The Difficult And Dangerous Art Of Mid-Air Refueling: Air Tanker Refuels A-10, F-15E, and B-52

Aerial refueling of USAF B-52 Stratofortress, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft with KC-10 Extender air tanker.
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Credits: DoD | Brandon Gifford
Derivative work: AiirSource Military

[@dennythomas8887]

Tanker: B-52 how much fuel do you need? B-52: All of it!

[@blaws6684]

Well played sir well played.

[@triple6758]

"Yes."

[@eatshit2863]

I was gonna say. Drain the tank.

[@ddorn04]

Thank you to all the service men and women for doing a difficult and amazing job.

[@dusk_runner221]

I love how the pilot and the person behind the fueling stick have a conversation while refueling, it's funny

[@simonloewenstein2581]

Ikr

[@jrftworth]

it's called a "boom" not fueling stick

[@jrftworth]

That's a mixture of U.S. and Korean F-16's

[@marcelogartner9450]

Haroon Ahmed It is an elite!

[@ReformedSooner24]

Haroon Ahmed Its good for them to do it. Pilots often talk about the boredom of flying around up there only able to communicate officially. When the Boom Operator’s chat with them, it boosts morale, and that boosts our chances of winning.

[@aturner711]

It's cool how the A-10 slides in!!!(0:23)

[@Anonland]

Anthony Turner sliding into ISIS's dms too

[@amirorfiana4531]

Anthony Turner send missiles

[@arierickson6137]

Oh baby I'm about to.... BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT

[@klapo1248]

deja vu i just been in this place before

[@delten-eleven1910]

A-10 is maneuverable, but it can drift too?...thirst quenched, 'bout to wreak some havoc on ISIS now.

[@airtexaco]

That was the best job, with the best people on the best air refueling platform I’ve ever had. Spent 7 glorious years working on the Big Sexy!

[@dreadog6425]

Thanks for your service guys and gals.

[@kent7711]

@ 2:18 I suddenly realized what freedom looks like...

[@k.b.142]

These personel make it look so easy and routine.That's what professionals do Watching the precision moves never gets old.Thank you guys and gals.

[@makeupyourmindinator]

The A-10 is my favorite gun with a plane built around it.

[@mustang6599]

with that hose sticking out turned it into a killer unicorn.

[@lockheedmartin2656]

Asus rog phone 3 is favourite battery with mobile built around it

[@jh13120]

brrrrrrt

[@makeupyourmindinator]

@@danielli2522 I believe the F15 was one of the last dog fighting planes built by the U.S.

[@Leon-Hardt]

00:23 ta naaaaa! im here guys!

[@SsgtHolland]

Man, those B-52's look badass with those external pylons. Especially having loaded 3 2000lb bomb on a single pylon.

[@dukerwong3900]

America must be strong in both economy and defense capability. We love America and love to see America is great.

[@daveschozer6166]

Massive Cool ! Proudly served in SAC '84-'91

[@thesailjunkie]

SAC (Pease AFB): 1974 - 1980, TAC (Langley AFB): 1980 - 1983, USAFE (RAF Greenham Common): 1983 - 1986, AFMC (Hanscom AFB): 1986 - 1994...retired.

[@charliewilson3234]

Must have been a hot day everyone was thirsty! Awesome.

[@dmr122003]

thank you all for your service...i’m proud of you all.....you are the best....

[@joon5828]

0:01 pilot: what r u doing back there? co-pilot: refueling!!

[@erikipf]

NOPE! No copilot in the back when refueling is happening. There had better be 2 butts in the seats up front....

[@lostcreek163]

Flying AWACS, 22 minutes hanging on in crappy weather at night was a real sweaty issue!

[@mooncake5016]

Just loved to see the A-10

[@thelovwoman]

That A10 is something else that Gatling Gun is ridiculous apart from every other sweets it has for delivery !!!!!

[@dennishammond1919]

Hate to be on the receiving end of a a-10 great plane keep it going! Don't get rid of it!!

[@idesofmarch2368]

The flag in the foreground while doing the B52 was a cool sight.

[@triple6758]

It looks like the A10 is a dream to fly. So smooth.

[@dimidomo7946]

A positive and confident personality is a must for both the pilot and fuel-in-the-sky agent; if not, then we have plenty of potatoes and onions that you can peel. Some service people just don't like small talk.

[@cfromcass]

I imagine that as these planes take on fuel, especially the B-52, their added weight must cause them to adjust during the refueling. This process is already dangerous.

[@erikipf]

Yes, you're right, P P. It does change their flight dynamics during the refuel. It's gradual, and they gradually adjust to it.

