Helicopter In Flight Refuel

[@zacharybischoff3455]

this is training for emergency situations in which they cannot land. the bag contains a fuel sample so the crewman can verify the fuel isn't contaminated, it also serves to give weight to the hoist cable so it doesn't whip around in the wind.

[@Buschwick]

why the fuel sample and why would they need to verify? if they can't land and are low on fuel wtf else are they gonna do? crash because the fuel was iffy?

[@zacharybischoff3455]

Very good point, and this particular fuel port actually has a filtration system. Another thing is that the helicopter burns the most fuel when it’s in a hover. So essentially they are burning almost as much fuel as they are taking in. What we should really be doing setting automatic hover is hoisting each other off of that death trap.

[@toddurkowitz6568]

@@Buschwickships use water in thier fuel systems on occasions to ballast the ship. The sample is to make sure fuel is clear and bright and doesn’t have water contamination.

[@Buschwick]

@@zacharybischoff3455 They aren't hovering...they are travelling with the ship....could be 30 kts. Edit: And holy crap wow...thanks for responding to my comment yesterday on your 7 year old comment. lol

[@Buschwick]

@@toddurkowitz6568 Wow no s***? I did not know that about the ballast systems. That's really interesting. Where would they put the fuel pickup lines then if there's water in the bottom of the tank? But my argument still stands with that. Crash with no fuel immediately or give it a chance if the deck is fowled up. Either way...I would think this is a training SOP where they have plenty of reserves, just not risking bad fuel on a training op for this type of refueling. In a real life scenario, I think the first thing hoisted up is the fuel hose.

[@pooanddoo]

I worked on this bird (HSL-42) from 97-01. I miss my Navy days.

[@briannichols6949]

The grapes (refueling guys) would send up a fuel sample inside the helmet bag for inspection. We would look at the sample for visible contaminants, and then decided if we trusted the fuel or not. With it being practice instead of actual refueling, he only simulated taking the bottle out and visibly inspecting the fuel sample.

[@dermo7190]

Brian Nichols I thought it was there lunch and they didn't like it 😂😂

[@patrickfain9318]

hovering is exhausting! Great job pilot

[@anthonyfaye3344]

A little Proud Warrior action. Nice! I was at 43, 45/75, 41. I miss it!

[@jnbfrancisco]

We had this hover in flight refueling HIFR system on our HH60Hs. As far as I know we never needed to use it in over 20 years. The system gave us fits with our auxiliary tank transfer system because a flexible fuel hose that was part of the HIFR system would leak and thus allow air to drawn into transfer pumps which would slow or stop fuel from transferring from the auxiliary fuel tanks. The problem hose would dry out because no fuel was ever put into the HIFR system and when when fuel was transfered from the aux tanks a negative pressure or vacuum was placed on the hose. The problem was mostly resolved by putting a spyril spring inside the hose to prevent it from collapsing under the vacuum.

[@billchapjr1]

Used to serve on this detail in 72 to 75 off Vietnam was responsible for fuel quality. Did have turn them away once because fuel didnt get to settle long enough after taking on JP5 after UNREP. Did enjoy doing this detail even with all the dangers.

[@navychop6667]

I was the HCO when I was stationed on the USS Vincennes... I pissed off the LSO when I overrode him and told the pilot to land. They were doing their HIFR qualifications and when asked they were 10 minutes to BINGO... and you are not allowed to exceed BINGO. We had to get the HIFR gear put away and the Deck prepared for landing. The LSO Ok'd for them to continue and I shut them down. The Air Det CDR went to my CO, who stuck up for me, and was handed his ass back to him.

[@aurko]

@swisstestpilot We practice HIRF for emergency use only. In case the ship we need fuel from, the deck is fouled(unable to land due to another aircraft on the deck.)

[@BenA-bu1cz]

Awesome. Great job guys!!!

[@ThorStoneGaming]

Crazy video, I found this just from looking up the camera model you used.

[@aurko]

@MUSTANG408W The fuel line is still under pressure. Not gravity fed

[@T_210]

What's in the satchel at the initial approach- had to prepay for gas?

[@toddurkowitz6568]

Fuel sample

[@miwilia]

45 years ago I believe we called this high drink.

[@zenersmytok3619]

Interesting. I wonder just how many gallons of fuel the helicopter would have used to maintain that hover ?!!.

[@ToonandBBfan]

Hey! - that guy drove off without paying

[@avionics21]

Their credit card was in that bag... They get the info and give it back to them... :P :P :P

[@nina3497]

great video! Can't believe I'm just now seeing it! signed -the crewman on his wife's account

[@nocalsteve]

They don't even get a chance to run in for a Big Gulp.

