Boeing YC-14 Proximity Testing

The following photos and narrative were provided by Billy Meeks, a former flight test boom operator at Edwards AFB.

YC-14 Proximity tests. The test article did not have a receptacle. A painted on representative receptacle was used as a reference to provide proximity positions. FTBO’s directed receiver test pilot to fly around to selected points for handling qualities evaluations within the tanker flow field environment. From that, qualitative assessments of flying qualities were established. The YC-14 was a Boeing candidate.

US Navy P-3 Orion Aerial Refueling Testing with USAF KC-135

The following photos and narrative were provided by Billy Meeks, a former flight test boom operator at Edwards AFB.

P-3 proximity tests. The Navy wanted to demo it , we wanted to demo it, and everyone wondered why an airplane that could fly 23 hours could possibly want more fuel. A bunch of photos showing various az/el deflections at short, mid and long boom lengths. All were planned test points and the boom operator directed the receiver to the coordinates where the FTE and aerial photog recorded the event. “Receiver” pilot offered comments. A few flights and several hours to complete. Hope didn’t bore.

P-3 Orion Aerial Refueling Testing KC-135 boom receptacle Edwards AFB Flight Test

Navy P-3 testing with the KC-135 boom to drogue adapter.

U.S. Air Force C-141B Aerial Refueling Tests

KC-135 Boom Operator Panel

Boom operator’s panel

Here is a picture of the boom operator’s panel of the KC-135 stratotanker.

• The gauges at the top indicate the position of the air refueling boom. The green arcs represent the air refueling envelope that the receiver aircraft must remain inside of. The red markings on the gauges are the limits of the air refueling envelope. If the receiver exceeds these limits and the tanker’s signal system is in NORMAL, then an automatic disconnect will occur.
• The boom signal coil voltmeter on the right of the panel shows the status of the boom nozzle signal coil when the PUSH TO TEST button is pressed. The voltmeter displays OPEN, GOOD, and SHORTED.
• The TEST CONTACT button advances the signal system to CONTACT when pressed if the signal amplifier is operational.
• The RESET READY button resets the signal system to READY.
• The blue, green, and orange lights display the current status of the air refueling signal system. The blue READY light indicates the system is ready for contact with a receiver. The green CONTACT light indicates that the boom is in contact with a receiver and that fuel transfer can occur. The orange DISCONNECT light indicates that a disconnect signal has been received.
• The TLSCP AT DISCONNECT (telescope at disconnect) switch selects if the boom will automatically retract when a disconnect signal is received. It has two positions AUTO, and MANUAL.
• The PILOT DIRECTOR LIGHTS are controlled by four rheostats for the background elevation & letters and telescope and for the position elevation and telescope pilot director lights.
• The NACELLE ILLUMINATION rheostats control the brightness of the engine illumination lights.
• The A/R FlOODLIGHT rheostat controls the brightness of the tail mounted air refueling floodlight.
• The BOOM NOZZLE rheostat controls the brightness of the boom mounted nozzle light that shines light on the boom nozzle.
• The UNDER BODY rheostat controls the brightness of lights mounted on the inboard side of the inboard engine struts that illuminate the under body of the aircraft to help with night air refueling.
• The UNDER WING rheostat controls the brightness of lights mounted on the underside of the aft fuselage that illuminage the underside of the wings.
• The BOOM MARKER controls turn on ultraviolet fluorescent tube lights mounted in the boom that cause fluorescent markings on the boom to glow for night air refueling. The ON/OFF switch controls power to the lights and the START positions of the start switch each turn on one of the two fluorescent lights. The neon lights indicate the status of the marker lights.
• The DIRECTOR LIGHTS GROUND TEST switch is used to turn on all pilot director lights at once for maintenance testing.

 

F-104 Refueling

A F-104C refuels from a boom to drogue adapter (BDA) equipped KC-135 Stratotanker

Image Source:

http://elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/lockheed-f-104c-starfighter-the-always-thirsty-missile-2/

Boom Operator Memorial – Altus AFB, OK

Click for a 50 Megapixel image

This memorial is a lasting tribute to those who gave the last full measure of devotion that freedom might survive lost in the steadfast performance of duty they, their crews, and families have the gratitude of an eternally thankful nation. It is with solemn pride and a heavy heart that we acknowledge these who have laid so costly an offering upon the altar of freedom and ensured we shall never forget their sacrifice.

