, due to Chinese-North Korean forces overrunning many of the bases for jet aircraft in South Korea, refueling from converted B-29s using the drogue-and-probe in-flight refueling system with the probe located in one of the F-84's wing-tip fuel tanks. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Systems">Systems</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Systems"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Aerial_refueling" title="Special:EditPage/Aerial refueling">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a> in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">April 2012</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Flying_boom">Flying boom</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Flying boom"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Eindhoven_Air_Base_(8613167434).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg/220px-Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg/330px-Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg/440px-Eindhoven_Air_Base_%288613167434%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1700" data-file-height="1133" /></a><figcaption>Dutch Air Force <a href="/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_KC-10_Extender" title="McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender">KC-10</a> refueling boom</figcaption></figure> <p>The flying boom is a rigid, telescoping tube with movable <a href="/wiki/Flight_control_surfaces" title="Flight control surfaces">flight control surfaces</a> that a <a href="/wiki/Boom_operator_(US_military)" class="mw-redirect" title="Boom operator (US military)">boom operator</a> on the tanker aircraft extends and inserts into a receptacle on the receiving aircraft. All boom-equipped tankers (e.g. <a href="/wiki/KC-135_Stratotanker" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-135 Stratotanker">KC-135 Stratotanker</a>, <a href="/wiki/KC-10_Extender" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-10 Extender">KC-10 Extender</a>, <a href="/wiki/KC-46_Pegasus" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-46 Pegasus">KC-46 Pegasus</a>) have a single boom and can refuel one aircraft at a time with this mechanism. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="History">History</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the late 1940s, General <a href="/wiki/Curtis_LeMay" title="Curtis LeMay">Curtis LeMay</a>, commander of the <a href="/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command" title="Strategic Air Command">Strategic Air Command</a> (SAC), asked <a href="/wiki/Boeing" title="Boeing">Boeing</a> to develop a refueling system that could transfer fuel at a higher rate than had been possible with earlier systems using flexible hoses, resulting in the flying boom system. The B-29 was the first to employ the boom, and between 1950 and 1951, 116 original B-29s, designated KB-29Ps, were converted at the Boeing plant at <a href="/wiki/Renton,_Washington" title="Renton, Washington">Renton, Washington</a>. Boeing went on to develop the world's first production aerial tanker, the <a href="/wiki/KC-97_Stratofreighter" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-97 Stratofreighter">KC-97 Stratofreighter</a>, a piston-engined <a href="/wiki/Boeing_377" class="mw-redirect" title="Boeing 377">Boeing Stratocruiser</a> (USAF designation <a href="/wiki/C-97_Stratofreighter" class="mw-redirect" title="C-97 Stratofreighter">C-97 Stratofreighter</a>) with a Boeing-developed flying boom and extra kerosene (jet fuel) tanks feeding the boom. The Stratocruiser airliner itself was developed from the B-29 bomber after <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>. In the KC-97, the mixed gasoline/kerosene fuel system was clearly not desirable and it was obvious that a jet-powered tanker aircraft would be the next development, having a single type of fuel for both its own engines and for passing to receiver aircraft. The 230 mph (370 km/h) cruise speed of the slower, piston-engined KC-97 was also a serious issue, as using it as an aerial tanker forced the newer jet-powered military aircraft to slow down to mate with the tanker's boom, a highly serious issue with the newer supersonic aircraft coming into service at that time, which could force such receiving aircraft in some situations to slow down enough to approach their <a href="/wiki/Stall_speed" class="mw-redirect" title="Stall speed">stall speed</a> during the approach to the tanker. It was no surprise that, after the KC-97, Boeing began receiving contracts from the USAF to build jet tankers based on the <a href="/wiki/Boeing_367-80" title="Boeing 367-80">Boeing 367-80</a> (Dash-80) airframe. The result was the <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker</a>, of which 732 were built. </p><p>The flying boom is attached to the rear of the tanker aircraft. The attachment is <a href="/wiki/Gimbal" title="Gimbal">gimballed</a>, allowing the boom to move with the receiver aircraft. The boom contains a rigid pipe to transfer fuel. The fuel pipe ends in a nozzle with a flexible ball joint. The nozzle mates to the "receptacle" in the receiver aircraft during fuel transfer. A <a href="/wiki/Poppet_valve" title="Poppet valve">poppet valve</a> in the end of the nozzle prevents fuel from exiting the tube until the nozzle properly mates with the receiver's refueling receptacle. Once properly mated, <a href="/wiki/Toggle_mechanism" class="mw-redirect" title="Toggle mechanism">toggles</a> in the receptacle engage the nozzle, holding it locked during fuel transfer. </p><p>The "flying" boom is so named because <a href="/wiki/Flight_control_surfaces" title="Flight control surfaces">flight control surfaces</a>, small movable <a href="/wiki/Airfoils" class="mw-redirect" title="Airfoils">airfoils</a> that are often in a <a href="/wiki/V-tail" title="V-tail">V-tail</a> configuration, are used to move the boom by creating aerodynamic forces. They are actuated <a href="/wiki/Hydraulics" title="Hydraulics">hydraulically</a> and controlled by the <a href="/wiki/Boom_operator_(US_military)" class="mw-redirect" title="Boom operator (US military)">boom operator</a> using a control stick. The boom operator also telescopes the boom to make the connection with the receiver's receptacle. </p><p>To complete an aerial refueling, the tanker and receiver aircraft rendezvous, flying in formation. The receiver moves to a position behind the tanker, within safe limits of travel for the boom, aided by director lights or directions radioed by the boom operator. Once in position, the operator extends the boom to make contact with the receiver aircraft. Once in contact, fuel is pumped through the boom into the receiver aircraft. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg/220px-KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg/330px-KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg/440px-KC-135Boom-operator-521.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3008" data-file-height="1960" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/USAF" class="mw-redirect" title="USAF">USAF</a> <a href="/wiki/KC-135" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-135">KC-135</a> <a href="/wiki/Boom_operator_(military)" title="Boom operator (military)">boom operator</a> view from the boom pod.</figcaption></figure> <p>While in contact, the receiver pilot must continue to fly within the "air refueling envelope", the area in which contact with the boom is safe. Moving outside of this envelope can damage the boom or lead to mid-air collision, for example the <a href="/wiki/1966_Palomares_B-52_crash" class="mw-redirect" title="1966 Palomares B-52 crash">1966 Palomares B-52 crash</a>. If the receiving aircraft approaches the outer limits of the envelope, the boom operator will command the receiver pilot to correct their position and disconnect the boom if necessary. </p><p>When the desired amount of fuel has been transferred, the two aircraft disconnect and the receiver aircraft departs the formation. When not in use, the boom is stored flush with the bottom of the tanker's fuselage to minimize drag. </p><p>In the KC-97 and KC-135 the boom operator lies prone, while the operator is seated in the <a href="/wiki/KC-10" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-10">KC-10</a>, all viewing operations through a window at the tail. The <a href="/wiki/KC-46" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-46">KC-46</a> seats two operators at the front of the aircraft viewing camera video on 3D screens. </p><p>The US Air Force fixed-wing aircraft use the flying boom system, along with Australia (KC-30A),<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the Netherlands (KDC-10), Israel (modified Boeing 707), Japan (KC-767), Turkey (KC-135Rs), and Iran (Boeing 707 and 747). The system allows higher fuel flow rates (up to 1,000 US gallons (3,800 L) / 6,500 pounds (2,900 kg) per minute for the KC-135, but does require a boom operator, and can only refuel one aircraft at a time. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Probe-and-drogue">Probe-and-drogue</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Probe-and-drogue"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg/220px-Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg/330px-Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg/440px-Fuel_Prices_Rise_Again_MOD_45146995.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3600" data-file-height="2700" /></a><figcaption>Using a probe-and-drogue, a Royal Air Force <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules" title="Lockheed C-130 Hercules">C-130K Hercules</a> crew practice refuelling from an RAF <a href="/wiki/Vickers_VC10" title="Vickers VC10">VC10</a> tanker over the Falkland Islands, 2005</figcaption></figure> <p>The probe-and-drogue refueling method employs a flexible hose that trails from the tanker aircraft. The <i>drogue</i> (or <i>para-drogue</i>), sometimes called a <i>basket</i>, is a fitting resembling a <a href="/wiki/Shuttlecock" title="Shuttlecock">shuttlecock</a>, attached at its narrow end (like the "cork" nose of a shuttlecock) with a valve to a flexible hose. The drogue stabilizes the hose in flight and provides a funnel to aid insertion of the receiver aircraft probe into the hose. The hose connects to a Hose Drum Unit (HDU). When not in use, the hose/drogue is reeled completely into the HDU. </p><p>The receiver has a <i>probe</i>, which is a rigid, protruding or pivoted retractable arm placed on the aircraft's nose or fuselage to make the connection. Most modern versions of the probe are usually designed to be retractable, and are retracted when not in use, particularly on high-speed aircraft.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2016)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>At the end of the probe is a valve that is closed until it mates with the drogue's forward internal receptacle, after which it opens and allows fuel to pass from tanker to receiver. The valves in the probe and drogue that are most commonly used are to a <a href="/wiki/NATO" title="NATO">NATO</a> standard and were originally developed by the company <a href="/wiki/Cobham_plc" class="mw-redirect" title="Cobham plc">Flight Refuelling Limited</a> in the UK and deployed in the late 1940s and 1950s.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2016)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This standardization enables drogue-equipped tanker aircraft from many nations to refuel probe-equipped aircraft from other nations. </p><p>The NATO-standard probe system incorporates shear rivets that attach the refueling valve to the end of the probe.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2016)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This is so that if a large side or vertical load develops while in contact with the drogue, the rivets shear and the fuel valve breaks off, rather than the probe or receiver aircraft suffering structural damage. A so-called "broken probe" (actually a broken fuel valve, as described above) may happen if poor flying technique is used by the receiver pilot, or in turbulence. Sometimes the valve is retained in the tanker drogue and prevents further refueling from that drogue until removed during ground maintenance. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Buddy_store">Buddy store</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Buddy store"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG/220px-FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG/330px-FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG/440px-FA-18E_of_VFA-81_refuels_Rafale_of_Flottille_11F_in_March_2015.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2660" data-file-height="1990" /></a><figcaption>An <a href="/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" title="Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet">F/A-18E Super Hornet</a> of the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">US Navy</a> acts as a buddy tanker for a <a href="/wiki/Dassault_Rafale" title="Dassault Rafale">Rafale</a> of the <a href="/wiki/French_Navy" title="French Navy">French Navy</a> over the <a href="/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a>, 2015</figcaption></figure> <p>A "buddy store" or "buddy pod" is an external pod loaded on an aircraft <a href="/wiki/Hardpoint" title="Hardpoint">hardpoint</a> that contains a hose and drogue system (HDU).<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_26-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Buddy stores allow fighter / bomber aircraft to be reconfigured for "buddy tanking" other aircraft. This allows an air combat force without dedicated/specialized tanker support (for instance, a <a href="/wiki/Carrier_air_wing" title="Carrier air wing">carrier air wing</a>) to extend the range of its strike aircraft. In other cases, using the buddy store method allows a <a href="/wiki/Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">carrier</a>-based aircraft to take-off with a heavier than usual load less fuel than might be necessary for its tasking. The aircraft would then topped-up with fuel from an HDU-equipped "buddy" tanker, a method previously used by the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a> in operating its <a href="/wiki/Supermarine_Scimitar" title="Supermarine Scimitar">Supermarine Scimitar</a>, <a href="/wiki/De_Havilland_Sea_Vixen" title="De Havilland Sea Vixen">de Havilland Sea Vixen</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Blackburn_Buccaneer" title="Blackburn Buccaneer">Blackburn Buccaneers</a>; in the Buccaneer's case using a bomb-bay-mounted tank and HDU. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:US_Navy_110610-N-KA046-002_Two_MH-53E_Super_Stallion_helicopters_assigned_to_Marine_Medium_Tiltrotor_Squadron_(VMM)_263_(Reinforced),_22nd_Marine_E_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/US_Navy_110610-N-KA046-002_Two_MH-53E_Super_Stallion_helicopters_assigned_to_Marine_Medium_Tiltrotor_Squadron_%28VMM%29_263_%28Reinforced%29%2C_22nd_Marine_E_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/US_Navy_110610-N-KA046-002_Two_MH-53E_Super_Stallion_helicopters_assigned_to_Marine_Medium_Tiltrotor_Squadron_%28VMM%29_263_%28Reinforced%29%2C_22nd_Marine_E_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-thumbnail.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/US_Navy_110610-N-KA046-002_Two_MH-53E_Super_Stallion_helicopters_assigned_to_Marine_Medium_Tiltrotor_Squadron_%28VMM%29_263_%28Reinforced%29%2C_22nd_Marine_E_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-thumbnail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1789" data-file-height="1145" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps" title="United States Marine Corps">USMC</a> <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_KC-130" title="Lockheed Martin KC-130">KC-130 Hercules</a> refuels a pair of USMC <a href="/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-53E_Super_Stallion" title="Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion">CH-53E Super Stallions</a>, 2011 </figcaption></figure> <p>The tanker aircraft flies straight and level and extends the hose/drogue, which is allowed to trail out behind and below the tanker under normal aerodynamic forces. The pilot of the receiver aircraft extends the probe (if required) and uses normal flight controls to "fly" the refueling probe directly into the basket. This requires a closure rate of about two knots (walking speed) to push the hose several feet into the HDU and solidly couple the probe and drogue. Too little closure will cause an incomplete connection and no fuel flow (or occasionally leaking fuel). Too much closure is dangerous because it can trigger a strong transverse <a href="/wiki/Oscillation" title="Oscillation">oscillation</a> in the hose, severing the probe tip. </p><p>The optimal approach is from behind and below (not level with) the drogue. Because the drogue is relatively light (typically soft canvas webbing) and subject to aerodynamic forces, it can be pushed around by the bow wave of approaching aircraft, exacerbating engagement even in smooth air. After initial contact, the hose and drogue is pushed forward by the receiver a certain distance (typically, a few feet), and the hose is reeled slowly back onto its drum in the HDU. This opens the tanker's main refueling valve allowing fuel to flow to the drogue under the appropriate pressure (assuming the tanker crew has energized the pump). Tension on the hose is aerodynamically 'balanced' by a motor in the HDU so that as the receiver aircraft moves fore and aft, the hose retracts and extends, thus preventing bends in the hose that would cause undue side loads on the probe. Fuel flow is typically indicated by illumination of a green light near the HDU. If the hose is pushed in too far or not far enough, a cutoff switch will inhibit fuel flow, which is typically accompanied by an amber light. Disengagement is commanded by the tanker pilot with a red light.