[@trinab9612]

Been there, done that. Best job I ever had

[@howdoieatyou3603]

The dude who is doing the refuling is my cousin. Neat seeing him on KZbin

[@george_3264]

Thanks Kanye, Very Cool!

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

Thank him for serving this great country. God bless our Armed Forces! I used to fly RC-135s. Used to tell the tanker crews "When the refueling is complete, their job is over, but ours is just begining!" Can still hear my Navigator tease the rest of the crew announcing, "Great news crew, we're 4 hours into the mission and have full tanks....We can fly F O R E V E R!" Had one tanker crew that refueled us the day before, flew home, ate dinner, slept, ate breakfast, preflighted, launched and refueled us on our 4th refueling...& we were still airborne! 29 hour mission....makes my backside ache just remembering it. :)

[@howdoieatyou3603]

@ Lol 3 years ago. My cousin is a boom operator, and they sent me it saying that. Not sure at this point, but still fun to believe it is. For some reason, a lot of my family does stuff in aviation, and I'm almost a mechanic.

[@howdoieatyou3603]

@@jetdriver1jetdriver194 Yikes, I'm in maintenance now, can't even imagine working on a plane that operates under those conditions. At least the cycle counts are low!

[@jetdriver1jetdriver194]

@@howdoieatyou3603 Awsome news, congrats! What aircraft? Maintainers are MY HEROS! The mission I was talking about above was flown out of Shemya AFB, Alaska (the 2nd to last US island in the Aleutian chain) off an alert posture against the Soviet Union. Shemya was known for having the worst weather in the world! (Think "The Deadliest Catch" TV show's weather.) The crews & maintainers lived & slept in the hanger with the Cobra Ball RC-135S aircraft cocked on alert. Imagine a highly modified Boeing 707 loaded with 135,000 lbs of fuel, enclosed in a WW ll all Birchwood hanger that housed around 50 Ops, Crewdogs, & Maintainers. Yeah, that dangerous! We used to tell newbies if they smelled smoke, immediately jump out the nearest 1-3 story window! When the Klaxon went off, we had to be airborne in 15 minutes. Working long hours in those conditions to maintain those jets took pure dedication & incredible intestinal fortitude from the maintainers. I spent lots of our ground time with my maintainers going over the aircraft. They would teach me about fixing a particular instrument or system & I would teach them how we used it in flight. Whenever they got to fly with us in "ferry flights" back & forth to Eielson, I made sure they got to sleep in one of the 2 aircraft bunks & reserved the jump seat between the pilots for them so's they could watch the takeoffs, air refuelings & landings. Would even put them in the Copilot's seat during long cruise legs of the flight. Together, we all made a great team. My crew & I were also qualified in KC-135A/E/Q/ART tankers. Thanks again to you and your cousin for serving this GREAT Country! Cheers, Lt Col Jet

[@jamietaylor6932]

It does make one wonder how much fuel these things carry when the video shows refilling a B52 after all the other planes. Love the A10s too.

[@oisiaa]

A KC-10 can hold about 350,000 pounds of fuel....~52,000 gallons.

[@gillypoof]

really and where does it hold it,the wings,that much is the size of a truck.Jet engines run on compressed air.

[@hallvardhvidsten2217]

In the baggage compartment.

[@erikipf]

1. The tanker can be refueled by another tanker. 2. I'm not sure if these vdieos that are put together were all recorded on the same day. It could possibly be different missions, different days.

[@bjg104]

This is so IMPRESSIVE! What talent!

[@wiggiag]

A-10 is a beautiful machine

[@thelightofthebodyispineal7137]

I love this mission! "Boom Operator". Equals Precision. Had a chance to go on an incentive flight with the KC-135 refueling...sat near the boom operator! Awesome! Thank you for doing great work!

[@brendaproffitt1011]

wind might not help with refueling too..hose not hooked UP to...or a.pilot error..too..Those are my reason for being dangerous for refueling...great video..great view too...Thank you so much for your videos too...

[@Keychain117]

they fueled up without paying cheeky!

[@tirepo]

I think they used an app to pay in advance

[@tayaraaktube]

Keychain117 already paid as this gas station accepts taxes as a form of payment

[@Leon-Hardt]

XD

[@whittyhuton4622]

Keychain117+ Haha they actually do pay (and by "they" I mean their home unit). The boom operator reads the tail number to the pilot-not-flying (usually the co-pilot) since the boom operator's hands are occupied during refueling. After the flight, the crew files a form with all the tail numbers, aircraft home units, and fuel offload amounts. This is basically the "invoice" that is sent to the aircraft's home unit to bill them for the gas.