Boom Memorial Names

KB-29 SUPERFORTRESS
7-Jul-51	TSGT HENRY H. HILL
7-Jul-51	1LT JACK W. KERN
7-Jul-51	CPL REGINALD F. RUSSELL
7-Jul-51	SSGT SCOTT L. WALLACE
10-Jul-53	SGT WALTER F. OLSEN
26-Dec-56	TSGT THURMAN RANIER
10-Jan-57	TSGT EDWARD C. CLEMONS
10-Jan-57	SSGT MICHAEL B. MCINTOSH
2-Feb-57	MSGT LAWRENCE M. GRIGORY
2-Feb-57	A2C ARTHUR B. KOSIER
2-Feb-57	A3C FRANKLIN D. SCHWEIGERT
KB-50 SUPERFORTRESS
13-Mar-57	A2C ROBERT E. CRAIG
13-Mar-57	A2C BILLY B. ROSE
8-May-57	SSGT THOMAS E. O’CONNOR
8-May-57	A3C DONALD E. COSPER
13-Aug-58	A2C FRANCIS C. HERMANCE, JR.
13-Aug-58	SSGT NORBERT T. KNULTY
22-Jan-59	A2C IGNACIO W. SANCHEZ
22-Jan-59	TSGT WAYNE M. SOUDER
4-Aug-59	A2C THOMAS M. PAYTON
18-Oct-60	SSGT HARDIN A. BAILEY
18-Oct-60	A2C THOMAS J. LANE
18-Oct-60	A3C MICHAEL W. MILLER
5-Mar-61	SSGT HAROLD D. MEEUSEN
5-Mar-61	A2C CLIFTON C. TABOR
8-Jan-62	A2C PAUL M. CLAWSON
8-Jan-62	A2C CARLTON A. LINK
8-Jan-62	SSGT BILLIE D. MOORE
9-Feb-62	A1C GUY L. POWELL
9-Feb-62	A2C RALPH E. REUTZEL
20-Dec-62	SSGT ROBERT T. CRAIG
20-Dec-62	SSGT JAMES R. HAYES
13-Aug-64	SSGT WALTER B. HICKMAN, JR.
13-Aug-64	SSGT CAREY A. LIVINGSTON
KC-97 STRATOFREIGHTER
9-Nov-51	SGT JAMES A. MAINS
27-Jun-54	A1C DAVID ARAMBULA
27-Jun-54	SSGT ROBERT O. GONZALES
27-Jun-54	SSGT VINCENT PROVENZANO
23-Feb-55	SSGT ROBERT E. ROSENCRANCE
23-Feb-55	A2C CHARLES J. SITFA
4-May-55	A1C MARVIN R. DEVRIES
4-May-55	A1C JOSEPH L. PRIDGEN
13-Jul-55	SSGT GEORGE R. MIGNOSA
13-Jul-55	SSGT MARVIN F. RUSK
25-Apr-56	SSGT DONALD S. DELPRIORE
25-Apr-56	A2C JURI E. JOONAS
25-Apr-56	SSGT KENNETH E. VANPATTON
26-Jun-56	TSGT BARDEL A. CRUM
26-Jun-56	SSGT ROBERT L. WALLACE
6-Jul-56	A2C WILLIAM L. FALCONER
22-Jan-57	SSGT JOEL V. BLACKWELL
22-Jan-57	SSGT RAYMOND E. NOAH
18-Jul-57	SSGT JACKIE J. JAMERSON
29-Oct-57	TSGT RONALD E. RUBLE
12-Nov-58	MSGT CURTIS W. KING
12-Nov-58	A2C JOHN M. SCSERBAK
22-Jul-59	TSGT JAKE SCHMIDT
30-Mar-60	SSGT SHIRLEY D. RENNER
27-Jun-60	TSGT ROBERT P. COSTELLO
28-Feb-61	SSGT ERNEST J. LEMOINE
5-Nov-64	SSGT GERALD W. SHULTZ
19-Dec-64	TSGT JAMES R. BILL
KC-135 SRATOTANKER
27-Jun-58	MSGT DONALD H. GABBARD
25-Nov-58	TSGT RONALD L. CHAMPION
31-Mar-59	TSGT HERMAN A. CLARK
15-Oct-59	SSGT PAUL R. THOMASSON
3-Feb-60	SSGT GEORGE W. SHORT
9-May-62	SSGT WALLACE R. ADAMS
10-Sep-62	TSGT JOHN L. DUNCAN
10-Sep-62	TSGT KENNETH A. QUINN
27-Feb-63	TSGT DANIEL C. CAMERON
21-Jun-63	MSGT DANIEL F. DONAHUE
28-Aug-63	MSGT CARL H. BURRIS
28-Aug-63	TSGT RAY L. FISH
8-Jul-64	SSGT ROBERT L. GRAVES
4-Jan-65	SSGT JIMMY TARDIE
16-Jan-65	SSGT REGINALD R. WENT
26-Feb-65	MSGT CAREY W. ADDISON JR.
3-Jun-65	TSGT LESTER M. ALLSOP
17-Jan-66	MSGT LLOYD POTOLICCHIO
17-May-66	TSGT HARRY L. ALEXANDER
19-May-66	SSGT CHARLES E. STUART
19-Jan-67	MSGT ORVILLE MONTGOMERY
17-Jan-68	TSGT CHARLES C. CHAPLIN
30-Jul-68	SGT CHARLES A. OLVIS JR.
30-Jul-68	SSGT HURSCHEL D. PRIDDY
2-Oct-68	TSGT EARL B. ESTEP JR.
22-Oct-68	SMSGT HOWARD B. BENGE
19-Dec-69	SMSGT HOWARD G. BENFORD
3-Jun-71	SSGT RICHARD D. ROUSHER
13-Jun-71	TSGT HUBERT MILES JR.
13-Mar-72	SGT BRUCE J. KLAVERKAMP
25-Mar-75	SMSGT JACKIE V. EGBERT
7-Dec-75	SGT DAVID M. WANDEL
6-Feb-76	SSGT LLOYD D. BAKER
26-Sep-76	TSGT GARY L. CARLSON
19-Sep-79	SMSGT ALBERT L. EVANS
13-Mar-82	TSGT DONALD J. PLOUGH
19-Mar-82	MSGT RICHARD A. CROME
27-Aug-85	TSGT CLAUDE F. ARDEN
27-Aug-85	SSGT DESIREE LOY
17-Jun-86	SSGT QUINN L. DEWITT
13-Mar-87	SSGT RODNEY S. ERKS
13-Mar-87	SMSGT PAUL W. HAMILTON
11-Oct-88	A1C ROBERT L. PARHAM
20-Nov-88	MSGT JAMES L. BORLAND
31-Jan-89	CAPT ROBERT LEWELLYN
31-Jan-89	SSGT DAVID VICKERS
20-Sep-89	MSGT CHERYL HELGERMAN
20-Sep-89	MSGT WILLIAM J. MALICO
4-Oct-89	A1C JACK D. CUPP
19-Nov-97	MSGT ROBERT “TUG” MCGRAW
13-Jan-99	TSGT RICHARD D. VISINTAINER
ADDED SINCE BOOM MEMORIAL DEDICATION
KC-97 STRATOFREIGHTER
27-Aug-56	A1C WILLIAM R. DENNIE Jr.
27-Aug-56	A3C RICHARD A. RIDLON
ADDED SINCE BOOM MEMORIAL DEDICATION
KB-29 SUPERFORTRESS
8-Apr-54	A2C FREDERICK L. MARSHALL
8-Apr-54	A2C WAYNE D. WHITSELL