<sup id="cite_ref-ReferenceA_26-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ReferenceA-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_naval_aircraft" class="mw-redirect" title="List of United States naval aircraft">US Navy</a>, <a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Aviation" title="United States Marine Corps Aviation">Marine Corps</a>, and some <a href="/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_United_States_Army#Aircraft" title="List of equipment of the United States Army">Army</a> aircraft refuel using the "hose-and-drogue" system, as do most aircraft flown by western European militaries. The <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a> also used a hose-and-drogue system, dubbed UPAZ,<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and thus later Russian aircraft may be equipped with probe and drogue. The Chinese PLAF has a fleet of <a href="/wiki/Xian_H-6" class="mw-redirect" title="Xian H-6">Xian H-6</a> bombers modified for aerial refueling, and plans to add Russian <a href="/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-78" title="Ilyushin Il-78">Ilyushin Il-78</a> aerial refueling tankers.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTECordesmanKleiber2007158_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTECordesmanKleiber2007158-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Tankers can be equipped with multipoint hose-and-drogue systems, allowing them to refuel two (or more) aircraft simultaneously, reducing time spent refueling by as much as 75% for a four-aircraft strike package.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Boom_drogue_adapter_units">Boom drogue adapter units</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Boom drogue adapter units"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="Large, 4-engine aircraft in flight with components for aerial refueling" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg/220px-20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="96" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg/330px-20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg/440px-20200311_KC-135_Stratotanker_Tail_62-3565-Kadena_AB-41.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4277" data-file-height="1858" /></a><figcaption>A US Air Force KC-135 with a drogue adapter attached to its boom</figcaption></figure> <p>USAF KC-135 and <a href="/wiki/French_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a> KC-135FR refueling-boom equipped tankers can be field-converted to a probe-and-drogue system using a special adapter unit. In this configuration, the tanker retains its articulated boom, but has a hose/drogue at the end of it instead of the usual nozzle. The tanker boom operator holds the boom still while the receiver aircraft flies the probe into the basket. Unlike the soft canvas basket used in most drogue systems, the adapter units use a steel basket, grimly known as the "iron maiden" by <a href="/wiki/Naval_aviator" class="mw-redirect" title="Naval aviator">naval aviators</a> because of its unforgiving nature. Soft drogues can be contacted slightly off center, wherein the probe is guided into the hose receptacle by the canvas drogue. The metal drogue, when contacted even slightly off center, will pivot out of place, potentially "slapping" the aircraft's fuselage and causing damage. </p><p>The other major difference with this system is that when contacted, the hose does not "retract" into an HDU. Instead, the hose bends depending on how far it is pushed toward the boom. If it is pushed too far, it can loop around the probe or nose of the aircraft, damage the windscreen, or cause contact with the rigid boom. If not pushed far enough, the probe will disengage, halting fueling. Because of a much smaller position-keeping tolerance, staying properly connected to a KC-135 adapter unit is considerably more difficult than staying in a traditional hose/drogue configuration. When fueling is complete, the receiver carefully backs off until the probe refueling valve disconnects from the valve in the basket. Off center disengagements, like engagements, can cause the drogue to "prang" the probe and/or strike the aircraft's fuselage. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Multiple_systems">Multiple systems</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Multiple systems"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg/220px-KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg/330px-KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg/440px-KC-10_Extender_with_the_76th_Air_Refueling_Squadron.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4548" data-file-height="2954" /></a><figcaption>A KC-10 Extender</figcaption></figure> <p>Some tankers have both a boom and one or more complete hose-and-drogue systems. The USAF <a href="/wiki/KC-10" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-10">KC-10</a> has both a flying boom and a separate hose-and-drogue system manufactured by <a href="/wiki/Cobham_(company)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cobham (company)">Cobham</a>. Both are on the aircraft centerline at the tail of the aircraft, so only one can be used at once. However, such a system allows all types of probe- and receptacle-equipped aircraft to be refueled in a single mission, without landing to install an adapter. Other tankers are equipped with hose-and-drogue attachments that do not interfere with the operation of the centerline boom: many <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">KC-135s</a> are equipped with dual under-wing attachments known as <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker#Further_upgrades_and_derivatives" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">Multi-point Refueling System</a> (MPRSs), while some KC-10s and <a href="/wiki/Airbus_A330_MRTT" title="Airbus A330 MRTT">A330 MRTTs</a> have similar under-wing refueling pods (referred to as Wing Air Refueling Pods or WARPs on the KC-10). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Wing-to-wing">Wing-to-wing</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Wing-to-wing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A small number of Soviet <a href="/wiki/Tu-4" class="mw-redirect" title="Tu-4">Tu-4s</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tu-16" class="mw-redirect" title="Tu-16">Tu-16s</a> (the tanker variant was Tu-16Z). used a wing-to-wing method. Similar to the probe-and-drogue method but more complicated, the tanker aircraft released a flexible hose from its wingtip. An aircraft flying alongside had to catch the hose with a special lock under its wingtip. After the hose was locked and the connection was established, the fuel was pumped.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Simple_grappling">Simple grappling</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Simple grappling"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Some historic systems used for pioneering aerial refueling used the grappling method, where the tanker aircraft unreeled the fuel hose and the receiver aircraft would grapple the hose midair, reel it in and connect it so that fuel can be transferred either with the assistance of pumps or simply by <a href="/wiki/Siphon" title="Siphon">gravity feed</a>. This was the method used on the <a href="/wiki/Question_Mark_(airplane)" class="mw-redirect" title="Question Mark (airplane)">Question Mark</a> endurance flight in 1929. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Compatibility_issues">Compatibility issues</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Compatibility issues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The probe-and-drogue system is not compatible with flying boom equipment, creating a problem for military planners where mixed forces are involved.<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Incompatibility can also complicate the procurement of new systems. The Royal Canadian Air Force currently wish to purchase the <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#F-35A" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">F-35A</a>, which can only refuel via the flying boom, but only possess <a href="/wiki/CC-150" class="mw-redirect" title="CC-150">probe-and-drogue refuelers</a>. The potential cost of converting F-35As to probe-and-drogue refueling (as is used on US Navy & Marine Corps <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#F-35B" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">F-35Bs</a> and <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II#F-35C" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">F-35Cs</a>) added to the early-2010s political controversy which surrounded F-35 procurement within the RCAF.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="The text near this tag is dated. (July 2022)">needs update</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>These concerns can be addressed by drogue adapters (see section "Boom drogue adapter units" above) that allow drogue aircraft to refuel from boom-equipped aircraft, and by refuelers that are equipped with both drogue and boom units and can thus refuel both types in the same flight, such as the KC-10, MPRS KC-135, or Airbus A330 MRTT. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Strategic">Strategic</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Strategic"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg/220px-A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="142" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg/330px-A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg/440px-A_KC-135_Stratotanker_from_the_127th_Air_Refueling_Group_performs_a_night_time_refueling_for_a_C-17_Globemaster_III.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1800" data-file-height="1165" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/C-17_Globemaster_III" class="mw-redirect" title="C-17 Globemaster III">C-17 Globemaster III</a> receives fuel from a KC-135 during night operations.</figcaption></figure> <p>The development of the <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-97_Stratofreighter" title="Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter">KC-97</a> and <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers</a> was pushed by the <a href="/wiki/Cold_War" title="Cold War">Cold War</a> requirement of the United States to be able to keep fleets of <a href="/wiki/Nuclear_bomb" class="mw-redirect" title="Nuclear bomb">nuclear</a>-armed <a href="/wiki/B-47_Stratojet" class="mw-redirect" title="B-47 Stratojet">B-47 Stratojet</a> and <a href="/wiki/B-52_Stratofortress" class="mw-redirect" title="B-52 Stratofortress">B-52 Stratofortress</a> <a href="/wiki/Strategic_bombers" class="mw-redirect" title="Strategic bombers">strategic bombers</a> airborne around-the-clock either to threaten retaliation against a <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet</a> strike for <a href="/wiki/Mutual_assured_destruction" title="Mutual assured destruction">mutual assured destruction</a>, or to bomb the USSR first had it been ordered to do so. The bombers would fly orbits around their assigned positions from which they were to enter Soviet airspace if they received the order, and the tankers would refill the bombers' fuel tanks so that they could keep a force in the air 24 hours a day, and still have enough fuel to reach their targets in the Soviet Union. This also ensured that a <a href="/wiki/Pre-emptive_nuclear_strike" class="mw-redirect" title="Pre-emptive nuclear strike">first strike</a> against the bombers' airfields could not obliterate the US's ability to retaliate by bomber. </p><p>In 1958, Valiant tankers in the UK were developed with one HDU mounted in the bomb-bay. Valiant tankers of 214 Squadron were used to demonstrate radius of action by refueling a Valiant bomber non-stop from UK to Singapore in 1960 and a Vulcan bomber to Australia in 1961. Other UK exercises involving refueling aircraft from Valiant tankers included <a href="/wiki/Gloster_Javelin" title="Gloster Javelin">Javelin</a> and <a href="/wiki/English_Electric_Lightning" title="English Electric Lightning">Lightning</a> fighters, also Vulcan and Victor bombers. For instance, in 1962 a squadron of Javelin air defense aircraft was refueled in stages from the UK to <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a> and back (exercise "Shiksha"). After the retirement of the Valiant in 1965, the Handley Page Victor took over the UK refueling role and had three hoses (HDUs). These were a fuselage-mounted HDU and a refueling pod on each wing. The center hose could refuel any probe-equipped aircraft, the wing pods could refuel the more maneuverable fighter/ground attack types. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg/220px-Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="161" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg/330px-Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg/440px-Wtaf-routes-1964.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1084" data-file-height="791" /></a><figcaption>Route map for <a href="/wiki/Military_Air_Transport_Service" title="Military Air Transport Service">MATS (West)</a> 1964</figcaption></figure> <p>A byproduct of this development effort and the building of large numbers of tankers was that these tankers were also available to refuel <a href="/wiki/Cargo_aircraft" title="Cargo aircraft">cargo aircraft</a>, <a href="/wiki/Fighter_aircraft" title="Fighter aircraft">fighter aircraft</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Ground_attack_aircraft" class="mw-redirect" title="Ground attack aircraft">ground attack aircraft</a>, in addition to bombers, for ferrying to distant theaters of operations. This was much used during the <a href="/wiki/Vietnam_War" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a>, when many aircraft could not have covered the transoceanic distances without aerial refueling, even with intermediate bases such as <a href="/wiki/Hickam_Air_Force_Base" title="Hickam Air Force Base">Hickam Air Force Base</a>, Hawaii and <a href="/wiki/Kadena_Air_Base" title="Kadena Air Base">Kadena Air Base</a>, Okinawa. In addition to allowing the transport of the aircraft themselves, the cargo aircraft could also carry <a href="/wiki/Mat%C3%A9riel" class="mw-redirect" title="Matériel">matériel</a>, supplies, and personnel to Vietnam without landing to refuel. KC-135s were also frequently used for refueling of air combat missions from air bases in Thailand. </p><p>The USAF <a href="/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird" class="mw-redirect" title="SR-71 Blackbird">SR-71 Blackbird</a> strategic reconnaissance aircraft made frequent use of air-to-air refueling. Indeed, design considerations of the aircraft made its mission impossible without aerial refueling. Based at <a href="/wiki/Beale_AFB" class="mw-redirect" title="Beale AFB">Beale AFB</a> in central <a href="/wiki/California" title="California">California</a>, SR-71s had to be forward-deployed to Europe and Japan prior to flying actual reconnaissance missions. These trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic flights during deployment were impossible without aerial refueling. The SR-71's designers traded takeoff performance for better high-speed, high-altitude performance, necessitating takeoff with less-than-full fuel tanks from even the longest runways. Once airborne, the Blackbird would accelerate to supersonic speed using afterburners to facilitate structural heating and expansion. The magnitude of temperature changes experienced by the SR-71, from parked to its maximum speed, resulted in significant expansion of its structural parts in cruise flight. To allow for the expansion, the Blackbird's parts had to fit loosely when cold, so loosely, in fact, that the Blackbird constantly leaked fuel before heating expanded the airframe enough to seal its fuel tanks. Following the supersonic dash the SR-71 would then rendezvous with a tanker to fill its now nearly empty tanks before proceeding on its mission. This was referred to as the <i>LTTR</i> (for "Launch To Tanker Rendezvous") profile. LTTR had the added advantage of providing an operational test of the Blackbird's refueling capability within minutes after takeoff, enabling a Return-To-Launch-Site abort capability if necessary. At its most efficient altitude and speed, the Blackbird was capable of flying for many hours without refueling. The SR-71 used a special fuel, <a href="/wiki/JP-7" title="JP-7">JP-7</a>, with a very high <a href="/wiki/Flash_point" title="Flash point">flash point</a> to withstand the extreme skin temperatures generated during Mach 3+ cruise flight.