Course 'Filling Station',
Abstract
The article discusses the development of in-flight refueling techniques. The value of using aircraft-carriers as a means of decreasing the requirement for long-range aircraft is greatly diminished by the fact that they present such excellent targets. Of the two main methods used for aerial refueling, the telescoping-boom and towed-hose systems, the Soviets have selected the towed-hose system. The telescoping-boom system, used by the US, is said to have been responsible for the Palomares accident in Spain. The towed-hose arrangement used by the Soviet air forces is considerably safer; in addition, the aircraft being refueled can remain further away from the tanker, the elastic hose permits at least limited maneuverability, and it is possible to maintain a speed of around 600 km/hr during the refueling operation. Considering the many difficulties connected with aerial refueling, however, the need to develop nuclear power plants for large aircraft is stressed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 21, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0848402
Entities
People
- M. Otto
Organizations
- National Air and Space Intelligence Center