Section D.11: Why do the USAF/USN use incompatible refuelling systems?
By far the most common method for in-flight refuelling is the “probe-and-drogue” system, in which the tanker unreels a hose behind it with a drogue on the end (a meshwork cone whose drag keeps the end of the hose in a stable position). The receiving aircraft has a probe attached to it, which is inserted into the drogue to link the fuel systems. Some receiving aircraft have probes permanently mounted, some have bolt-on probes that can be attached if a mission requires them, and some have retractable probes. This method is used by the US Navy, modern Russian aircraft, and every other country that uses in-flight refuelling, except some Isreali aircraft. The US Air Force uses the “flying-boom” system; Israel also uses this system for some aircaft. In this system, a rigid boom, with control surfaces on the end, is extended from the tanker and inserted into a socket on the receiving aircraft. This method has two major disadvantages over the probe-and-drogue method. First, the boom has to be
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- Section D.11: Why do the USAF/USN use incompatible refuelling systems?