<sup id="cite_ref-SR-71.org_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SR-71.org-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While JP-7 could be used by other aircraft, its burn characteristics posed problems in certain situations (such as high-altitude, emergency engine starts) that made it less than optimal for aircraft other than the SR-71. </p><p>Normally, all the fuel aboard a tanker aircraft may be either offloaded, or burned by the tanker as necessary. To make this possible, the KC-135 fuel system incorporated gravity draining and pumps to allow moving fuel from tank to tank depending on mission needs. Mixing JP-7 with JP-4 or Jet A, however, rendered it unsuitable for use by the SR-71, so the Air Force commissioned a specially modified KC-135 variant, the <a href="/wiki/KC-135#Variants" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-135">KC-135Q</a>, which included changes to the fuel system and operating procedures preventing inadvertent inflight mixing of fuel intended for offload with fuel intended for use by the tanker. SR-71 aircraft were refueled exclusively by KC-135Q tankers. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="127" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-Refuelling_a_Sukhoi_Su-34_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1497" data-file-height="862" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a> <a href="/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-34" title="Sukhoi Su-34">Sukhoi Su-34</a> takes on fuel through a Probe-and-drogue system</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tactical">Tactical</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Tactical"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Tankers are considered "<a href="/wiki/Force_multipliers" class="mw-redirect" title="Force multipliers">force multipliers</a>", because they convey considerable tactical advantages. Primarily, aerial refueling adds to the combat radius of attack, fighter and bombers aircraft, and allows patrol aircraft to remain airborne longer, thereby reducing the number of aircraft necessary to accomplish a given mission. Aerial refueling can also mitigate basing issues that might otherwise place limitations on combat <a href="/wiki/Payload_(air_and_space_craft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Payload (air and space craft)">payload</a>. Combat aircraft operating from airfields with shorter runways must limit their takeoff weight, which could mean a choice between range (fuel) and combat payload (munitions). Aerial refueling, however, eliminates many of these basing difficulties because a combat aircraft can take off with a full combat payload and refuel immediately. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Operational_history">Operational history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Operational history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Cold_War">Cold War</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Cold War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Even as the first practical methods for aerial refueling were being developed, military planners had already envisioned what missions could be greatly enhanced by using such techniques. In the emerging <a href="/wiki/Cold_War" title="Cold War">Cold War</a> climate of the late 1940s, the ability for bombers to perform increasingly long distance missions would enable targets to be struck even from air bases on a different continent. Thus, it became commonplace for <a href="/wiki/Nuclear_weapon" title="Nuclear weapon">nuclear-armed</a> <a href="/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">strategic bombers</a> to be equipped with aerial refueling apparatus and for it to be used to facilitate long distance patrols.<sup id="cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-b58_blunder-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the late 1950s, aerial refueling had become so prevalent amongst the bombers operated by the US Air Force's <a href="/wiki/Strategic_Air_Command" title="Strategic Air Command">Strategic Air Command</a> that many, such as the <a href="/wiki/Convair_B-58_Hustler" title="Convair B-58 Hustler">Convair B-58 Hustler</a>, would operate largely or entirely out of bases in the continental United States while maintaining strategic reach.<sup id="cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-b58_blunder-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This practice was promoted to address security concerns as well as diplomatic objections from some overseas states that did not want nuclear weapons kept on their soil.<sup id="cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-b58_blunder-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In one early demonstration of the <a href="/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress" title="Boeing B-52 Stratofortress">Boeing B-52 Stratofortress</a>'s global reach, performed between 16 and 18 January 1957, three B-52Bs made a <a href="/wiki/Non-stop_flight" title="Non-stop flight">non-stop flight</a> around the world during <i><a href="/wiki/Operation_Power_Flite" title="Operation Power Flite">Operation Power Flite</a></i>, during which 24,325 miles (21,145 nmi, 39,165 km) was covered in 45 hours 19 minutes (536.8 smph) with multiple in-flight refuelings being performed from KC-97s.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-knaack_p243_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-knaack_p243-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>While development of the <a href="/wiki/Avro_Vulcan" title="Avro Vulcan">Avro Vulcan</a> strategic bomber was underway, British officials recognised that its operational flexibility could be improved by the provision of in-flight refueling equipment.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Accordingly, from the 16th aircraft to be completed onwards, the Vulcan was furnished with in-flight refueling receiving equipment.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-brookes49_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-brookes49-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While continuous airborne patrols were flown by the RAF for a time, these were deemed to be untenable, and the refueling mechanisms across the Vulcan fleet largely fell into disuse during the 1960s.<sup id="cite_ref-brookes49_39-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-brookes49-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When the RAF chose to optimise its bomber fleet away from high-altitude flight and towards low-level penetration missions, bombers such as the <a href="/wiki/Handley_Page_Victor" title="Handley Page Victor">Handley Page Victor</a> were fitted with aerial refueling probes and additional fuel tanks to counter the decreased range from the shift in flight profile.<sup id="cite_ref-Steel_p241_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Steel_p241-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During the mid-1950s, to deliver France's independent <a href="/wiki/Mutual_assured_destruction" title="Mutual assured destruction">nuclear deterrent</a>, work commenced on what would become the <a href="/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_IV" title="Dassault Mirage IV">Dassault Mirage IV</a> supersonic bomber.<sup id="cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bomber_196_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bomber_196-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The dimensions of this bomber was greatly determined by the viability of aerial refueling, with work on an enlarged variant of the Mirage IV ultimately being aborted in favour of a greater reliance upon aerial tanker aircraft instead.<sup id="cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p109_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p109-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In order to refuel the Mirage IVA fleet, France purchased 14 (12 plus 2 spares) US Boeing <a href="/wiki/C-135" class="mw-redirect" title="C-135">C-135</a>F <a href="/wiki/Tanker_(aircraft)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tanker (aircraft)">tankers</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104_42-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Mirage IVAs also often operated in pairs, with one aircraft carrying a weapon and the other carrying fuel tanks and a buddy refueling pack, allowing it to refuel its partner en route to the target.<sup id="cite_ref-bomber_200_45-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bomber_200-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> While able to strike at numerous targets inside of the Soviet Union, the inability for the Mirage IV to return from some missions had been a point of controversy during the aircraft's design phase.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-bomber_199-200_47-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-bomber_199-200-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Korean_War">Korean War</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Korean War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 6 July 1951, the first combat air refueling of fighter-type aircraft took place over Korea. Three RF-80As launched from Taegu with the modified tip-tanks and rendezvoused with a tanker offshore of Wonsan, North Korea. Through in-flight refueling, the RF-80s effectively doubled their range, which enabled them to photograph valuable targets in North Korea.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Vietnam_War">Vietnam War</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Vietnam War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="128" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-HC-130P_refuels_HH-3E_over_Southeast_Asia_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1172" data-file-height="682" /></a><figcaption>HC-130P refuels HH-3E over Southeast Asia</figcaption></figure> <p>During the <a href="/wiki/Vietnam_War" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a>, it was common for USAF fighter-bombers flying from <a href="/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a> to <a href="/wiki/North_Vietnam" title="North Vietnam">North Vietnam</a> to refuel from KC-135s en route to their target. Besides extending their range, this enabled the <a href="/wiki/F-105" class="mw-redirect" title="F-105">F-105s</a> and <a href="/wiki/F-4_Phantom" class="mw-redirect" title="F-4 Phantom">F-4 Phantoms</a> to carry more bombs and rockets. Tankers were also available for refueling on the way back if necessary. In addition to ferrying aircraft across the <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Ocean" title="Pacific Ocean">Pacific Ocean</a>, aerial refueling made it possible for battle-damaged fighters, with heavily leaking fuel tanks, to hook up to the tankers and let the tanker feed its engine(s) until the point where they could glide to the base and land. This saved numerous aircraft. <sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (December 2011)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>The US Navy frequently used carrier-based aerial tankers like the <a href="/wiki/A-3_Skywarrior" class="mw-redirect" title="A-3 Skywarrior">KA-3 Skywarrior</a> to refuel Navy and Marine aircraft such as the F-4, <a href="/wiki/A-4_Skyhawk" class="mw-redirect" title="A-4 Skyhawk">A-4 Skyhawk</a>, <a href="/wiki/A-6_Intruder" class="mw-redirect" title="A-6 Intruder">A-6 Intruder</a>, and <a href="/wiki/A-7_Corsair_II" class="mw-redirect" title="A-7 Corsair II">A-7 Corsair II</a>. This was particularly useful when a pilot returning from an airstrike was having difficulty landing and was running low on <a href="/wiki/Jet_fuel" title="Jet fuel">jet fuel</a>. This gave them fuel for more attempts at landing for a successful "trap" on an aircraft carrier. The KA-3 could also refuel fighters on extended Combat Air Patrol. USMC jets based in South Vietnam and Thailand also used USMC <a href="/wiki/KC-130_Hercules" class="mw-redirect" title="KC-130 Hercules">KC-130 Hercules</a> transports for air-to-air refueling on missions. </p><p>During late August 1970, a pair of <a href="/wiki/Sikorsky_CH-53_Sea_Stallion" title="Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion">HH-53C</a> helicopters performed the first Trans-Pacific flight by a helicopter, flying from <a href="/wiki/Eglin_AFB" class="mw-redirect" title="Eglin AFB">Eglin AFB</a> in Florida to <a href="/wiki/Danang" class="mw-redirect" title="Danang">Danang</a> in South Vietnam. In addition to making multiple en route stops to refuel on the ground, aerial refueling was also used in this display of the type's long-range capabilities. The flight proved to be roughly four times faster than the traditional dispatching of rotorcraft to the theatre by ship.<sup id="cite_ref-sikarchive_s-65_50-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sikarchive_s-65-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Middle_East">Middle East</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Middle East"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the 1980s <a href="/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War" title="Iran–Iraq War">Iran–Iraq War</a>, the Iranian Air Force maintained at least one KC 707-3J9C aerial tanker, which the Islamic Republic had inherited from the Shah's government. This was used most effectively on 4 April 1981, refueling eight IRIAF F-4 Phantoms on long-range sorties into Iraq to <a href="/wiki/H-3_airstrike" title="H-3 airstrike">bomb the H-3 Al Walid airfield</a> near the Jordanian border, destroying 27–50 Iraqi fighter jets and bombers.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, the Iranian Air Force was forced to cancel its 180-day air offensive and attempts to control Iranian <a href="/wiki/Airspace" title="Airspace">airspace</a> due to unsustainable rates of attrition.<sup id="cite_ref-csis_5_53-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-csis_5-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Cooper_Blinders_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cooper_Blinders-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Israeli_Air_Force" title="Israeli Air Force">Israeli Air Force</a> has a fleet of Boeing 707s equipped with a boom refueling system similar to the KC-135, this system has the Israeli name <i>Ram</i>, used to refuel and extend the range of fighter bombers such as the F-15I and F-16I for deterrent and strike missions, they are nearing 60 years old and Israel does not disclose the number of tankers in their fleet.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-jpost.com_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jpost.com-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1985, Israeli <a href="/wiki/F-15" class="mw-redirect" title="F-15">F-15s</a> used heavily modified <a href="/wiki/Boeing_707" title="Boeing 707">Boeing 707</a> aircraft to provide aerial refueling over the <a href="/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea" title="Mediterranean Sea">Mediterranean Sea</a> in order to extend their range for <a href="/wiki/Operation_Wooden_Leg" title="Operation Wooden Leg">Operation Wooden Leg</a>, an air raid on the headquarters of the <a href="/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization" title="Palestine Liberation Organization">Palestine Liberation Organization</a> (PLO) near <a href="/wiki/Tunis" title="Tunis">Tunis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tunisia" title="Tunisia">Tunisia</a>, that necessitated a 2,000 km flight.