Aerial Refueling

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

I used the search button first before any one gets mad.

But has there ever been, or is there a way to do Aerial Refueling in FSX, or any of the other FS games?

2 reason brought this on.

#1- At work I was refueling an Atlas 747, and we started joking around at how they could save ground time by getting the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (UARRSI) like Air Force One and the E4. That way when they max out on cargo they could call ahead to McGuire AFB and have tanker standing by, and fly non stop to Turkey while only taking less then 20min to pump on over 100K of gas. Rather then the Hour and half it takes to do it on the ground.

#2- I wanna see how long it would take to fly around the world in FSX nonstop if that could be done. Granted it would only work with military jets and planes, but it would be helpful if you were trying to fly the SR-71 or XB-70 at mach 2 and higher for long periods of time.  


So is that something that would have to programed into the game, or something that would have to part of a down load like: "Down Load Air Force 1 with air refuel and KC-10.... hit Shift+F while in the air above 10k feet to call for tanker" Is something like that possible?

Or is their more to it, making it more complicated then that?

[an-225]

Sorry mate, no chance, yet, for FSX.

For FS2004, there are multiple payware add-ons (Justflight C-130, LAGO F-16 and LAGO Tornado) that allow you to do it. These only work for FS2004 though. Aerial refuelling works for all planes although there is no actual link-up that occurs through the two planes. You simply fly close to the boom or drogue and fuel is passed onto you.  ;)

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Sorry mate, no chance, yet, for FSX.

For FS2004, there are multiple payware add-ons (Justflight C-130, LAGO F-16 and LAGO Tornado) that allow you to do it. These only work for FS2004 though. Aerial refuelling works for all planes although there is no actual link-up that occurs through the two planes. You simply fly close to the boom or drogue and fuel is passed onto you.  ;)

That sucks, but I gues the game is still kinda new....

But what type of crap is that??? Just fly close and it works with every plane??? Spoiled people.

[an-225]

Sorry mate, it is the only thing the sim can handle. An actual link-up, is without of this sims boundaries - or, maybe its possible, but would require hundreds of hours of work to make, and when the final feature is implemented into the simulator, it turns out to be unstable, causing the game to crash at regular intervals.  :)

Also, your opening post was at 7:47pm.

[Daube]

I would be curious to see what could be done with that new FSX towing feature... Just imagine a simple system, you get close enough to the boom, then you get a very "fragile" tow link, and while the link exists, your fuel goes up... would be cool and realistic enough for a start, don't you think ?

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Sorry mate, it is the only thing the sim can handle. An actual link-up, is without of this sims boundaries - or, maybe its possible, but would require hundreds of hours of work to make, and when the final feature is implemented into the simulator, it turns out to be unstable, causing the game to crash at regular intervals.  :)

Also, your opening post was at 7:47pm.

I can see it crashing the game, I never looked at it from that point of view.

Did not even notice the 7:47 post  :D

I would be curious to see what could be done with that new FSX towing feature... Just imagine a simple system, you get close enough to the boom, then you get a very "fragile" tow link, and while the link exists, your fuel goes up... would be cool and realistic enough for a start, don't you think ?

Using that same feature would be nice to make a mock fueling set up. Wouldn't that be cool to play on multi player, and have a bunch of people flying around, and then instead of landing they could hit player XXX up in his tanker for some fuel, and keep going.

Or doing an escort with 2 buddies while one is in the EC-135, KC-10, KC-30, KC-767 or IL-76 tanker.

[an-225]

Yes, I have considered that too Daube. It works, in theory. It can also be used to launch the Space Shuttle (which I just bought..screenies coming!) into space, with minor modifications.

Back to the tanker, yes, it should work. If you create the same space around the plane that passes fuel down without a linkup (might be too hard to make it pass down by the towing feature) then everything should work A-OK. And you can now recreate the towing system they did with damaged planes in 'Nam. If you have encountered damage, or have had a failure, you can hook up to the tanker, for it to tow you back over the airport, where you detach and land.

[Ashar]

I'm curious too...I did not know of any FS9 tankers (Payware or Freeware) that allowed in-flight refueling in FS9...Is it possible? :-?

[Daube]

The refuelling itself if possible, of course, like it was described before, but only in a very unrealisitc way for now. (close enough = fuel goes up)

An-225, the first thing to determine is the possibility to "create" a towing link while flying.
It is possible when on the ground, since this is what is done when you call the towing plane with the glider. But while you're already airborne, I don't know....

Also, the "strength" of this cable as to be considered, it must be a very fragile cable, since a simple braking should allow the plane to detach.

Finally, the lenght of the cable, much shorter than the normal towing cable behind the Maule... and of course, after detach, the cable must not dissappear...

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Well if you left the cable the same length, wouldn't it be safer, as far as keeping the system from crashing? kinda give you room for error.

And then you could put it on the KC-135's so it hangs off of either the boom, or both wigs.