YC-15 Inflight Refueling

Special thanks to Scott Mahew for bringing these great pictures to my attention. These are very rare pictures of a McDonnell Douglas YC-15 being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker. The YC-15 was McDonnell Douglas‘ entrant into the U.S. Air Force‘s Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) competition, to replace the C-130 Hercules as the USAF’s standard STOL tactical transport. In the end neither the YC-15 norBoeing YC-14 was ordered into production, although the YC-15’s basic design would be used to form the successful C-17 Globemaster III.

McDonnell Douglas YC-15 in the pre-contact position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker.

McDonnell Douglas YC-15 in the pre-contact position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker.

A McDonnell Douglas YC-15 approaches the contact position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker.

A McDonnell Douglas YC-15 approaches the contact position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker.

A McDonnell Douglas YC-15 approaches the contact position behind a KC-135 Stratotanker.

YC-15 in contact with a KC-135.

Image Source:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&tl=en&u=http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/shinecommerce/27383.html%3Fp%3D1%26pm%3Dl%26tc%3D66%26tt%3D1296879711

History of Refueling

Great documentary about Air Refueling that aired on the Military Channel.

SR-71 Refueling

SR-71 Refueling from KC-135 Stratotanker

This image was taken in 1984 with pilot Les Dyer at the controls of the sleek Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird. The KC-135Q was a specially modified version of the KC-135 that could separate its body tank fuel from the wing tank fuel so that it could carry the JP-7 fuel that the SR-71 required. Reengined KC-135Qs were redesignated KC-135T.

Image Source:

Les Dryer

50 Years Of The KC-135

Excellent documentary on the KC-135 Stratotanker including details on the tri-level refueling that earned the 1967 Mackay Trophy. Also included is a first hand account of towing a crippled F-4 Phantom. This mission received the 1983 Mackay Trophy.

Video Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPg2aDJot4