RF-84 Refueling from KC-135A
RF-84 Refueling from KC-135A
A pair of RF-84 Thunderjets refuel from a KC-135A Stratotanker. The RF-84 used a single point refueling probe that mated with the KC-135’s Boom-to-drogue adapter (BDA). This is in contrast to earlier F-84 models that refueled their wingtip tanks separately (each had its own probe fixed to the tip of the tank).
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Access my entire collection from the OneDrive link below:
I have amassed a very large collection (over 1,000) of air to air refueling pictures and want to share them on this website. My collection includes many rare pictures (ever see an A-10 refuel from a KC-97?) of over 120 different receiver types. Whenever possible I will try to provide a link to the source(s), but I have been collecting the pictures for years on my hard drive and it may be very difficult to track down the original source.
If you find any errors on this site or have additional information about the topic please let me know and I will update the page.
Every great picture has a great story to go along. I have many great pictures, unfortunately I don’t have all of the stories. If anyone has additional information on any of the pictures featured on this site I would love for you to share your story. I am especially interested in documenting the old piston powered tankers, their stories are slowly fading away. This site is all about documenting the nitty-gritty details, so if the more specifics you have the better (quirks, ect…). Likewise, if anybody has unique air refueling pictures I would love to see them. You can send info to the address below:
Please use the comments section below the images as a place to discuss the picture and leave further information for others to read. Your discussion adds greatly to the historic value of this site and to the legacy of air refueling crew members.
Below is a brief list of things I am looking for, but any info is welcomed.
- Photographs and information about
Boeing 747 tankers.I would especially like pictures of the boom operator’s compartment, instruments, and panel. Please get in contact with me via the email address above if you have any information about the 747 tanker. - High resolution pictures of the KB-29P/KB-50/KC-97 Boom Operator’s Station and Panel
- KB-29/KB-50/KC-97 Flight Manuals
- F-86
F-104F-16XL in contact (boom pod or external view)- S-3 Viking on
BDA/MPRS/WARP/KC-10 CLD V-22 on KC-135 BDA (I know this picture exists)YC-15- X-32
- Any unique or rare air refueling picture
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Air Refueling Archive 
First probe installation on the F-84 was made to two aircraft modified by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL) in 1949 under Project Outing, Probe fitted mid-wing on left side. Both flew Atlantic in Fox Able 4, refuelled by Lancaster, Lincoln and B-29 hose/drogue tankers. Wing-scale test subsequently caried out by USAF in Korean operations with probed wingtip tanks (Project Hightide). When the 27th FEW participated in these trials with their F-84Gs (equipped with a boom receptacle) they were also fitted with the probed tip tanks thus becoming the first ‘dual-system’ receivers. Tankers were one single-point B-29 hose/drogue tanker, one three point YKB-29T and subsequently eight KB-29Ms modified to have the hose/drogue system – all originally modified by FRL in England.
Pressure relief valves in each tip tank allowed fuel to vent when tank was full.
During these trials, three aircraft were experimentally fitted with a probe in the boom receptacle, not on fuselage side. (Project ‘Big Richard’) Because of its close proximity to the fuselage, contacting was difficult and although practical, would require a prohibitive amount of pilot training.