[@coralbay00]

Lol tax payers fit the bill 🤝

[@mellymom1121]

I LOVE the A-10!

[@mellymom1121]

@TEKNOMOGUL have you seen one up close on the ground?

[@0726cobrasrule]

what a cool job! i want that job.

[@Brondi6000]

GREAT everythink.God bless America.

[@randalloliver8803]

I had the pleasure of sitting in a KC-130 refueler operator station on a trip from Ft. Bragg go Ft. Irwin for NTC OPFOR training in 1985

[@MrAG_Movie87]

Cool A-10 Flying Sharks

[@DanielLee-zq7li]

0:23-0:52 beautiful shot

[@wisedove7092]

Amazing... what a pricise calculation....

[@rozangelahernades6237]

Isso é o máximo a gente poder ver abastecer esses aviões achei muito interessante... abastecer no ar não deve ser nada faço tem que ter muita praticidade mesmo desejo uma boa sorte..e que Deus os proteja sempre todos esses pilotos.. vocês são um gênio..nessa manobra..

[@sideshowbob5237]

I think B52 pilots must be the best pilots in the world. The aircraft are so precious and that weird undercarriage. You must have to be very good and very experienced to be selected to fly a B52.

[@ijxman5223]

1:10 A-10 eyes be like: let's attach to this bih

[@spaceyroad4481]

Thanks for the service,Jesus Bless and keep safe

[@joecalobeer6396]

That was Fun!

[@jasonjanoyblahaloverboy3005]

Which gas station is this?

[@GOD719]

SinclAIR

[@jrftworth]

KC-10

[@falcondrvr200]

SHELL

[@velimc52]

An expensive one

[@mjbetts2017]

The ESSO up the road near Johns house.

[@edicamp9877]

Amazing

[@NICHOLASRGLORIOSO]

AWESOME!! GO USAF! 18.5 Years myself! Lol

[@claudiaerkeloing344]

Good run out!!

[@stevenkelley714]

God the a10 is beautiful

[@waltergarcia5519]

Nice vídeo

[@sarb6p55]

Since We are American s they shoukd buzz the skys exspecially in Oakland County that wiuld be Awesome I was up North in Gaylord MI and the A10's were flying out of Graying Ml I spill have 3 pics od the on my phone it's so Cool ti be And American👍👍👍

[@jonachaval1912]

Man, those boom operators on the KC-10 want you close. Really close!

[@drbendover7467]

one of these days someones going to sneeze and then it will be on news at 10.

[@trevon5653]

Dr Bendover frr

[@goodwill7643]

This is sneezeproof technique, so no news at 10 :) But what they will do afterward, might be on news.

[@waltergarcia5519]

Please check the oil and tire pressure

[@general9528]

gee the weapon combination on the A-10 is alot more than i thought.

[@yveso7474]

Nice clip!

[@Kentmarlington]

I like the painting at the nose of A10 it's looks mean.

[@hunterhalo2]

Nice contacts brother

[@Lowcountrydave]

What's the altitude you're refueling at? Trying to get a perspective of the ground below.

[@nadeemahsan4785]

that is impressive!

[@Enid2Sacramento]

In the old days, they also gave greens stamps...

[@stuartbaumann8310]

Video intro, 0:09-0:22, engine start, did anybody notice it is a B-727? Details, details.

[@canam851]

Peace thru strength!

[@deltasource56]

YOu can see here a thirsty warthog coming back to nurse from the mother, the f15 wizzo is like why am i even here? and that b-52 is like im older than all of you combined

[@sunders8208]

How much time it's taking for air refueling..?

[@captainnice9698]

I think they should change the name of the B-52 "Stratofortress" to the B-52 "immortal", that plane has been flying since the 1950's and is older than the pilots flying it !!!!!

[@thehighlander959]

The Royal Air Force normally eat their packed meals and drink tea during refuelling ops.

[@markweaver4424]

You are correct, and the KC-135 is one year younger than the B-52. It was built to go along with the B-52. Two flying marvels.

[@stonedsparrow287]

Those were tough

[@ricardobbblanco]

Great 👍

[@cezariusus7595]

*Happy brrrrt noises*

[@playmovie9441]

São profissionais mesmo.

[@VarunVarun]

Merica!!!!! F*ck yeah!!!!! I am from India btw 😀😀😂😂😂😎

[@VemMorarAqui]

Lindo demais

[@blaws6684]

Remember when the gas guy would check your oil and clean your windshield?