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBergman2018306_58-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBergman2018306-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of 2021 Israel has ordered four of a planned eight <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-46_Pegasus" title="Boeing KC-46 Pegasus">Boeing KC-46 Pegasus</a> boom refueling tankers and has requested that the first two aircraft be fast-tracked for delivery in 2022 when they were to be delivered in 2023. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli commanders have made this request to enhance the strategic deterrence against Iran, the same article reports that the US, whose air force is also taking its first deliveries of the aircraft type, has refused to move forward the deliveries while supporting Israel's deterrence; the Jpost editor writing "The US State Department approved the possible sale of up to eight KC-46 tanker aircraft and related equipment to Israel for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion last March(i.e. 5/2020), marking the first time that Washington has allowed Jerusalem to buy new tankers."<sup id="cite_ref-jpost.com_57-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-jpost.com-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Falklands_War">Falklands War</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Falklands War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the <a href="/wiki/Falklands_War" title="Falklands War">Falklands War</a>, aerial refueling played a vital role in all of the successful Argentine attacks against the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Argentine_Air_Force" title="Argentine Air Force">Argentine Air Force</a> had only two KC-130H Hercules available and they were used to refuel both Air Force and Navy <a href="/wiki/A-4_Skyhawk" class="mw-redirect" title="A-4 Skyhawk">A-4 Skyhawks</a> and Navy <a href="/wiki/Super_Etendard" class="mw-redirect" title="Super Etendard">Super Etendards</a> in their <a href="/wiki/Exocet" title="Exocet">Exocet</a> strikes. The Hercules on several occasions approached the islands (where the <a href="/wiki/Sea_Harrier" class="mw-redirect" title="Sea Harrier">Sea Harriers</a> were in patrol) to search and guide the A-4s in their returning flights. On one of those flights (callsign <i>Jaguar</i>) one of the KC-130s went to rescue a damaged A-4 and delivered 39,000 lb (18,000 kg) of fuel while carrying it to its airfield at <a href="/wiki/Puerto_San_Juli%C3%A1n" title="Puerto San Julián">San Julian</a>. However, the <a href="/wiki/Mirage_III" class="mw-redirect" title="Mirage III">Mirage IIIs</a> and <a href="/wiki/IAI_Nesher" title="IAI Nesher">Daggers</a> lack of air refueling capability prevented them from achieving better results. The Mirages were unable to reach the islands with a strike payload, and the Daggers could do so only for a five-minute strike flight. </p><p>On the British side, air refueling was carried out by the <a href="/wiki/Handley_Page_Victor" title="Handley Page Victor">Handley Page Victor</a> K.2 and, after the Argentine surrender, by modified C-130 Hercules tankers. These aircraft aided deployments from the UK to the <a href="/wiki/Ascension_Island" title="Ascension Island">Ascension Island</a> staging post in the Atlantic and further deployments south of bomber, transport and maritime patrol aircraft.<sup id="cite_ref-Falklands_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Falklands-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The most famous refueling missions were the 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) "<a href="/wiki/Operation_Black_Buck" title="Operation Black Buck">Operation Black Buck</a>" sorties which used 14 Victor tankers to allow an <a href="/wiki/Avro_Vulcan" title="Avro Vulcan">Avro Vulcan</a> bomber (with a flying reserve bomber) to attack the Argentine-captured airfield at Port Stanley on the <a href="/wiki/Falkland_Islands" title="Falkland Islands">Falkland Islands</a>. With all the aircraft flying from Ascension, the tankers themselves needed refueling.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The raids were the longest-range bombing raids in history until surpassed by the <a href="/wiki/Boeing_B-52" class="mw-redirect" title="Boeing B-52">Boeing B-52s</a> flying from the States to bomb Iraq in the 1991 <a href="/wiki/Gulf_War" title="Gulf War">Gulf War</a> and later <a href="/wiki/B-2_Spirit" class="mw-redirect" title="B-2 Spirit">B-2</a> flights.<sup id="cite_ref-stbull84_63-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stbull84-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Gulf_War">Gulf War</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Gulf War"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the time of Operation Desert Shield, the military buildup to the Persian Gulf War, US Air Force Boeing KC-135s & McDonnell Douglas KC-10As, and USMC KC-130 Hercules aircraft were deployed to forward air bases in <a href="/wiki/England" title="England">England</a>, <a href="/wiki/Diego_Garcia" title="Diego Garcia">Diego Garcia</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>. Aircraft stationed in Saudi Arabia normally maintained an orbit in the <a href="/wiki/Saudi%E2%80%93Iraqi_neutral_zone" class="mw-redirect" title="Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone">Saudi–Iraqi neutral zone</a>, informally known as "Frisbee", and refueled coalition aircraft whenever necessary. Two side by side tracks over central Saudi Arabia called "Prune" and "Raisin" featured 2–4 basket equipped KC-135 tankers each and were used by Navy aircraft from the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Red_Sea_Battle_Force&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Red Sea Battle Force (page does not exist)">Red Sea Battle Force</a>. Large Navy strike groups from the Red Sea would send A-6 tankers to the Prune and Raisin tracks ahead of the strike aircraft arriving to top off and take up station to the right of the Air Force tankers thereby providing an additional tanking point. RAF Handley Page Victor and <a href="/wiki/Vickers_VC10" title="Vickers VC10">Vickers VC10</a> tankers were also used to refuel British and coalition aircraft and were popular with the US Navy for their docile basket behavior and having three point refueling stations. An additional track was maintained close to the northwest border for the E-3 AWACS aircraft and any Navy aircraft needing emergency fuel. These 24-hour air-refueling zones enabled the intense air campaign during Desert Storm. An additional 24/7 tanker presence was maintained over the Red Sea itself to refuel Navy F-14 Tomcats maintaining <a href="/wiki/Combat_Air_Patrol" class="mw-redirect" title="Combat Air Patrol">Combat Air Patrol</a> tracks. During the conflict's final week, KC-10s moved inside Iraq to support barrier CAP missions set up to block Iraqi fighters from escaping to Iran. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg/220px-Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="134" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg/330px-Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg/440px-Exercise_Angel_Thunder_2014_140512-F-IE715-1625.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1338" data-file-height="812" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/French_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a> <a href="/wiki/Eurocopter_EC725" title="Eurocopter EC725">EC725</a> is refueled by a <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_HC-130" title="Lockheed HC-130">Lockheed HC-130</a> during Exercise Angel Thunder</figcaption></figure> <p>On 16–17 January 1991, the first combat sortie of Operation Desert Storm, and the longest combat sortie in history at that time, was launched from <a href="/wiki/Barksdale_AFB,_Louisiana" class="mw-redirect" title="Barksdale AFB, Louisiana">Barksdale AFB, Louisiana</a>. Seven B-52Gs flew a thirty-five-hour mission to the region and back to launch 35 <a href="/wiki/AGM-86_ALCM" title="AGM-86 ALCM">Boeing Air Launched Cruise Missiles</a> (ALCMs) with the surprise use of conventional warheads. This attack, which successfully destroyed 85–95 percent of intended targets, would have been impossible without the support of refueling tankers.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An extremely useful tanker in Desert Storm was the USAF's KC-10A Extender. Besides being larger than the other tankers deployed, the KC-10A is equipped with the USAF "boom" refueling and also the "hose-and-drogue" system, enabling it to refuel not only USAF aircraft, and also USMC and US Navy jets that use the "probe-and-drogue" system, and also allied aircraft, such as those from the UK and Saudi Arabia. KC-135s may be equipped with a drogue depending on the mission profile. With a full jet fuel load, the KC-10A is capable of flying from a base on the American east coast, flying nonstop to Europe, transferring a considerable amount of fuel to other aircraft, and returning to its home base without landing anywhere else.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (March 2021)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>On 24 January 1991, the <a href="/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force" title="Iraqi Air Force">Iraqi Air Force</a> launched the <a href="/wiki/Attack_on_Ras_Tanura" title="Attack on Ras Tanura">Attack on Ras Tanura</a>, an attempt to bomb the Ras Tanura oil facility in Saudi Arabia. On their way to the target, the Iraqi attack aircraft were refueled by tanker at an altitude of 100 meters. The attack ultimately failed, with two aircraft turning back and the remaining two shot down.<sup id="cite_ref-Woods_66-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Woods-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Francoma_67-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Francoma-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Centennial_Contact">Centennial Contact</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Centennial Contact"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 27 June 2023 the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a>, including the Air National Guard, commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling by holding "Operation Centennial Contact." Aircraft from various bases conducted aerial refueling exercises across the United States, as well as conducting flyovers in 50 states.<sup id="cite_ref-AMC_celebrates_100th_year_of_air_refueling_with_community_flyovers_across_the_US_68-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-AMC_celebrates_100th_year_of_air_refueling_with_community_flyovers_across_the_US-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 152 aircraft were slated to participate in the operation, with 82 tanker aircraft providing refueling support to 70 other participating aircraft.<sup id="cite_ref-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah_69-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The aircraft participating included 49 <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-135_Stratotanker" title="Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker">Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker</a>; 29 <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-46_Pegasus" title="Boeing KC-46 Pegasus">Boeing KC-46 Pegasus</a>; four <a href="/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_KC-10_Extender" title="McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender">McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extenders</a>, and aircraft receiving fuel included 21 <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules" title="Lockheed C-130 Hercules">Lockheed C-130 Hercules</a>; 13 <a href="/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III" title="Boeing C-17 Globemaster III">Boeing C-17 Globemaster III</a>; ten <a href="/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle" title="McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle">McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle</a>; eight <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-22_Raptor" title="Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor">Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor</a>; six <a href="/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II" title="Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II">Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II</a>; five <a href="/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon" title="General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon">General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons</a>; four <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II" title="Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II">Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II</a>; two <a href="/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress" title="Boeing B-52 Stratofortress">Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses</a>; and one <a href="/wiki/Lockheed_C-5_Galaxy" title="Lockheed C-5 Galaxy">Lockheed C-5 Galaxy</a>. <sup id="cite_ref-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah_69-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Helicopters">Helicopters</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Helicopters"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR) is a variation of aerial refueling when a naval <a href="/wiki/Helicopter" title="Helicopter">helicopter</a> approaches a warship (not necessarily suited for landing operations) and receives fuel through the cabin while hovering. Alternatively, some helicopters like the HH-60 Pave Hawk are equipped with a probe extending out the front can be refueled from a drogue-equipped tanker aircraft in a similar manner to fixed-wing aircraft by matching a high forward speed for a helicopter to a slow speed for the fixed-wing tanker. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Longest_crewed_flight_record">Longest crewed flight record</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Longest crewed flight record"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A mission modified <a href="/wiki/Cessna_172_Skyhawk" class="mw-redirect" title="Cessna 172 Skyhawk">Cessna 172 Skyhawk</a> with a crew of two set the world record for the longest continuous crewed flight without landing of 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes, and five seconds in 1958. A Ford truck was outfitted with a fuel pump, tank, and other paraphernalia required to support the aircraft in flight. The publicity flight for a Las Vegas area hotel ended when the aircraft's performance had degraded to the point where the Cessna had difficulty climbing away from the refueling vehicle.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Developments">Developments</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Developments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Commercial tankers are occasionally used by military forces. The <a href="/wiki/Omega_Aerial_Refueling_Services" title="Omega Aerial Refueling Services">Omega Aerial Refueling Services</a> company<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and Metrea Strategic Mobility<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> are contracted by the US Navy. In June 2023, Metrea completed the first commercial refueling of the US Air Force.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Automated_aerial_refueling" title="Automated aerial refueling">Autonomous (hands off) refueling</a> using probe/drogue systems was investigated by <a href="/wiki/NASA" title="NASA">NASA</a>, potentially for use by <a href="/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle" title="Unmanned aerial vehicle">unmanned aerial vehicles</a> in the <a href="/wiki/KQ-X" title="KQ-X">KQ-X</a> program.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Operators">Operators</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Operators"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="149" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-KC-30_A39-002_refuelling_an_USAF_F-16_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1849" data-file-height="1253" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force" title="Royal Australian Air Force">RAAF</a> KC-30 refuels a USAF <a href="/wiki/F-16" class="mw-redirect" title="F-16">F-16</a></figcaption></figure> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Algeria.svg/23px-Flag_of_Algeria.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Algeria.svg/35px-Flag_of_Algeria.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Flag_of_Algeria.svg/45px-Flag_of_Algeria.