DCS AV-8B | Air to Air Refuelling with KC-130 [Tutorial]

[@suecobandito8954]

Great video. A little late to see it, but...I used to be the guy flying the KC-130F/R/T as Copilot and then Aircraft Commander. As I recall it went something like this: Tanker assumes all ATC responsibility for the receivers from ATC (called OpCon or operational control within the pre-reserved, by us with ATC prior to launch, tanker track), . Check your noses cold and switches safe. Proceed to port observation position. We move from port to starboard. We may be in a five plane formation ourselves and expecting 12 receivers. You are cleared from observation to stabilized position on the starboard/port drogue. Once stabilized you are cleared to engage the drogue. Once engaged you must push the drogue forward into the refueling range. There are lines on the hose as a cue. Push to first line. Harriers can easily be overfilled quickly so the IFR (in flight refueling), pumps are not used and pressure is provide by gravity and in-tank fuel pumps. I recall between 3-5K Lbs. of fuel for AV8A/B. A4's even less, A6's and F4's took all we could give. A4's'probe is in front of the engine intake. Once engaged we will test the connection to ensure complete coupling. If there is overspray of fuel it will be ingested into the engine causing auto acceleration which could drive the A4 into us. Once done you move to the starboard observation/now reformation. We will then give you the frequency for ATC, and release you back to contact ATC and resume your flight plan. Day refueling AV8B's at 300 feet over the desert could be very exciting. The drogue has a tendency to move around due to the heat and turbulence, making engagement difficult. I have seen drogues shredded by probes during attempts to engage. Needless to say only one receiver at a time under those conditions. Shredded rogues are usually awarded to the Harrier pilot responsible (we know who you are), as the Zorro Award at evening beer call. It's all in good cheer. That's about how I recall it as was done in the early 80's.

[@MattWagner]

Good stuff!

[@ZeSpektrum]

06:55 The reference points with wing and propeller was the thing which made this easy for me. Thanks for the help!

[@104thMaverick]

Nice, glad to hear it!

[@heyviper1238]

i know this video is ancient at this point but it just so happened to have the exact document i was looking for in the description. welcom surprise! thank you mr. manley

[@104thMaverick]

Glad I could help

[@fargo007]

Best AAR tutorial for the Harrier I've seen. Extraordinarily complete. Subscribing.

[@richardashurst8330]

All I needed was the geometry tips and the slip ball from the vstol mode. A min ago i was all over the place and now I get it first time! So thanks for that!

[@gerryabbott]

Just spent 28 mins getting 4k into the AV8B, from the KC130, very first attempt at AAR in AV8B, and in VR (reverb). Tried many things but faffing around really. Wonderful experience in VR. This video is the answer to my prayers, Going back re-invigorated. Super clear. Thanks.

[@104thMaverick]

Great to hear!

[@Tridan24]

Beautifully explained so straight forward... thankyou so much this has really helped

[@RedBravo65]

Still the best tutorial on air2air refueling.

[@Veyron1967]

This helped so much.. and I've got to agree the AV-8B is just fantastic.. Many thanks from sunny Dumfries..

[@countvonaltibar236]

A truly fantastic video your stuff is top drawer, Harrier air to air refuelling ain't the easiest and this is super helpful many thanks!

[@104thMaverick]

Glad it helped mate! Happy fuelling!

[@TnTxGummy]

Excellent video mate, helped so much that I got it first time after picking up some the tips you gave, and was awesome to hear a fellow scot on a tutorial video, Subbed without a second thought :)

[@dg6546]

The refueling probe is now introducing drag. slightly right rudder trim is handy.

[@ApoTroll]

Loving it, one point to nag about: Make these videos with control indicator activated. :)

[@dusty4459]

Thanks for this a huge help, one of the best guides i have seen.

[@BIGNEWY]

Very helpful mate! thanks

[@tonforr]

Thanks very much ur very helpful with these tutorials.

[@tomje7024]

Been waiting for this, great video mate thanks a lot

[@Ventura60kts]

Great video this has been annoying me so much I need to try again

[@Mak10z]

I appreciate the tips and the examples! it helped a bunch!