[@TheRockerxx69]

Yeah very 60s

[@faya7858]

im sure this wouldn't happen but if the attachment breaks off, and the fuel spilling is solid, the engine of the fighter jet will ignite the solid line of fuel and blow up the big aircraft.

[@jameson1239]

There’s probably a back up shut off valve

[@erikipf]

There has been 1 incident where a boom has ripped itself off of an airplane. Computer went "Terminator" on itself and boom fell off. The valves can be closed to prevent too much fuel from pouring out.

[@nkj3985]

For all US make military air crafts its really tough art because pilot can't see refueling nozzle easily.. b because that is on top of air craft and back of pilot head.F16,F15, F A 18, F 22,F35 all these of such type of refueling arrangement. In case of Russians and French European military aircrafts its an easy art. Because arial refuelling nozzles are given on nose of air craft. Either left ward or right ward. Its in any case in front of pilots or in his straight vission. Euro fighter typhoon, Russian Mig 29 UPG, mig 35, Sukhi Su 27,30 , Swedish Gripen and French mirage 2000 , Rafale same arrangement for aerial refilling.

[@VGJunky]

Navy uses probe and drogue fueling

[@rebeccalara6574]

How fast are the tanker & jet going during refueling?

[@erikipf]

It depends on what aircraft are being refueled. Some need faster speeds, like the B-1. Some need slower speeds, like the A-10. Around 250-350mph.

[@KatiePhongh]

5:25 having a conversation with the Fedex guy delivering 500 lb JDAMs.

[@ironzurk313]

Those are fuel tanks

[@KatiePhongh]

@@ironzurk313 he has a laser guided bomb on a pylon under the main body of the fuselage. Clearly visible at 5:20 . It's optical guidance portion attached to the bomb itself clearly visible just to the left of the F-15s right intake. I know what a drop tank looks like.

[@ironzurk313]

@@KatiePhongh im retarted i didnt see that sorry

[@ironzurk313]

but it looks like some sort of gbu not a jdam not to educated on laser guided bombs tho

[@KatiePhongh]

@@ironzurk313 @ 5:17 you can see the laser targeting pod under the left intake.

[@mohanbhagat5287]

how much Time it takes for refueling and pl explain about quantity also...

[@erikipf]

Fighters take about 10 minutes. Heavier planes like the B-52 take quite a bit longer. It depends on how much they want.

[@overbank56]

Which is the toughest aircraft to refuel?

[@SsgtHolland]

An enemy aircraft.

[@erikipf]

@@SsgtHolland 🤣

[@erikipf]

The A-10 can be pretty tough to refuel. It's very slow, and the bow wave pushes against it when it's at it's closest to the Tanker. Once it gets through, then sometimes the pilots will try to fly the receptacle into the boom, instead of just getting into position and letting the boom operator handle the technical part. It screws up the refueling when they do that. When they're getting heavier with gas, then tend to not move so quickly, anymore. They often slow down, in fact.

[@overbank56]

@@erikipf wow!

[@rustygates3367]

0:23. GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME

[@may_laytrucker3127]

How many gallons b52 took ,I wonder 🤔

[@julianducros8952]

How long does it take to fill uo not long i guess

[@rajasimanta]

If both aircrafts' software could talk, then it'd be as easy as 123

[@GlobalHawkEye1]

00:13 Anyone know what watch is that ?

[@ChannelModernwarship2147]

wow

[@TheRockerxx69]

How many gallons per second (?)

[@lst141]

The video ended because the buff took all the juice!

[@ukipwarrior]

5:06 from lakenheath

[@hollysmoke5627]

Any vacancy for that job sir?

[@CRAFT7445]

Now I know why A10s look cross-eyed.

[@bluefisshh2377]

what if you make planes work with electricity and can wireless charge them within a range of 100 metres?

[@user-ge4hc5nr1o]

讚

[@spg04]

Ovni 3:08??

[@fiveseven15]

why is the nose cone on the bomb of the f15 crooked? at 5:16 left side of screen

[@flybeep1661]

Almost as crooked as my dick.

[@stevecriscione1567]

That is the gimbal with optics detector for the laser guidance.

[@darthbane7548]

It shouldn’t be an art it should all be computer.

[@franmendes3146]

a 10 super

[@1timcat]

In flight is refueling, mid air is collision.

[@user-ob2cz7ud7s]

오~

[@stevenwenner9824]

Looks like a KC10. B52 with full bomb load can’t take off with full fuel load.

[@sk8anddestroy792]

They Gotta be nervous having a Vulcan cannon point at you