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Algerian_Air_Force" title="Algerian Air Force">Algerian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/23px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/35px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Flag_of_Argentina.svg/46px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="500" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Argentine_Air_Force" title="Argentine Air Force">Argentine Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg/35px-Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg/46px-Flag_of_Australia_%28converted%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1280" data-file-height="640" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force" title="Royal Australian Air Force">Royal Australian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/33px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/43px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="700" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brazilian_Air_Force" title="Brazilian Air Force">Brazilian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/35px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/46px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force" title="Royal Canadian Air Force">Royal Canadian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flag_of_Chile.svg/23px-Flag_of_Chile.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flag_of_Chile.svg/35px-Flag_of_Chile.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flag_of_Chile.svg/45px-Flag_of_Chile.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chilean_Air_Force" title="Chilean Air Force">Chilean Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/45px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Air_Force" title="People's Liberation Army Air Force">People's Liberation Army Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Colombia" title="Colombia">Colombia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Colombian_Air_Force" title="Colombian Air Force">Colombian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Flag_of_Egypt.svg/23px-Flag_of_Egypt.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Flag_of_Egypt.svg/35px-Flag_of_Egypt.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Flag_of_Egypt.svg/45px-Flag_of_Egypt.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Egyptian_Air_Force" title="Egyptian Air Force">Egyptian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/23px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/35px-Flag_of_France.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/45px-Flag_of_France.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/France" title="France">France</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/French_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="French Air Force">French Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/French_Naval_Aviation" title="French Naval Aviation">French Navy</a></li></ul> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_(RK-3452).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg/220px-Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg/330px-Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg/440px-Ilyushin_Il-78MKI_%28RK-3452%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="800" /></a><figcaption>An <a href="/wiki/Indian_Air_Force" title="Indian Air Force">IAF</a> <a href="/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-78" title="Ilyushin Il-78"> Ilyushin Il-78MKI</a> provides mid-air refueling to two <a href="/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_2000" title="Dassault Mirage 2000">Mirage 2000</a></figcaption></figure> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/23px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/35px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/46px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/German_Air_Force" title="German Air Force">German Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/23px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/35px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/45px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indian_Air_Force" title="Indian Air Force">Indian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Flag_of_Indonesia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Indonesia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force" title="Indonesian Air Force">Indonesian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="13" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force">Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Israel.svg/21px-Flag_of_Israel.svg.png" decoding="async" width="21" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Israel.svg/32px-Flag_of_Israel.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Flag_of_Israel.svg/41px-Flag_of_Israel.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1100" data-file-height="800" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Israeli_Air_Force" title="Israeli Air Force">Israeli Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/23px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/35px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/45px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1500" data-file-height="1000" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Italian_Air_Force" title="Italian Air Force">Italian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Japan_Air_Self-Defense_Force" title="Japan Air Self-Defense Force">Japan Air Self-Defense Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/23px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/35px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/45px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Republic_of_Korea_Air_Force" title="Republic of Korea Air Force">Republic of Korea Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/23px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/35px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/46px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kuwait_Air_Force" title="Kuwait Air Force">Kuwait Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg/23px-Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg/35px-Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg/46px-Flag_of_Malaysia_23px.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="986" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Malaysian_Air_Force" title="Royal Malaysian Air Force">Royal Malaysian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="143" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg/440px-Saab_JAS-39_of_the_Swedish_Air_Force_undergoing_inflight_refuelling_from_a_TP_84_Hercules_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1652" data-file-height="1072" /></a><figcaption>Two <a href="/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen" title="Saab JAS 39 Gripen">Saab JAS-39 Gripen</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Swedish_Air_Force" title="Swedish Air Force">Swedish Air Force</a> undergoing inflight refueling.</figcaption></figure> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Morocco.svg/23px-Flag_of_Morocco.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Morocco.svg/35px-Flag_of_Morocco.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Morocco.svg/45px-Flag_of_Morocco.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Moroccan_Air_Force" title="Royal Moroccan Air Force">Royal Moroccan Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/45px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Air_Force" title="Royal Netherlands Air Force">Royal Netherlands Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pakistan_Air_Force" title="Pakistan Air Force">Pakistan Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p><b><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/23px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/35px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Flag_of_Portugal.svg/45px-Flag_of_Portugal.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="400" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a></b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_Air_Force" title="Portuguese Air Force">Portuguese Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></dt></dl> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png/220px-Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="186" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png/330px-Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png/440px-Tu-95_filling_rod_and_filling_cone_from_Il-78M_aircraft.png 2x" data-file-width="953" data-file-height="807" /></a><figcaption>Tu-95М filling rod and filling cone from Il-78M aircraft</figcaption></figure> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Russian_Air_Force" title="Russian Air Force">Russian Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/23px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/35px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Flag_of_Singapore.svg/45px-Flag_of_Singapore.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Singapore" title="Singapore">Singapore</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Republic_of_Singapore_Air_Force" title="Republic of Singapore Air Force">Republic of Singapore Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/23px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/35px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/45px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="500" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_Air_and_Space_Force" title="Spanish Air and Space Force">Spanish Air and Space Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Flag_of_Sweden.svg/23px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Flag_of_Sweden.svg/35px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Flag_of_Sweden.svg/46px-Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1000" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Sweden" title="Sweden">Sweden</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Swedish_Air_Force" title="Swedish Air Force">Swedish Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/23px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/35px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/45px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="800" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Turkish_Air_Force" title="Turkish Air Force">Turkish Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Air_Force" title="United Arab Emirates Air Force">United Arab Emirates Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Air_Force" title="Royal Air Force">Royal Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Saudi_Air_Force" title="Royal Saudi Air Force">Royal Saudi Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg/220px-KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="139" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg/330px-KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg/440px-KC-46_Refuels_B-2_over_Edwards_AFB.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4345" data-file-height="2737" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Boeing_KC-46_Pegasus" title="Boeing KC-46 Pegasus">KC-46 Pegasus</a> refuels a <a href="/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit" class="mw-redirect" title="Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit">B-2</a> over <a href="/wiki/Edwards_AFB" class="mw-redirect" title="Edwards AFB">Edwards AFB</a></figcaption></figure> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="13" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States_%2823px%29.png 2x" data-file-width="69" data-file-height="39" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Air_Force" title="United States Air Force">United States Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps" title="United States Marine Corps">United States Marine Corps</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy">United States Navy</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <dl><dt><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/23px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/35px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Flag_of_Venezuela.svg/45px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a></dt></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venezuelan_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="Venezuelan Air Force">Venezuelan Air Force</a><sup id="cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Military_logistics" title="Military logistics">Military logistics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propellant_depot" class="mw-redirect" title="Propellant depot">Propellant depot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Underway_replenishment" title="Underway replenishment">Underway replenishment</a>, the transfer of refuel and stores at sea</li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_tanker_aircraft" title="List of tanker aircraft">List of tanker aircraft</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"AAR" can also stand for <a href="/wiki/After_Action_Review" class="mw-redirect" title="After Action Review">After Action Review</a> (i.e. debriefing); "IFR" also stands for <a href="/wiki/Instrument_Flight_Rules" class="mw-redirect" title="Instrument Flight Rules">Instrument Flight Rules</a>.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Citations">Citations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Citations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239543626"><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFNangia2006" class="citation journal cs1 cs1-prop-long-vol">Nangia, R.K (November 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131021064242/http://www.greenerbydesign.org.uk/_FILES/publications/3088.pdf">"Operations and aircraft design towards greener civil aviation using air-to-air refuelling"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>The Aeronautical Journal</i>. Paper No. 3088. (November): 705–721. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0001924000001585">10.1017/S0001924000001585</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:114942345">114942345</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.greenerbydesign.org.uk/_FILES/publications/3088.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 21 October 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 October</span> 2011</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Aeronautical+Journal&rft.atitle=Operations+and+aircraft+design+towards+greener+civil+aviation+using+air-to-air+refuelling&rft.volume=Paper+No.+3088.&rft.issue=November&rft.pages=705-721&rft.date=2006-11&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1017%2FS0001924000001585&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A114942345%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Nangia&rft.aufirst=R.K&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenerbydesign.org.uk%2F_FILES%2Fpublications%2F3088.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Colin Cruddas, <i>Highways to the Empire</i> (Air Britain, 2006, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85130-376-5" title="Special:BookSources/0-85130-376-5">0-85130-376-5</a>); G.H. Pirie, <i>Air Empire: British Imperial Civil Aviation, 1919–39</i> (Manchester University Press, 2009), Chapter 6. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7190-4111-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7190-4111-2">978-0-7190-4111-2</a>; G.H. Pirie, <i>Cultures and Caricatures of British imperial Aviation: Passengers, Pilots, Publicity</i> (Manchester University Press, 2012), Chapter 4.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">There is no evidence of a relationship between A.D. Hunter and the Hunter brothers.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090416144548/http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=1150">"National Air and Space Museum image"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=1150">the original</a> on 16 April 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=National+Air+and+Space+Museum+image&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasm.si.edu%2Fimagedetail.cfm%3FimageID%3D1150&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-HistAv19-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-HistAv19_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-HistAv19_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">History of Aviation, Part 19, 1938</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHearst_Magazines1931" class="citation magazine cs1">Hearst Magazines (February 1931). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=u-IDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA186">"Wings Across The Atlantic"</a>. <i>Popular Mechanics</i>. Hearst Magazines. p. 190. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230313153158/https://books.google.com/books?id=u-IDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA186">Archived</a> from the original on 13 March 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 June</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Mechanics&rft.atitle=Wings+Across+The+Atlantic&rft.pages=190&rft.date=1931-02&rft.au=Hearst+Magazines&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Du-IDAAAAMBAJ%26pg%3DPA186&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Flight Magazine archive, 10 January 1929</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Flight Magazine archive, 3 July 1931, p. 623</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRichard_K._Smith" class="citation web cs1">Richard K. Smith. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/29/2001329785/-1/-1/0/AFD-100929-015.pdf">"Seventy Five Years of Inflight Refueling"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170824052135/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/29/2001329785/-1/-1/0/AFD-100929-015.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 24 August 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 October</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Seventy+Five+Years+of+Inflight+Refueling&rft.au=Richard+K.+Smith&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.defense.gov%2F2010%2FSep%2F29%2F2001329785%2F-1%2F-1%2F0%2FAFD-100929-015.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gaflight.org/midair%20refueling%20p1.htm">"Mid-air refuelling in Gander"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170324143411/http://www.gaflight.org/midair%20refueling%20p1.htm">Archived</a> from the original on 24 March 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 October</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Mid-air+refuelling+in+Gander&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gaflight.org%2Fmidair%2520refueling%2520p1.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBonnier_Corporation1947" class="citation magazine cs1">Bonnier Corporation (January 1947). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=KSYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA2-PA82">"Gas Station In The Sky"</a>. <i>Popular Science</i>. Bonnier Corporation. p. 2.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Science&rft.atitle=Gas+Station+In+The+Sky&rft.pages=2&rft.date=1947-01&rft.au=Bonnier+Corporation&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DKSYDAAAAMBAJ%26pg%3DRA2-PA82&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%202295.html?search=Flight%20Refuelling"><i> "Refuelling In Flight" </i>, Flight Magazine, November 22, 1945</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131005123217/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%202295.html?search=Flight%20Refuelling">Archived</a> 5 October 2013 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> close-up drawing of receiver pawl grapnel and tanker haul line projectile</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%200392.html">"flight march – receiver aircraft – advertisements flight – 1947 – 0392 – Flight Archive"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160634/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1947/1947%20-%200392.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2 April 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=flight+march+%E2%80%93+receiver+aircraft+%E2%80%93+advertisements+flight+%E2%80%93+1947+%E2%80%93+0392+%E2%80%93+Flight+Archive&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1947%2F1947%2520-%25200392.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Note – on one flight there was a high westerly wind and no need for aerial refueling</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%201219.html?search=Flight%20Refuelling">"imperial airways – 1940 – 1219 – Flight Archive"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131005122815/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%201219.html?search=Flight%20Refuelling">Archived</a> from the original on 5 October 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=imperial+airways+%E2%80%93+1940+%E2%80%93+1219+%E2%80%93+Flight+Archive&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1940%2F1940%2520-%25201219.html%3Fsearch%3DFlight%2520Refuelling&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBonnier_Corporation1948" class="citation magazine cs1">Bonnier Corporation (August 1948). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=QCgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA79">"What Can Our Bombers Do Now?"</a>. <i>Popular Science</i>. Bonnier Corporation. p. 79. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230313153145/https://books.google.com/books?id=QCgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA79">Archived</a> from the original on 13 March 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 June</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Science&rft.atitle=What+Can+Our+Bombers+Do+Now%3F&rft.pages=79&rft.date=1948-08&rft.au=Bonnier+Corporation&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DQCgDAAAAMBAJ%26pg%3DPA79&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200461.html">"flight – lucky lady – flight refuelling – 1949 – 0461 – Flight Archive"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160821144517/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200461.html">Archived</a> from the original on 21 August 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=flight+%E2%80%93+lucky+lady+%E2%80%93+flight+refuelling+%E2%80%93+1949+%E2%80%93+0461+%E2%80%93+Flight+Archive&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1949%2F1949%2520-%25200461.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i> "B-50s In Great Britain" </i>, Flight magazine, 1 September 1949</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHallex" class="citation journal cs1">Hallex, Steve. "Around the World in 94 Hours*". <i>Logbook</i>. <b>14</b> (1, 1st Quarter 2016).</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Logbook&rft.atitle=Around+the+World+in+94+Hours%2A&rft.volume=14&rft.issue=1%2C+1st+Quarter+2016&rft.aulast=Hallex&rft.aufirst=Steve&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171825/http://www.cobham75.com/cobham-the-company-1934-1985/air-to-air-refuelling-takes-off.aspx">"Cobham 75 :: Air-to-Air Refuelling Takes off"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cobham75.com/cobham-the-company-1934-1985/air-to-air-refuelling-takes-off.aspx">the original</a> on 8 July 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">17 November</span> 2009</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Cobham+75+%3A%3A+Air-to-Air+Refuelling+Takes+off&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cobham75.com%2Fcobham-the-company-1934-1985%2Fair-to-air-refuelling-takes-off.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBonnier_Corporation1949" class="citation magazine cs1">Bonnier Corporation (October 1949). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=giQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA131">"Jet Refuels Like Humming Bird"</a>. <i>Popular Science</i>. Bonnier Corporation. p. 131. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230313153158/https://books.google.com/books?id=giQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA131">Archived</a> from the original on 13 March 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 May</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Popular+Science&rft.atitle=Jet+Refuels+Like+Humming+Bird&rft.pages=131&rft.date=1949-10&rft.au=Bonnier+Corporation&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DgiQDAAAAMBAJ%26pg%3DPA131&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201413.html">"Meteor's 12-hour Flight"</a>, <i>Flight</i>, 1949, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170708222447/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201413.html">archived</a> from the original on 8 July 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 April</span> 2014</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Flight&rft.atitle=Meteor%27s+12-hour+Flight&rft.date=1949&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1949%2F1949%2520-%25201413.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.the-best-of-british.com/PlaneCrazyHeritage/airpictorial/1999/RefuellingFDC.htm">"50 Years of Probe and Drogue Flight Refuelling cover signed Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Knight KCB AFC FRAES"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114228/http://www.the-best-of-british.com/PlaneCrazyHeritage/airpictorial/1999/RefuellingFDC.htm">Archived</a> from the original on 4 March 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=50+Years+of+Probe+and+Drogue+Flight+Refuelling+cover+signed+Air+Chief+Marshal+Sir+Michael+Knight+KCB+AFC+FRAES&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-best-of-british.com%2FPlaneCrazyHeritage%2Fairpictorial%2F1999%2FRefuellingFDC.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/kc-30a-mrtt">"KC-30A MRTT"</a>. <i>airforce.gov.au</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=airforce.gov.au&rft.atitle=KC-30A+MRTT&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airforce.gov.au%2Faircraft%2Fkc-30a-mrtt&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ReferenceA-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_26-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ReferenceA_26-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNaval_Air_Systems_Command2006" class="citation book cs1">Naval Air Systems Command (1 August 2006). <i>A1-F18AC-NFM-000 Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Manual</i>. United States <a href="/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy" title="United States Department of the Navy">Department of the Navy</a>. p. 364.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A1-F18AC-NFM-000+Naval+Aviation+Training+and+Operating+Procedures+Standardization+%28NATOPS%29+Manual&rft.pages=364&rft.pub=United+States+Department+of+the+Navy&rft.date=2006-08-01&rft.au=Naval+Air+Systems+Command&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070816232906/http://www.zvezda-npp.ru/english/06.htm">"Inflight Refueling"</a>. <i>Zvezda JSC</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.zvezda-npp.ru/english/06.htm">the original</a> on 16 August 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Zvezda+JSC&rft.atitle=Inflight+Refueling&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zvezda-npp.ru%2Fenglish%2F06.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTECordesmanKleiber2007158-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECordesmanKleiber2007158_28-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFCordesmanKleiber2007">Cordesman & Kleiber 2007</a>, p. 158.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Maj. <a href="/w/index.php?title=Marck_R._Cobb&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Marck R. Cobb (page does not exist)">Marck R. Cobb</a>, "Aerial Refueling: The Need for a Multipoint, Dual-System Capability," AU-ARI-CP-87-3, Air University Press, July 1987.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">note – even today there is much confusion about how this system actually worked</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-autogenerated1-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1_31-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFChristopherD.2005" class="citation journal cs1">Christopher, Bolkcom; D., Klaus, Jon (11 May 2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-6702:1">"Air Force Aerial Refueling Methods: Flying Boom versus Hose-and-Drogue"</a>. <i>Digital Library</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090511192223/http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-6702%3A1">Archived</a> from the original on 11 May 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 October</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Digital+Library&rft.atitle=Air+Force+Aerial+Refueling+Methods%3A+Flying+Boom+versus+Hose-and-Drogue&rft.date=2005-05-11&rft.aulast=Christopher&rft.aufirst=Bolkcom&rft.au=D.%2C+Klaus%2C+Jon&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdigital.library.unt.edu%2Fgovdocs%2Fcrs%2Fpermalink%2Fmeta-crs-6702%3A1&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_journal" title="Template:Cite journal">cite journal</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.macleans.ca/general/canadian-military-unable-to-refuel-new-jets-in-mid-air/">"Canadian military unable to refuel new jets in mid-air"</a>. <i>Macleans.ca</i>. 31 January 2011. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150614173144/http://www.macleans.ca/general/canadian-military-unable-to-refuel-new-jets-in-mid-air/">Archived</a> from the original on 14 June 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 June</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Macleans.ca&rft.atitle=Canadian+military+unable+to+refuel+new+jets+in+mid-air&rft.date=2011-01-31&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macleans.ca%2Fgeneral%2Fcanadian-military-unable-to-refuel-new-jets-in-mid-air%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SR-71.org-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-SR-71.org_33-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/sr-71/">"Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100317090246/http://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/sr-71/">Archived</a> from the original on 17 March 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 February</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Lockheed+SR-71+Blackbird&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sr-71.org%2Fblackbird%2Fsr-71%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-b58_blunder-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-b58_blunder_34-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFarley2016" class="citation web cs1">Farley, Robert (10 June 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-b-58-hustler-americas-cold-war-nuclear-bomber-blunder-16547">"The B-58 Hustler: America's Cold War Nuclear Bomber Blunder"</a>. nationalinterest.org. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210423090655/https://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-b-58-hustler-americas-cold-war-nuclear-bomber-blunder-16547">Archived</a> from the original on 23 April 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 March</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+B-58+Hustler%3A+America%27s+Cold+War+Nuclear+Bomber+Blunder&rft.pub=nationalinterest.org&rft.date=2016-06-10&rft.aulast=Farley&rft.aufirst=Robert&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnationalinterest.org%2Ffeature%2Fthe-b-58-hustler-americas-cold-war-nuclear-bomber-blunder-16547&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Condor 1994, p. 42.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-knaack_p243-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-knaack_p243_36-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Knaack 1988, p. 243.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wynn 1997, p. 154.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wynn 1997, p. 155.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-brookes49-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-brookes49_39-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-brookes49_39-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 49.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Steel_p241-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Steel_p241_40-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Rodwell <i>Flight</i> 13 February 1964, p. 241.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Windle and Bowman 2009, p. 21.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104_42-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p104_42-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Gunston 1973, p. 104.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bomber_196-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bomber_196_43-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 196.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p109-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Gunston,_Bill_1973._p109_44-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gunston 1973, p. 109.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bomber_200-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bomber_200_45-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 200.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDumoulin" class="citation cs2">Dumoulin, André, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120313212811/http://www.rmes.be/CDR3.pdf">"La dissuasion nucléaire française en posture méditerranéenne"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, <i>Les Cahiers du RMES</i>, <b>II</b> (1): 5–12, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rmes.be/CDR3.