List of tanker aircraft

This is a list of tanker aircraft used for aerial refuelling of another aircraft whilst in powered flight.

Refueling methods

Looped hose

The first commercial method employed a hose which was held slack in a trailing half-loop behind both aircraft. The receiving aircraft flew just below the tanker and deployed a steel line, which the tanker caught with its own grappling line and drew in. The tanker then connected the first steel line to the refueling hose and paid it out as the receiving aircraft reeled it back in.

Probe-and-drogue

The tanker trails a flexible hose with a stabilising drogue on the end and the receiving aircraft manoeuvers to insert a short probe into the receptacle in the drogue.

Flying boom

The tanker extends a hinged telescopic boom with aerodynamic control surfaces on its end. An operator "flies" it to match up with a receptacle on the receiving aircraft, which then moves forwards to make the connection.

Wing-to-wing

A hybrid method in which the tanker trails a flexible hose from a wing and the receiving aircraft catches it in a hooked receptacle under one of its own wings.

Buddy refueling

An aircraft type is fitted with both supply and receiving hardware, so that one aircraft can refuel another of the same type.

Gallery

These images illustrate various aerial refuelling methods.

List of aircraft

References