[@SoCalDualSport]

I was looking up butterfly training and ended up here. Cool vid.

[@USNveteran]

To fly is heavenly to hover divine. Rotary wing aviation there is simply no substitute. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!

[@donhallock7020]

To the untrained eye, this doesn't look like it's faster than landing to refuel would be. When would this refueling technique be necessary or preferable to landing? High seas? The pad already has a other helo on it?

[@ZS6JMP]

Gravity sure does weird things in your world.

[@blenke1]

High static refueling.. Now even more dangerous!

[@Wookie120]

Is the pilot using an auto hover system or are they in actual control throughout the whole maneuver? I ask because I have no idea on how inflight refueling is done. Very interesting video. How long does it take to refuel the bird once the transfer begins?

[@toddurkowitz6568]

Pilots are on controls. No autopilot

[@Wookie120]

@@toddurkowitz6568 Thank You, I always wondered.

[@MUSTANG408W]

Thanks the most awkward method of gravity refueling I've ever seen, but hey, it work, right? Great job!

[@planedude91]

ROFL!!!

[@toddurkowitz6568]

Pressure refueling. Not gravity fed

[@swisstestpilot]

Its nice, and usefuel from a Warship without helipad. But in this case would it not bee faster, economical and easyer for the crew (Pilot, winchoperator and Refuilingcrew) to land on the helipad for the refuiling?

[@-Mike]

Well done.

[@nscaledelights]

That was amazing I didnt know certain helicopters could refuel in flight without landing on a ship.

[@Legion-xq8eo]

Some can even use the probe and drogue system from tanker, not the V- shaped flying boom but the hose with the basket on the end that looks like a shuttle cock!! That one lol I think Osprey, pavehawks, blackhawks, super stallions, & chinooks are just a few that use the probe and drogue system. Iirc Airforce uses the flying boom while navy uses the probe and drogue. Nfs what army uses, must be probe and drogue because some of those I named are army helicopters. Nfs if army uses its own refueling tankers when over land or uses the Airforce and if it uses the Airforce then how because it’s got a diff system. I know they make a probe and drogue adapter for the flying boom but it must be places on while on the ground. Some tankers have both systems and then they also have under wing pods so even tankers that don’t have both systems I guess could run both, I’ve just seen those used to refuel two at a time instead of one. Pretty cool stuff tho

[@SaryParis-p9p]

Adams ❤

[@JoeyIndolos]

Any naval aviation veterans here who can explain why they have the fuel inspection step? After all, when a jet fighter gets refueled by a a KC-135, they just trust that the fuel custodians have done their job. Is it something about the naval environment, or just a leftover step from bygone days?

[@USNveteran]

Because the fuel in the KC-135 is already checked before they load it up. The fuel on the AEGIS cruisers & others is subject to possible contamination from seawater all the time. FLY NAVY!!!

[@toddurkowitz6568]

Ships actually will put water in the fuel tanks to ballast the ship. The fuel sample is to ensure clear and bright and fuel has no water contamination.

[@davidmurphy8190]

LAMPS Mk III SH-60B doing a HIFR.

[@Daxored]

Who is the name of this variant of UH-64

[@oglesbh]

Its a sonar buoy for anti submarine operations.

[@WMsReligion]

For a moment there I thought ... oh, of course! You gotta pay first! LOL!!

[@jmenge4253]

No stamps..?

[@Daxored]

understood what it was thanks nn

[@swisstestpilot]

@danwes10 ah i understand , thank you.

[@Daxored]

There was an missiles in a rear of the helicopter

[@turnleft_]

Training exercise ...much easier to just land on the flight deck and refuel... training flight crew to refuel from a ship that may not have flight deck, or possibly a fouled deck in an emergency. BZ dudes! Not sure the a dub really knows what to look for in a fuel sample, but anyways

[@jingone1]

not very good...lines bunched up . in rough sea's, they'd be toast. I was on a HIFR for 4 years... only one accident.... rough seas, helo drifted to close to the ship. no serious injuries.

[@MianMian-qd5ux]

NONG MILAH IKI KIKIH ERUHCAJA AJA GLM

[@กกกก-จ2ฉ]

Myan mar

[@Ch1n4Sailor]

Never ever seen them do a real HIFR... Never..... Ever....

[@OscarHernandez-pz6wv]

The chopper is too big to landing on the ship , I guess.