[@billrogers9426]

Wow, very informative. Thanks for taking the time to make this!

[@marklopez936]

This is outstanding. Great Vid all around.

[@Bers81]

I loved the tutorial and it helped me a lot. However I must say my controls (throttle included) are pretty much steady. I just slightly correct the weight imbalance over time

[@kendontownsel08]

Very well done Mav! See you in the air soon!

[@bonidle726]

Excellent video. I’m actually getting contact now thanks to this. It’s not pretty but it’s getting there. Thanks.

[@104thMaverick]

Great to hear! Just keep on practising!

[@fredericborloo1910]

Excellent tutorial! Helped a lot!

[@71stMastiff]

Thanks Mav! This should help me, at least I haven’t hit the tanker yet. But I spent 3 hours and now I’ll try your 2 ways, I’ll let ya know.

[@104thMaverick]

Awesome, let me know how it goes!

[@VitorMoura]

That was a GREAT video! Well done.

[@terryteed1903]

If Carlsberg made A2A refueling Videos. Thanks man. This is helping me no end. I've been all over the bloody shop. I think im over trimming though, getting all panicky and sweating like a fat Lorry driver with no air con on a summers day sat on a leather seat.🤣.

[@andrewculley8524]

Great video thanks for the help

[@LeoH3L1]

Three years later and still the "Break away, break away" bug still is present, clearly Razbam don't give a crap about fixing the issues with this module.

[@P90F55]

If you find yourself frustrated, depressed, angry and ramming the tanker in rage take a break and watch this video.

[@StandingCow2]

Thanks Mav!

[@cyclicwiggler7522]

Brilliant video. A lot of work went into it for sure. I'm puzzled by the trim as my version only has rudder trim, nothing for pitch or roll which is a bugger with the heavy spring force on my Thrustmaster.

[@104thMaverick]

You set your trim in the control options sir, go to controls and select AV-8B from the menu then click on Search in the drop down bar and type in Trim ;)

[@cyclicwiggler7522]

How did I miss that! Many thanks indeed.

[@Madbrood]

Fantastic video Mav, subscribed! Would you consider doing a tutorial on hovering/vertical landings? Cheers from the east coast of Scotland!

[@104thMaverick]

Alba gu bràth brother! Yes mate, I am going to do tutorials on how to land on the carrier when its moving and when its static. I was hoping to have it done by today but work has been a bit crazy, should have it done within a week, stay tuned, thanks for the sub!

[@frogfoot21]

Fantastic, thank you! Could you help with some techniques for the right side as well?

[@jstorm7757]

I second that. Some solid visual references for the right side, would be appreciated. Great job!

[@Munky332]

They really need to add the GD KC-10 (potentially with WARPS, though it also has a single integrated drogue basket), and also give the KC-135 MPRS. KC-10 Master Race.

[@104thMaverick]

The DCS 135 should hopefully get the MPRS in the future. A KC-10 would also be epic!

[@josiahR125]

I'm watching this and learning but the fuel pods being on stations 2 and 6 is bugging the shit out of me. In 543 we keep 3 and 5 for tanks 2 and 6 is for ordnance 1 and 7 for aim 9's and station 4 can only carry a t-pod. But still found this helpful.

[@SnowTiger45]

You make great tutorials. Something that would have helped me allot, having never Air Refueled ANY aircraft before, would be if you included a bit more of the Pre-Contact Radio Calls, Frequencies used, pre-contact switches (flight control etc). Up to this point I have flown in position with a couple different tanker variants for miles ... which is great practice BUT I have yet to see a drogue shoot or hear a word from the tanker. I know my tanker (like your's) is on Freq 251.000 which is Ch 18 or 21 Preset (for me). But I don't seem to ever get them to say anything when prompted using the Comms menu. I can't seem to find what I'm missing in the Manual ... as of yet.

[@104thMaverick]

You have to use the radio menu sir, the default button is #, this will bring up your radio options, then you select F6 for the Tanker and press F1 for Intend to Contact. If you cannot find the radio button go to your options and search for the Radio button command

[@SnowTiger45]

Thanks. I already am familiar with the radio menu etc and have followed the F6/F1 but have yet to get a reply regardless of my distance to the tanker. I think it is more to do with Radio Tuning. Even then, I know the Tanker Freq and which Channel to use for that Freq (using Front panel/Left Side white button). I even have the right side panel radio tuned to TR+G and Preset. But still no luck.

[@SnowTiger45]

Please Disregard my last post. I just discovered the ED Posts regarding Easy Radio and back-asswards radio tuning. Thanks again for your help 104th_Maverick.

[@juniorslothsix5562]

also smooth is key if you make jerky movements then your going to have a hard time

[@ben1869]

"The 'Breakaway, breakaway' message is a bug and will be corrected in future versions" It's still there, isn't it?

[@Ventura60kts]

Great Video. This looks so easy but it really isn't

[@104thMaverick]

Practice makes everything look easy ;)

[@mpnewhart8022]

Sorry from the right side ?

[@YouknowmeOUdo]

I find very quick opening of my Airbrake helps me to hold the throttle at one position.

[@mikeymarmalade]

Ace thx

[@FranciscoFortes]

Maverick, great video, are you having trouble filling the external tanks? here my do not fill.

[@voltag3man]

This is cool and I'd love to start practicing air refueling with this plane but How do I spawn in or get a tanker in like "create fast mission"mode , I dont like to use multiplayer to get the tanker because it gets laggy.

[@nosebluntbob7124]

arco? texaco? shell? etc etc seems to be very in depth but missing the very basics lol

[@pedrosandmeier1898]

Hi 104th_Maverick im one of the guys jumping up and down behind the tanker, im having trouble setting the right axis curves for my TM Warthog Hotas, it just feels wobbly on the stick. any hints? greetings Pedro

[@104thMaverick]

Make sure you also set a DEADZONE on all three axis sir, start with a value of 1 and see if that helps, depending on how wobbly the stick feels you may need to increase this value. Generally speaking if you have a small dead zone and a curve above 15 you should be in good shape!

[@raresbirzu2436]

when I try to refuel with 4 empty external tanks refueling is stoping at 7700 lbs fuel, what am I doing wrong? How can I refuel the external tanks too?

[@104thMaverick]

Its a DCS bug mate, you are not doing anything wrong. Hopefully it will be fixed soon

[@jayzedable]

I find the 'break away! break away! break away!' that seems to be a standard part of AAR with the Harrier a little irritating. Just as I'm steady, lined up and moving slowly forward, some panicky idiot shouts at me to do something I associate with a dramatic situation where if I don't do what he says, I'm probably gonna die. Using almost the exact term I've trained with to the point it's an instinctive tic. So I have to override my strong urge to pull an assertive left or right break, which unsurprisingly, isn't wonderful for concentration on the task at hand. That arse needs to be sacked.

[@104thMaverick]

🤣

[@uscstaylor]

Can you show us the best way to trim the Harrier and what those settings are

[@104thMaverick]

The trim is always changing with aircraft speed and weight so there is no best way to set it up per say, you just have to keep changing it all the time so you are flying level.

[@juniorslothsix5562]

Do the A-10C

[@mpnewhart8022]

Do you have a video for tips refueling from left side ?

[@104thMaverick]

Not a video just advice.... practice as much as you can on the Left side and try to get used to what position you should be in. This will make your approach to the right hose much easier :)

[@raresbirzu2436]

any way to set up tacan for kc-130? How do you usually find the kc-130 on flight?

[@prayong64]

For me too please..Thanks

[@104thMaverick]

The TACAN isn't working at the moment guys, it should be added in soon

[@Zarma4074]

Nice but AFC not working yet.

[@Express0083]

Any Harrier AAR mission we can download?

[@TechGamer45]

Just need a K2 tanker.

[@taffy5152]

I have not been able to find the 104th servers, how do I find them?

[@104thMaverick]

Our server runs 24 hours a day, you have to be on the OpenBETA version of the game 1.5.8 to see our server in the Multiplayer list.

[@taffy5152]

Ahh alright then so open beta 1.5.8 as I'm not on the open beta so that explains a lot.

[@twoweeksnotice43]

Who else tried this out after watching and still failed? *raises hand*

[@balticdragon3611]

Awesome video, many thanks!