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[Terbs]

Refueling video with the Osprey....
Not easy, especially with those props

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6ff_1384683964

[chrisgixer]

There was me thinking those cone shaped targets where to help the probe slide in. But no, not a bit go fit, the pilot has to actually hit the centre.

So what's the cone thing for ? Stability?

[Kevin Wood]

What a hideous aircraft! Guess it flies on the same principle as helicopters.. So ugly the earth repels it.

I would imagine life gets quite interesting if you tangle the hose in one of those props.

[chrisgixer]

What a hideous aircraft! Guess it flies on the same principle as helicopters.. So ugly the earth repels it.

I would imagine life gets quite interesting if you tangle the hose in one of those props.

Longer the boom the better I guess. They are quite a weapon though. Massive lift capability, vertical take off, high(er)top speed. Just don't land without tilting the props horizontal.

[Rods2]

From what I have heard, not a very nice plane to fly.

[05omegav6]

The 'cone' thing, drogue?, does indeed stabilize it, works a bit like a funnel to steady the hose

The Osprey has been knocking around since the 80's, but has taken this long to get to work properly

A good idea, but quite slow, hence using the Hercules to refuel them

Old school, but I do like theses...

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=jolly%20green%20giant%20helicopter&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CE0QtwIwCA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPMJolbaS1ko&ei=66mgUszfEo6c0wXB_oDwAw&usg=AFQjCNExa-FrNJqwYlK_cFH4YsmfH1KFJg&bvm=bv.57155469,d.d2k

 

[Entwood]

The "cone thing" - usually called a drogue or "basket" serves several purposes ...

1) having aerodynamic fabric "slots" it stabilises in the airflow, so the receiveing pilot is not chasing a moving target
2) it gives a larger "target" for the receiving pilot to see
3) if the receiving pilot is slightly off it guides the probe into the fuel valve 3) At night it is lit so the receiving pilot can actually see a target,
4) the outer thick edge is fabric covered so if the receiving pilot "misses" then no damage is done (if there was nowt but the metal valve the probe could be damaged)
5) no matter how good a "shot" the receiving pilot is, it ensures the probe enters the fuel valve correctly aligned ... other wise there would be a risk of an "offset" connection which might jam.

Having both received and dispensed fuel in the C130 it is a very well tried and tested system that works.

The yellow "bands" on the hose indicate how far out it is trailed ... once connected you actually have to "push" it back in before the valve opens and fuel flows, if you slide back out too far the fuel shuts off BEFORE you reach the maximum extension and disconnect

Regarding 1) above .. I have been on board trying to refuel from a damaged basket that was all over the place ... not fun and getting pretty worried until the skipper finally made contact. This was not  a training exercise .. it was "for real" and if he hadn't made contact we would have got very wet ......

Edit

Refuelling from a VC10 ...  pre-contact position



In contact.. you can see how the hose has been "pushed in" to the central thick bands ...

[05omegav6]

A couple of nice pics there

I wasn't knocking the C130, merely pointing out that an Osprey would struggle to keep up with a KC30...

[chrisgixer]

That's my point though Nige, that pot had no fabric edge, its all metal by the looks, and clearly doesn't aid positioning as both aircraft struck the side of it with the probe but it refused to slide on and locate.
 They had to back up and try again. Both times making sure they struck the bulls eye on the second attempt.
 I'm no pilot but I'd say that design was rubbish. No?

[05omegav6]

It has to be a snug fit to keep it vapour tight see Airforce One for the implications...

This might help explain the mechanics of it...

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/50720/

[chrisgixer]

Just watching "inside RAF Brize Norton" on Sky 1 recorded. Ferrying Chinooks about in C17's

The irony though, of ground staff servicing aircraft in camouflage uniform while wearing hi viz jackets is not lost on me though

Google Maps shows 4 C17's (?) on the Tarmac. Heeuge they are.

[Entwood]

That's my point though Nige, that pot had no fabric edge, its all metal by the looks, and clearly doesn't aid positioning as both aircraft struck the side of it with the probe but it refused to slide on and locate.
 They had to back up and try again. Both times making sure they struck the bulls eye on the second attempt.
 I'm no pilot but I'd say that design was rubbish. No?

See what you mean .. American design/system .. they "came" to "probe & drogue" system late in history, as they "prefer" the "boom" system ... in that the fighter pilot flies straight and the boom operator controls the contact. Obviously this can't be done with helicopters, and the osprey does not fly fast enough for the tankers that have it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCTQWVfpqk8