Air Refuelling - The Hidden Force Multiplier
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
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Air refuelling is the hidden force enabler allowing those countries with this ability to project their airpower around the world. Far from just the process of refuelling aircraft, it has changed the way we have fought wars in the last 70 years with many of the most well-known conflicts being dominated by airpower, which in turn is supported by air refuelling. This is an insight into this unseen side of the military.
This video is sponsored by Fasthosts
Written, Researched and Presented by Paul Shillito
Images and footage : Boeing, USAF, US DoD, RAF, Vickers, AVRO
The subject of this video was suggested By Andrew M. of the USAF, thanks, Andrew :-)
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gonna say what others have said before - CD is what the Discovery channel could have been.
Bradonomous but then what would I know about aliens?
@@eaminyashed7799
About as much as that Giorgio freak.
Not a damn thing. 😆
this is what discovery channel used to be, before they got into the fake "reality" tv crap.
Curious Droid - Discovery channel
Rare earth - National geographic
Sadly the Discovery channel is but a shell of what it once was...
Corporate sellouts 🖕🏼
I realised why your narration is so good, it's the iambic pace and clever pauses, not easy to master.
It is if you speak (British) English as a first language. it's natural.
@@Aeronaut1975 Actually, I have more than a few British friends who could use lessons on how to speak like Paul.
@@Platyfurmany
LOL
yes mate, makes it so easy to take in and remember his educations, I agree, its naturally brilliant how he is,
@@Platyfurmany it's not a way of speaking, it's a narration style. It is more common than you think.
This has to be the best content I’ve found on RUclips
thanks
Air Refueler crews are hardcore. My grandfather served in the Korean conflict aboard a KB-29 Air Refueler as a Radar technician. I distinctly remember 2 of his tales from his service he told me a few years before he passed. The first one involved him on RTB where he had to crawl to the back of the aircraft on the way back, and they hit some turbulence on landing. KB-29's had their ball turrets stripped from the aircraft to lighten the aircraft and there was just a big hole in the aircraft where it was. Due to the turbulence he had fallen part way out of the aircraft and was hanging from the opening by his elbows. The other harrowing experience he told me about wasn't in the air actually, but on the ground. KB-29's still didn't have the whole grounding the aircraft from ESD thing sorted yet and had a nasty habit of spontaneously combusting due to that. So one day he came in to go fly, and he was checked out by a nurse before the flight. He had come down with the flu, but still wanted to fly. However, the nurse said he was too sick and told him to go on back to the barracks. On the jeep ride back he saw his flight take off and suddenly explode just after it left the ground. All hands were lost, and he could have been one of them. My grandfather would later go on to work on the Apollo Program as a contract Aerospace Engineer and some of the stuff he worked on is still on the moon.
Wow, thanks for sharing
Your grandfather was a real hero!
I would've told that nurse to kiss my ass and still would've gotten on that aircraft. I'd rather ride and die.
Edit. Not trying to dishonor your gran-pa. That's my decision I want to do. Everyone has free will.
Really amazing story. Thank you for sharing!
And look at his grandson, a furry, wtf.
Seriously impressed by the ability to physically tow a plane home, the amount of concentration required to maintain sync for so long is just amazing.
When I first read your comment, before seeing the entire video, I thought you were making a joke I did not understand.
In the vid an F-111 was cited as being towed home. There were other cases of F-4s and F-105s also being rescued this way. The tanker crews often left their safe refueling areas and flew into N Vietnam to do this. Putting themselves at risk of being shot down by Migs or SAMs. The crews were brave heroes!
If you have cloudside trouble, call AAAA.
Try an F4 pushing another F4. Vietnam.
@@fromaggiovagiola9128 Pussy cheese? lol
KC-135R pilot here. Wonderful video. Thanks for it!
Tanker crews motto: No kicking ass till we pass gas!
Its more like NKAWTG..nobody
@@RH-ke3od when I pronounce the abbreviation in my head it sounds like alien language in star wars.
@@ryanvandoren1519 It's called an acronym. You're welcome :D xx
@@ryanvandoren1519 Nobody Kicks Ass Without Tanker Gas...it is the motto of Tanker toads
Jet fuel aint gas.
As a former KC-135 tanker pilot, I have to say this was a great refueling compendium. Thanks for putting this out there. BTW, K actually stands for Kerosene, and C stands for Cargo.
T = Tanker,
R = Refueling,
F = Fuel,
G = Gas,
A = AerialRefueling,
All taken already?
Ok, let’s go with ‘K’.
Former Boom Operator here. Thanks for making this video. NKAWTG
You sure have interesting stories to share, don't you?
Thorint thank you for your current probing service....sorry I’ll see myself out
OK, Boom
Explosions go BOOM. Implosions go MOOB
Graduated Boom qual yesterday, NKAWTG!
You can kind of tell it's a force multiplier when you add up the number of air refueling airplanes the military has.
@Yuck Foutube I don't know how many exactly but I know you can flyover with Google Earth any military Airport and you can see a whole bunch of them.
@Yuck Foutube at least 3
@Yuck Foutube The US Air Force has approximately 450 tankers, the Marines have around 80 and the Navy uses the buddy-buddy system where most aircraft can refuel each other.
Yuck Foutube - The US has world's largest air force by a HUGE margin and obviously has the most tankers, so here is a list of the US active tanker fleet.
KC-135 - 397
KC-10 Extender - 58
KC-46 Pegasus - 12 (52 on order)
KC-130 - 60
That's a total of 527 tankers the US Air Force operates. The US Navy also operates 5 KC-130T and uses the buddy to buddy system with F-18 Super Hornets.
If you wanted to compare the UK tanker fleet to the US tanker fleet, the UK has a total of 9 KC-30A Voyagers.
@@mississippirebel1409 9 Voyegers are no joke. Boeing makes the best tankers. We Indians will purchase 2 KC-46s within 2022. Right now we have 6 IL-78s, which are good, but getting spares for them is a nightmare.
It's a special kind of feeling taking off over the ocean knowing you don't have enough gas to cross it. The water is not where I want to end up, so it all hangs on a 20 year old enlisted boomer staring 25 ft away from a 26 year old officer pilot, and doing a perfect job.
Oooh shit.. here we go again..
Roger that...
Yep! Your ass belongs to an A1C ;-) But it gets done and has for a long time. Teamwork!
Agreed, yet: "Excellence in all we do"
@@HiekerMJ Yee Yee!
Didn't know the B-2 story, never heard about their use but damn that first crew had good endurance!
The most ridiculous endurance story is the US bombing of Libya in the '80s. No mainland European country would let the US fly over their country, but the UK was where the attack was launched from.
The SR-71 spy planes were used to scout and verify the mission. They flew 3 spy flights during the attack.
One flew before the bombing, one immediately after, one a bit later (after the smoke had cleared) to confirm. There were two crews - one flew the first and last, a different crew flew the middle mission.
The "pre-bombing" crew took off *AFTER* the bombers took off. They flew around the tip of Spain, up the Med, scouted the target, flew back, landed, had their film taken out and quickly analyzed so details could be relayed to the (still en-route) bombers. They then rested while their plane was refueled and prepared for their "after the bombing" flight.
Then they took off, flew the "verify we hit the targets" pass, again, around the tip of Spain and up the Med, then back out the same way. They passed the bombers on their way back.
So the SR-71 crew flew two complete missions, with a rest in between, in less time than the bombers flew their single bombing run.
The US is very hesitant to land a B2 outside their country. Any landing abroad could mean that somebody briefly detects it, which could give away clues on how to identify it during an actual attack. The B2 is pretty much the single best option to take out airfields and anti-air assets right before a major operation. They flew into some of the most well-defended airspaces in the world to take out some of the most effective defenses there are. It's hard to overestimate their value and the importance of secrecy in that case.
I see the B2s damn near daily, they are also in the air national guard here in Missouri. Fun fact, Missouri ANG is nuclear capable and would likely be the force tasked to deploy domestic nuclear strike if ever called for
i do wonder what drugs did crew take in those flights to stay awake... do they have toilet or just some no-poop drugs?
@@prophetsspaceengineering2913
I think it has more to do with the lack of climate-controlled hangars in allied nations. Unlike newer stealth aircraft like the F-35, the B-2's radar-absorbent material is more superficial and not as durable, the RAM have to be reapplied more often. The B-2 wasn't designed for a SEAD mission, but rather "open up" a gap in the air defense with its stealth, so that it can destroy the target protected by the anti-air defense. Electronic warfare aircraft is the backbone of the SEAD operation.
Excellent video. As a former Boom Operator on the KC-135 out of Grand Forks AFB (912th ARS) I really enjoyed and appreciated this video. The story about the F-111 over Vietnam is one we're told early on in flight training. And despite all of the program issues with the KC-46 most fliers are still excited about it. The 135 fleet has been faithful but was extremely old even before I flew on them 13 years ago.
912th in the house!
That shirt refueled my mind...
I once was on a 13 hour flight in a MC-130P from the UK to Africa. Ditto for the return trip. We were packed with people and equipment (got a waiver to take off at 163000 pounds, normal max takeoff was 155000). Hit tankers twice both ways. We also had to rely on tankers for gas during the mission, because the gas at some of the airfields was contaminated and command didn't want to risk clogging the fuel filters on the engines of our planes and helicopters.
When i see a notification for Curious Droid I get so happy. By far one of my favorite channels! Keep up the amazing content!
Patreon! ... ?
The funny thing is the channel originally started as a source of fairly mediocre top 10 list type things. Then he quite suddenly transitioned into making some of the best reasearched, interesting, well made short-format documentary videos on the internet.
I will have to look into patreon because if it means ensuring the longevity of this channel Im all for it
@@st0rmforce Maybe that was a carefully considered plan to build the channels viewership before unleashing the really good stuff?
@@marshallee51 Never actually seen someone with the same profile picture as me. Honestly I dont even remember where I got it.
Tanking has saved my arse many times!! :) (DCS Harrier, Hornet and Tomcat pilot)
If there is a Grammy or Oscar for RUclips videos, than Paul with Curious Droids is my absolute favorite candidate.
there have been several videos on this topic, but you have done an exceptionally good job. Cheers and good luck.
I love the KC-10. Thank you for the new facts I just learned about air to air refueling.
Always such outstanding content. Thank you Paul for your dedication to excellence in script writing, editing and narration. I always look forward to these videos and often find myself back in a binge watching session following your new videos!
Erratum: 6:35 Common misconception since the family resemblance is obvious, but the (K)C-135 and the 707 are each separate derivatives of the Boeing 367-80 proof of concept prototype, with the C-135 being the first to enter service. The C-135 is not a 707 in military drag as its fuselage is narrower and shorter than the 707's.
The VC-137 is the military VIP transport version of the 707 that served as Air Force One. The E-3 Sentry is based on the 707 as well. And finally, the C-18 is the transport version of the big 707-320B Intercontinental.
Interesting side note: the 367-80 is somewhat inspired by the KC-97, the civilian version of which is known as the 367. Boeing originally intended to use the same diameter as the 367's upper fuselage to decrease tooling costs.
This channel should have over a million subs. very informative and well presented videos.
I was just hoping that CD would drop another banger! Great video as always. Keep up the work Paul ♥️
Thanks Paul. Great film. I learnt a lot, as usual.
I have to admit I really enjoy your videos, I love your presentation and your research. Thank you so much!
Kc-135 is not based on the 707. They are both based on the 367-80 prototype.
To add to this, all three aircraft have completely different fuselages. The 367-80 was the smallest, the kc-135’s which came next have a fuselage about a foot wider in diameter, and the 707 larger still with about 2 feet wider than the 367-80.
Where does the 720 fit into this? They are all part of the "707 family", but not sure which came in which order.
@@RCAvhstape from the Boeing company history
"The 707 was designated the 720 when it was modified for short- to medium-range routes and for use on shorter runways. Engineers reduced the fuselage length by 9 feet (2.7 meters), changed the leading edge flaps and later installed turbofan engines. Boeing built 154 720s between 1959 and 1967. Its short- to medium-range role was later filled by 727s and 737s."
707 and kc135s have different wings too.. kc135 wings are not as wide.
@@9HighFlyer9 Cool, thanks.
I'd answer the trivia question but I'm afraid I'd have to go to SxSW.
I don't even live in the UK, can't even win if I wanted to.
I'm likely disqualified
thanks for yet again, another amazing video Paul...
44 hours in the cockpit, granted there have been longer flights that tested stamina but at least those planes had racks for that. Not discounting the Spirit of Saint Louis.
Still, the B2 has a toilet? That has got to be the weirdest peace of info for that particular bomber I've ever heard.
With the right altitude, a good pilot and your arse hanging out the bomb bay doors you could wipe your arse on the back of a 200 mph seagul. Just make sure the angles right otherwise your gonna squawk when you walk. Or the golfing term birdie.
@@UberAlphaSirus made my day
The only other plane that I know of that has a galley and toilet for the crew is the Su-34, but this leads me to believe that probably any aircraft expected to perform lengthy missions has those on board as well.
Yes, modern strategic bombers like the B2 have simple toilets and a space for the crew to sleep (not necessarily comfortable).
If you go to the Fighter Pilot Podcast channel and watch the episode on the B2 they mention it. The guy also says the rule for that little toilet is "Doing an inflight Number 2 is not cool", although 44 hours would be damn tough to avoid it. I imagine the crew might take laxatives the day before the mission and go liquid diet only lol.
I appreciate you having your commercial at the back of the video. I have a commercial free subscription to RUclips already. So it helps out that I don’t see ads. Still as it is, about every 3rd video of yours I will watch to the end out of the respect that you have for us.
Always a treat when a new CD short doc is uploaded.
Mark Felton recently uploaded a video detailing the events on operation: Black Buck. It's a nice video to watch if anyone's interested
Thank you, will check it out. His videos are very good.
The Black Buck missions were pointless in terms of a bombing mission, as much more damage was done by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Sea Harrier Force.
But, in terms of political and propoganda purposes, they were VERY effective.
Auxigamerz Mark has a great channel doesn't he? Yes l saw the Black Buck video and enjoyed it. I just discovered this channel here and also enjoy it. Check out his F-14 Tomcat video.
@@michaelroberts889 He had some very interesting videos indeed. For example one of only two instances that the germans helped the allies in WW2 was close to my home town in Austria. I would have never known it if it wasn't for him.
ruclips.net/video/80ZyPeoDUqk/видео.html it's this video if you're interested.
Auxigamerz the Castle Itter? I saw that on but l must check out the other. I really enjoy both Mark's and your videos. I'm a bit of a history/aviation/aerospace geek. Though l do find some of your shirts questioable (lol!) I watch and give a like to all of your videos 👍
@@underwaterdick Similar to the Doolittle raid then, it makes the point very graphically:
We can do the things _you_ thought were impossible - so what else can we do? Just let your imagination roam free.....Sleepin' well tonight are you?
Another great video. Thanks, Paul.
Top quality content as always! Thanks Paul!
The KC-46 Pegasus got developed from the 767-200ER through the KC-767. Love the vids, always something different from the other channels I subscribe to so thanks for all your hard work!! :)
Another killer video. Keep them coming, thank you!
Yet another awesome video!
Very interesting, informative and expertly presented!
Thanks 🇦🇺
Thank you for making another video
This has to one of the best you've made. So interesting. Your videos should be shown in schools. They are so well made and its important that these technologies are remembered.
Always a pleasure
Again, a great video. Good work.
Always a good upload. Pleasure to watch.
Always had a great deal of respect for the tankers, remember some time ago writing some fiction for airline sim game where I flew a bunch of Vickers VC10s (Still the best looking plane ever imho) and had one suffer some nast damage on it's way from Canada to Hawaii. Loosing fuel quickly before they shot of the tank that was leaking it lacked the range to make it back to any base, but seeing story wise these had been ex RAF tankers we didn't bother to remove the receiving end of the refueling operations. So we used that, send a call to the USAF and got her refueled and return safely back to dry land.
WOW, Had no idea on most of this.
So great old pic's of planes refueling.
Thanks.
