Tanker (aircraft)
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A tanker is an aircraft used for in-flight refuelling.
Typically used by an air force for refuelling smaller, shorter-range aircraft, tanker are usually converted transport aircraft.
Tankers transfer fuel with either a rigid "boom" or a flexible hose. The former system is preferred by the United States Air Force and the latter by the Royal Air Force (RAF). With the "boom" system, the fuel boom is inserted into a receptacle on the receiving aircraft. With the "hose" sytem, the receiving aircraft has a refuelling probe which the pilot must manoeuvre into contact with the end of the hose, which usually had a basket structure on its end. For maximum flexibility, tanker aircraft may have both "boom" and "hose" systems.
Air to air refuelling is a complex business but confers significant tactical/strategic advantages (increased range; avoidng the need to land to refuel). For this reason, tanker aircraft are valuable military assets and may be referred to as force multipliers. They would not normally operate on the frontline of combat operations, but in safer rear areas.
The US Air Force uses the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender. The US Marine Corps uses KC-130 Hercules aircraft. An exception to the rule involving transport aircraft is found with the US Navy, which uses a converted attack aircraft model (the KA-6) for operating off its aircraft carriers.
The Russian Air Force uses the Il-78 Midas and modified Tu-16 Badgers as tanker aircraft.
The RAF is soldiering on with 30+ year-old BAe Victor VC10s of various marks. Their replacements will be modified Airbus A330 tankers.
Another Airbus, the A310 is in use as a tanker/cargo aircraft for the Luftwaffe. It is known as the A310MRTT (mutli-role tanker/transport)
The Boeing 767 is being used as the basis of a future tanker, the KC-767 for the Italian Air Force AMI and the Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF).
Current Tanker Aircraft
- KC-10 Extender
- KC-135 Stratotanker
- KC-130 Hercules
- KC-767
- Il-78 Midas
- Victor VC-10
- Airbus A310MRTT
Popular culture
In the film Air Force One, a US Air Force KC-10 Extender refuels the hijacked Presidential aircraft, "Air Force One", a specially converted Boeing 747.
See also
aerial refueling (sic)
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