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 13 March 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">18 October</span> 2010</span>, <q>(p. 5) Certes, la posture méditerranéenne ne pouvait totalement résoudre la question de l'autonomie après le largage de la bombe à gravité AN-21 puis AN-22, et il était imaginé, au pire, des vols «kamikaze» jusqu'aux cibles russes mais également des profils de vols de retour avec planification des zones de crash, avec l'abandon de l'équipage au-dessus de territoires alliés.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Les+Cahiers+du+RMES&rft.atitle=La+dissuasion+nucl%C3%A9aire+fran%C3%A7aise+en+posture+m%C3%A9diterran%C3%A9enne&rft.volume=II&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=5-12&rft.aulast=Dumoulin&rft.aufirst=Andr%C3%A9&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rmes.be%2FCDR3.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-bomber_199-200-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-bomber_199-200_47-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, pp. 196–197.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/147244/history-of-aerial-refueling-fueling-the-fighters/#:~:text=On%20July%206%2C%201951%2C%20the,aircraft%20took%20place%20over%20Korea.&text=Through%20in%2Dflight%20refueling%2C%20the,valuable%20targets%20in%20North%20Korea">"History of aerial refueling: Fueling the fighters"</a>. United States Air Mobility Command. 15 April 2009. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171005084627/http://www.amc.af.mil:80/News/Article-Display/Article/147244/history-of-aerial-refueling-fueling-the-fighters/">Archived</a> from the original on 5 October 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=History+of+aerial+refueling%3A+Fueling+the+fighters&rft.pub=United+States+Air+Mobility+Command&rft.date=2009-04-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amc.af.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F147244%2Fhistory-of-aerial-refueling-fueling-the-fighters%2F%23%3A~%3Atext%3DOn%2520July%25206%252C%25201951%252C%2520the%2Caircraft%2520took%2520place%2520over%2520Korea.%26text%3DThrough%2520in%252Dflight%2520refueling%252C%2520the%2Cvaluable%2520targets%2520in%2520North%2520Korea&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170411065207/http://www.rb-29.net/HTML/60romney01.htm">"First USAF Flight Refueling in Combat"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rb-29.net/html/60romney01.htm">the original</a> on 11 April 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 December</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=First+USAF+Flight+Refueling+in+Combat&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rb-29.net%2Fhtml%2F60romney01.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sikarchive_s-65-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-sikarchive_s-65_50-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sikorskyarchives.com/S-65H-53D%20SEA%20STALLION.php">"S-65/H-53A/D Sea Stallion/ H-53E Super Stallion"</a>. sikorskyarchives.com. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220323201110/https://www.sikorskyarchives.com/S-65H-53D%20SEA%20STALLION.php">Archived</a> from the original on 23 March 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">28 March</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=S-65%2FH-53A%2FD+Sea+Stallion%2F+H-53E+Super+Stallion&rft.pub=sikorskyarchives.com&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sikorskyarchives.com%2FS-65H-53D%2520SEA%2520STALLION.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html">"Assault on Al-Wallid"</a>. <i>Imperial Iraniasn Air Force</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171011172153/http://iiaf.net/stories/warstories/s1.html">Archived</a> from the original on 11 October 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">9 September</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Imperial+Iraniasn+Air+Force&rft.atitle=Assault+on+Al-Wallid&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fiiaf.net%2Fstories%2Fwarstories%2Fs1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Nadimi, Farzin. <i>F-4 Phantom.</i> Air Forces Monthly Special, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-946219-46-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-946219-46-X">0-946219-46-X</a>. p. 77.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-csis_5-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-csis_5_53-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCordesman" class="citation web cs1">Cordesman, Anthony. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/9005lessonsiraniraqii-chap05.pdf">"Lessons of Modern Warfare: The Iran Iraq War Chapter V"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090911152946/http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/9005lessonsiraniraqii-chap05.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on 11 September 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 May</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Lessons+of+Modern+Warfare%3A+The+Iran+Iraq+War+Chapter+V&rft.aulast=Cordesman&rft.aufirst=Anthony&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcsis.org%2Ffiles%2Fmedia%2Fcsis%2Fpubs%2F9005lessonsiraniraqii-chap05.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Cooper_Blinders-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Cooper_Blinders_54-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCooper" class="citation web cs1">Cooper, Tom. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.acig.info/CMS/?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=47">"Bombed by Blinders Part 1"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104450/http://www.acig.info/CMS/?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=47">Archived</a> from the original on 6 October 2014<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 April</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Bombed+by+Blinders+Part+1&rft.aulast=Cooper&rft.aufirst=Tom&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acig.info%2FCMS%2F%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D247%26Itemid%3D47&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFIsraeli_Air_Force2013" class="citation web cs1">Israeli Air Force (10 October 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW1lHcbIXYM">"תדלוק אווירי"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/JW1lHcbIXYM">Archived</a> from the original on 7 November 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span> – via YouTube.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=%D7%AA%D7%93%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7+%D7%90%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%99&rft.date=2013-10-10&rft.au=Israeli+Air+Force&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJW1lHcbIXYM&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/first-strike-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-part-1/">"Israel's First Strike on Iran's Nuclear Facilities – Part 1 - Defense Media Network"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161120010359/http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/first-strike-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-part-1/">Archived</a> from the original on 20 November 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Israel%27s+First+Strike+on+Iran%27s+Nuclear+Facilities+%E2%80%93+Part+1+-+Defense+Media+Network&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defensemedianetwork.com%2Fstories%2Ffirst-strike-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-part-1%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-jpost.com-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-jpost.com_57-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-jpost.com_57-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/us-rejects-israeli-request-for-tanker-aircraft-as-iran-plans-advance-688600">"US rejects Israeli request for tanker aircraft as Iran plans advance"</a>. 13 December 2021. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211213095915/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/us-rejects-israeli-request-for-tanker-aircraft-as-iran-plans-advance-688600">Archived</a> from the original on 13 December 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 December</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=US+rejects+Israeli+request+for+tanker+aircraft+as+Iran+plans+advance&rft.date=2021-12-13&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fisrael-news%2Fus-rejects-israeli-request-for-tanker-aircraft-as-iran-plans-advance-688600&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEBergman2018306-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBergman2018306_58-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFBergman2018">Bergman 2018</a>, p. 306.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Falklands-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Falklands_59-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/bb.html">"The Falkland Islands: A history of the 1982 conflict."</a> <i>Royal Air Force</i>, 29 April 2010. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070318044222/http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/bb.html">Archived</a> 18 March 2007 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Darling 2007, pp. 116–117.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wdM5wJlVhpcC&pg=PA119">Kev Darling, <i>RAR Illustrated: Avro Vulcan Part 1</i></a>, Big Bird Publications 2007, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84799-237-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84799-237-6">978-1-84799-237-6</a> (p.119)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-62">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20071104162619/http://www.operations.mod.uk/falklands25/NARRATIVE%20OF%20RAF%20CONTRIBUTION.doc">"Narrative of RAF Contribution to the Falklands Campaign."</a> <i>The National Archives</i>, Retrieved: 20 April 2014.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-stbull84-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-stbull84_63-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bull 2004, p. 84.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.barksdale.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4553">"Factsheets: 2nd Bomb Wing History"</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090926175703/http://www.barksdale.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4553">Archived</a> 26 September 2009 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>. Barksdale Air Force Base, United States Air Force. Retrieved 19 September 2011.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-b-52-evolves-again-with-guided-weapons-launch-420874/">Boeing B-52 evolves again with guided weapons launcher</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190820130325/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-b-52-evolves-again-with-guided-weapons-launch-420874/">Archived</a> 20 August 2019 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> – Flightglobal.com, 15 January 2016</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Woods-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Woods_66-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWoods2008" class="citation book cs1">Woods, Kevin (May 2008). <i>Iraqi Perspectives Project Phase II Um Al-Ma'arik (The Mother of All Battles): Operational and Strategic Insights from an Iraqi Perspective</i> (First ed.). Institute for Defense Analysis. p. 199.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Iraqi+Perspectives+Project+Phase+II+Um+Al-Ma%27arik+%28The+Mother+of+All+Battles%29%3A+Operational+and+Strategic+Insights+from+an+Iraqi+Perspective&rft.pages=199&rft.edition=First&rft.pub=Institute+for+Defense+Analysis&rft.date=2008-05&rft.aulast=Woods&rft.aufirst=Kevin&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Francoma-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Francoma_67-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFrancoma1999" class="citation book cs1">Francoma, Rick (1999). <i>Ally to Adversary: An Eyewitness Account of Iraq's Fall From Grace</i>. Naval Institute Press. p. 106. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1557502811" title="Special:BookSources/1557502811"><bdi>1557502811</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Ally+to+Adversary%3A+An+Eyewitness+Account+of+Iraq%27s+Fall+From+Grace&rft.pages=106&rft.pub=Naval+Institute+Press&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=1557502811&rft.aulast=Francoma&rft.aufirst=Rick&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-AMC_celebrates_100th_year_of_air_refueling_with_community_flyovers_across_the_US-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-AMC_celebrates_100th_year_of_air_refueling_with_community_flyovers_across_the_US_68-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3438220/amc-celebrates-100th-year-of-air-refueling-with-community-flyovers-across-the-us/">"AMC celebrates 100th year of air refueling with community flyovers across the US"</a>. <i>af.mil</i>. Air Mobility Command Public Affairs. 25 June 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 June</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=af.mil&rft.atitle=AMC+celebrates+100th+year+of+air+refueling+with+community+flyovers+across+the+US&rft.date=2023-06-25&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.af.mil%2FNews%2FArticle-Display%2FArticle%2F3438220%2Famc-celebrates-100th-year-of-air-refueling-with-community-flyovers-across-the-us%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah_69-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Wild_blue_yonder:_Air_Force_refueling_flyover_event_visible_in_Southern_Utah_69-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/06/26/prc-wild-blue-yonder-air-force-refueling-flyover-event-visible-in-southern-utah/">"Wild blue yonder: Air Force refueling flyover event visible in Southern Utah"</a>. <i>St George News</i>. 26 June 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 June</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=St+George+News&rft.atitle=Wild+blue+yonder%3A+Air+Force+refueling+flyover+event+visible+in+Southern+Utah&rft.date=2023-06-26&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stgeorgeutah.com%2Fnews%2Farchive%2F2023%2F06%2F26%2Fprc-wild-blue-yonder-air-force-refueling-flyover-event-visible-in-southern-utah%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://untoldvalor.blogspot.co.il/2008/07/plane-that-flew-for-62-days-and-t-bird.html">"The Plane that Flew for 62 Days and the T-Bird that Saved the Day"</a>. 29 July 2008. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161120010326/http://untoldvalor.blogspot.co.il/2008/07/plane-that-flew-for-62-days-and-t-bird.html">Archived</a> from the original on 20 November 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=The+Plane+that+Flew+for+62+Days+and+the+T-Bird+that+Saved+the+Day&rft.date=2008-07-29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Funtoldvalor.blogspot.co.il%2F2008%2F07%2Fplane-that-flew-for-62-days-and-t-bird.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2008/March/1/Endurance-Test-Circa-1958">"Endurance Test, Circa 1958"</a>. 3 January 2008. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160405111447/http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2008/March/1/Endurance-Test-Circa-1958">Archived</a> from the original on 5 April 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Endurance+Test%2C+Circa+1958&rft.date=2008-01-03&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aopa.org%2FNews-and-Video%2FAll-News%2F2008%2FMarch%2F1%2FEndurance-Test-Circa-1958&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150512202232/http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/vms/">"Omega Air Refueling"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/vms/">the original</a> on 12 May 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Omega+Air+Refueling&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omegaairrefueling.com%2Fvms%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://metrea.aero/msm/">"Metrea Strategic Mobility"</a>. <i>Metrea</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230131230649/https://metrea.aero/msm/">Archived</a> from the original on 31 January 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">31 January</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Metrea&rft.atitle=Metrea+Strategic+Mobility&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fmetrea.aero%2Fmsm%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFTrevithick2023" class="citation web cs1">Trevithick, Joseph (12 July 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/private-aerial-refueling-tanker-has-gassed-up-an-air-force-plane-for-the-first-time">"Private Aerial Refueling Tanker Has Gassed Up An Air Force Plane For The First Time"</a>. <i>The Drive</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 November</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Ares&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aviationweek.com%2Faw%2Fblogs%2Fdefense%2Findex.jsp%3FplckController%3DBlog%26plckScript%3DblogScript%26plckElementId%3DblogDest%26plckBlogPage%3DBlogViewPost%26plckPostId%3DBlog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3Ab7a0eae1-e0db-4cf5-b169-2c5633272ceb&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-World_Air_Forces_2020-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-12"><sup><i><b>m</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-13"><sup><i><b>n</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-14"><sup><i><b>o</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-15"><sup><i><b>p</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-16"><sup><i><b>q</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-17"><sup><i><b>r</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-18"><sup><i><b>s</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-19"><sup><i><b>t</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-20"><sup><i><b>u</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-21"><sup><i><b>v</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-22"><sup><i><b>w</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-23"><sup><i><b>x</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-24"><sup><i><b>y</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-25"><sup><i><b>z</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-26"><sup><i><b>aa</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-27"><sup><i><b>ab</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-28"><sup><i><b>ac</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-29"><sup><i><b>ad</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-30"><sup><i><b>ae</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-31"><sup><i><b>af</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-World_Air_Forces_2020_76-32"><sup><i><b>ag</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2020/135665.article">"World Air Forces 2020"</a></span>. Flightglobal Insight. 2020. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191210142102/https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-2020/135665.article">Archived</a> from the original on 10 December 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 April</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=World+Air+Forces+2020&rft.pub=Flightglobal+Insight&rft.date=2020&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Freports%2Fworld-air-forces-2020%2F135665.article&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJennings2020" class="citation web cs1">Jennings, Greg (14 January 2020). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/egypt-demonstrates-aerial-refuelling-for-combat-aircraft">"Egypt demonstrates aerial refuelling for combat aircraft"</a>. <i>Janes.com</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200906231759/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/egypt-demonstrates-aerial-refuelling-for-combat-aircraft">Archived</a> from the original on 6 September 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Janes.com&rft.atitle=Egypt+demonstrates+aerial+refuelling+for+combat+aircraft&rft.date=2020-01-14&rft.aulast=Jennings&rft.aufirst=Greg&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.janes.com%2Fdefence-news%2Fnews-detail%2Fegypt-demonstrates-aerial-refuelling-for-combat-aircraft&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMcLaughlin2018" class="citation web cs1">McLaughlin, Andrew (22 January 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://adbr.com.au/indonesia-seeks-new-heavy-air-refuelling-tanker/">"Indonesia seeks new heavy air refuelling tanker"</a>. <i>ABDR</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180403201148/http://adbr.com.au/indonesia-seeks-new-heavy-air-refuelling-tanker/">Archived</a> from the original on 3 April 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">6 July</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ABDR&rft.atitle=Indonesia+seeks+new+heavy+air+refuelling+tanker&rft.date=2018-01-22&rft.aulast=McLaughlin&rft.aufirst=Andrew&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fadbr.com.au%2Findonesia-seeks-new-heavy-air-refuelling-tanker%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSharma2022" class="citation web cs1">Sharma, Soumya (17 October 2022). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/portuguese-first-kc390-arrives-portugal/">"Portuguese Air Force's first KC-390 aircraft arrives in Portugal"</a>. <i>Airforce Technology</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 September</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Airforce+Technology&rft.atitle=Portuguese+Air+Force%27s+first+KC-390+aircraft+arrives+in+Portugal&rft.date=2022-10-17&rft.aulast=Sharma&rft.aufirst=Soumya&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airforce-technology.com%2Fnews%2Fportuguese-first-kc390-arrives-portugal%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Bibliography">Bibliography</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Bibliography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Bull, Stephen. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=EGKATNM4scMC"><i>Encyclopedia of Military Technology And Innovation.</i></a> Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-57356-557-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-57356-557-8">978-1-57356-557-8</a>.</li> <li>Brookes, Andrew and Chris Davey. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=pmQXR69pRoIC"><i>Vulcan Units of The Cold War</i> (Osprey Combat Aircraft: 72).</a> Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2009. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84603-297-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84603-297-4">978-1-84603-297-4</a>.</li> <li>Condor, Albert E. <i>Air Force Gunners (AFGA): The Men Behind the Guns, The History of Enlisted Aerial Gunnery, 1917–1991</i>. Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing, 1994. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-56311-167-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-56311-167-9">978-1-56311-167-9</a>.</li> <li>Darling, Kev. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=wdM5wJlVhpcC"><i>Avro Vulcan, Part One</i> (RAF Illustrated).</a> Vale of Glamorgan Wales, UK: Big Bird Aviation Publication, 2007. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84799-237-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84799-237-6">978-1-84799-237-6</a>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGardner1984" class="citation magazine cs1">Gardner, Brian (1984). "Flight Refuelling... The Wartime Story". <i><a href="/wiki/Air_Enthusiast" title="Air Enthusiast">Air Enthusiast</a></i>. No. 25. pp. 34–43, 80. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0143-5450">0143-5450</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Air+Enthusiast&rft.atitle=Flight+Refuelling...+The+Wartime+Story&rft.issue=25&rft.pages=34-43%2C+80&rft.date=1984&rft.issn=0143-5450&rft.aulast=Gardner&rft.aufirst=Brian&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Gunston, Bill. Bombers of the West. New York: Charles Scribner's and Sons; 1973. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7110-0456-0" title="Special:BookSources/0-7110-0456-0">0-7110-0456-0</a>.</li> <li>Gunston, Bill and Peter Gilchrist. <i>Jet Bombers: From the Messerschmitt Me 262 to the Stealth B-2</i>. Osprey, 1993. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85532-258-7" title="Special:BookSources/1-85532-258-7">1-85532-258-7</a>.</li> <li>Knaack, Marcelle Size. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/26/2001330264/-1/-1/0/AFD-100526-026.pdf"><i>Post-World War II Bombers, 1945–1973</i>.</a> Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1988. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-16-002260-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-16-002260-9">978-0-16-002260-9</a>.</li> <li>Rodwell, Robert R. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%200386.html">"The Steel in the Blue: Last Week's Glimpse of the V-force"</a>. <i>Flight</i>, 13 February 1964, pp. 241–245.</li> <li>Windle, Dave and Martin Bowman. <i>V Bombers: Vulcan, Valiant and Victor</i>, Casemate Publishers, 2009. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84415-827-6" title="Special:BookSources/1-84415-827-6">1-84415-827-6</a>.</li> <li>Wynn, Humphrey. <i>RAF Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Forces: Origins, Roles and Deployment 1946–1969.</i> London: The Stationery Office, 1997. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-11-772833-0" title="Special:BookSources/0-11-772833-0">0-11-772833-0</a>.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCordesmanKleiber2007" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Anthony_Cordesman" title="Anthony Cordesman">Cordesman, Anthony H.</a>; Kleiber, Martin (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=JKCBmuTlmfMC"><i>Chinese Military Modernization: Force Development and Strategic Capabilities</i></a>. <a href="/wiki/Center_for_Strategic_and_International_Studies" title="Center for Strategic and International Studies">CSIS</a>. p. 158. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89206-496-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-89206-496-0"><bdi>978-0-89206-496-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Chinese+Military+Modernization%3A+Force+Development+and+Strategic+Capabilities&rft.pages=158&rft.pub=CSIS&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-0-89206-496-0&rft.aulast=Cordesman&rft.aufirst=Anthony+H.&rft.au=Kleiber%2C+Martin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DJKCBmuTlmfMC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBergman2018" class="citation book cs1">Bergman, Ronen (30 January 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=3UXKDQAAQBAJ"><i>Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations</i></a>. Random House Publishing Group. p. 306. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-679-60468-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-679-60468-6"><bdi>978-0-679-60468-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Rise+and+Kill+First%3A+The+Secret+History+of+Israel%27s+Targeted+Assassinations&rft.pages=306&rft.pub=Random+House+Publishing+Group&rft.date=2018-01-30&rft.isbn=978-0-679-60468-6&rft.aulast=Bergman&rft.aufirst=Ronen&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D3UXKDQAAQBAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AAerial+refueling" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Aerial_refueling&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Aerial_refueling" class="extiw" title="commons:Aerial refueling"><span style="font-style:italic; font-weight:bold;">Aerial refueling</span></a>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060827030959/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/refueling/Tech22G1.htm">Photo aerial tanking 1929</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060519103213/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/refueling/Tech22.htm">Aerial tanking history</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061026104101/http://www.tfot.info/content/view/81/">Airborne rearming</a>, a comprehensive article with video.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ausairpower.net/aar-lift.html">Aerial Refueling on APA</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://arsaginc.com/">Air Refueling Systems Advisory Group</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%201820.html"><i>Twenty-one Years of Flight Refuelling</i></a>, a 1955 <a href="/wiki/Flight_International" title="Flight International"><i>Flight</i></a> article on the development of Flight Refuelling Ltd's refueling method.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/featurethe-worlds-best-aerial-refuelling-aircraft/">World's best aerial refueling aircraft</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tactankers.com/">Tac Tankers Association</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www2.atalink.org/">Airlift/Tankers Association</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220625223114/https://atalink.org/">Archived</a> 25 June 2022 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output 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href="/wiki/Military_helicopter" title="Military helicopter">Helicopter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle" title="Unmanned aerial vehicle">Unmanned <span style="font-size:85%;">(UAV)</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stealth_aircraft" title="Stealth aircraft">Stealth</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Roles</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;font-weight:normal;">Combat</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Airborne_early_warning_and_control" title="Airborne early warning and control">Airborne early warning and control</a> (AEW&C)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Attack_aircraft" title="Attack aircraft">Attack</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Counter-insurgency_aircraft" title="Counter-insurgency aircraft">Counter-insurgency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gunship" title="Gunship">Gunship</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bomber" title="Bomber">Bomber</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Heavy_bomber" title="Heavy bomber">Heavy bomber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Light_bomber" title="Light bomber">Light bomber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medium_bomber" title="Medium bomber">Medium bomber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strategic_bomber" title="Strategic bomber">Strategic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Penetrator_(aircraft)" title="Penetrator (aircraft)">Penetrator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pathfinder_(RAF)" title="Pathfinder (RAF)">Pathfinder</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carrier-based_aircraft" title="Carrier-based aircraft">Carrier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Close_air_support" title="Close air support">Close air support</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electronic_warfare_aircraft" class="mw-redirect" title="Electronic warfare aircraft">Electronic warfare <span style="font-size:85%;">(EW)</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intruder_(air_combat)" title="Intruder (air combat)">Intruder</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighter_aircraft" title="Fighter aircraft">Fighter</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Air_superiority_fighter" title="Air superiority fighter">Air superiority</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interceptor_aircraft" title="Interceptor aircraft">Interceptor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Emergency_fighter" title="Emergency fighter">Emergency</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Escort_fighter" title="Escort fighter">Escort</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Night_fighter" title="Night fighter">Night</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maritime_patrol_aircraft" title="Maritime patrol aircraft">Maritime patrol</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multirole_combat_aircraft" title="Multirole combat aircraft">Multi-role</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interdictor" title="Interdictor">Interdictor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighter-bomber" title="Fighter-bomber">Fighter-bomber</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strike_fighter" title="Strike fighter">Strike fighter</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;font-weight:normal;">Non-combat</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Experimental_aircraft" title="Experimental aircraft">Experimental</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Liaison_aircraft" title="Liaison aircraft">Liaison</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reconnaissance_aircraft" title="Reconnaissance aircraft">Reconnaissance</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scout_(aircraft)" title="Scout (aircraft)">Scout</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surveillance_aircraft" title="Surveillance aircraft">Surveillance</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scout_plane" title="Scout plane">Scout</a></li></ul></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tanker</a></li> <li><a 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