How the BBC or some other big tv company hasn’t snapped you up yet is beyond me. I feel like I’m watching the David Attenborough of the skies. Amazing content mate 👍
Again a great video! Thank you Paul for making my evenings better! 👍👍👍
Thank you!
Once again a great video, always love the topics and content.
Also happy to see the F-4 Phantom mentioned.
As always topnotch. Please keep on the good work. Much appreciated...
Amazing. Another great video.
Finally - a new video from Curious Droid, three weeks is too long, considering Patreoning if that means a new video every week. One can hope. Keep up the excellent work Paul
Your content is first rate Droid. I've been an aviation enthusiast for 40 years and you can still teach me something.
Thanks for showing 👍😀
Boeing 767. I had the opportunity to fly in a KC10 tanker while on deployment. The boomer gave me a headset a showed me where to sit. The easy, casual conversation between the pilots and the boomer was a smooth cover for the tension felt by both. True professionals are really fun to watch.
Very nice video - thank you!
Excellent choice for a topic, thank-you
Excellent video. Very impressive. I learned things I didn't know and enjoyed every second. Thank you!
Excellent content, as usual.
I have found CD about year ago, since then it's one of my favorites channels... It has good old classic BBC style of presenting the content. Always very well researched, and most important there is something in Curious Droid author voice that gets attention and doesn't make listener tired - what is usual problem of many even popular YTbers - they do not have this professional vibe, and make me irritated after while. In a times when TV and popular YT channels are painfully dumb it is something very refreshing. Thanks for Curious Droid author - keep doing good job! (Although I live outside UK, in EU)
Splendid! Thanks.
Great video. I already knew of air to air refueling but lots of new knowledge on this video
Fantastic report.
Every video you make is incredible thank you!
TheLastScampi wow that’s amazing thanks for letting me know!
I have watched people in simulators do this and the only thing I can say is mad props to the pilots who rotated doing this for nearly 2 days in one go, tankers and bombers. Everything about it takes herculean patience.
My o my what a ridiculously high quality video! 🤯
The small winglets on the boom are called ruddervaters, because they are both elevators and rudders for the boom, they move it left/right and up/down
Love this channel.
@curiousdroid The KC-135 was developed from the Dash-80, not the 707. The 707 was also developed from the Dash-80
That's one of your best!!
excellent content mate!
Another terrific video from CD.
Great video as always, cheers
Another great video...and another awesome shirt there Phil....
Thank you! Really fascinating!
Fantastic video
Love your content man!
outstanding!!!
the EQ seems super heavy on the treble side of things this time.
awesome work as always. thank you paul and everyone involved =)
another amazing vid
Great video as always👍
really nice video. very well done.
As a kid growing up in 1980s I learnt the air-refuelling first time from the Tanguy & Laverdure comic books. Who would've thought the air-refuelling had existed commercially since the 1940s. This channel has been the most educational and entertaining at the same time.
Great video, Curious Droid!
Love the channel..
As usual, the content is dope.
Super neat Thanks !!!!!!!!!!
Great video.
Great story telling. watched twice.
Wow. That was great
I'm always looking out for new CD videos 👍. This was surprisingly interesting! A refueling plane towing a damaged plane... 🤯
As a recipient of a PhD in military history, I can confidently state this channel is clearly one of the best on RUclips today.
If you haven't already, check out Mark Felton. He's a British military historian posting great content here.
@@imarcus1973 Thanks, will check him out.
Interesting episode, I was not aware of majority of the information, thanks.
Tankers motto, "Before you can kick ass you got to get our gas."
Varys?
Just kidding. I've been subscribed to you for a long time but haven't appreciated much of your videos. Your content is very informative and your delivery is superb. Kudos to you :)
So this is what David Gilmour does with his time away from Pink Floyd.. Fantastic channel btw!! Keep on rockin 🤘🏽
Brilliant
Thanks for an interesting video.
Thanks for refueling our brains with another excellent video. I'm happy to be a Patreon. I was lucky enough get a promotional ride in the back seat of an F-15 a few years ago, (and endure some mild punishment by the pilot because I was a wise-ass to him ;-). I loved every second of it. However, I'd have to wear a diaper for a refueling maneuver.
Your content is so good.