'DSTAR' -- Direct Sea-to-Air Refueling (Inflight Refueling of Military Cargo Aircraft from Ships at Sea)

Abstract

Preliminary analysis shows that military cargo and combat aircraft can refuel in five minutes directly from a tanker in the ocean (or a depot on land) by flying in a tight circle while connected to a refueling mast by means of a hose through which fuel is pumped. The aircraft need not carry a hose, cable, or winch. A bank angle of 45 deg, a circle of radius 400 m, pump pressure of 1500 psi, and aircraft altitude of 120 m allow DSTAR of aircraft from 25 to 350 tons gross. For a C-5A at 350 tons weight, the hose tension is 20 tons; for a 25-ton fighter a lighter hose is used. For the smaller aircraft the hose should be faired to reduce drag.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA026750

Entities

People

  • Richard L. Garwin

Organizations

  • SRI International

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Altitude
  • Cargo Aircraft
  • Diameters
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Flight
  • Maneuvers
  • Oceanographic Equipment
  • Refueling
  • Shape
  • Ships
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • Transport Aircraft
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Marine Hydrodynamics