Probe and Drogue Aerial Refueling Systems

Abstract Probe and drogue refuelling was invented by Sir Alan Cobham in 1950 and has undergone and continues to undergo development since that date. This chapter describes modern state of the art and provides references for those interested in the history of the subject. The various types of tanker are described and reference is made to the overall configuration of their refuelling systems. The installation of pod and fuselage refuelling systems is discussed and the operation of modern systems and their sub‐systems is discussed in some detail. The key aspects of any system are the hose drum drive control and fuel systems , performance requirements and salient operational and safety issues are discussed. References are provided to the most important aircraft and equipment specifications and operational procedures. Tanker operational envelopes and refuelling speeds are dictated by receiver requirements and the tanker configurations for helicopter, tilt rotor and fast jet refuelling are all described along with the structural adaptations and drogue configurations relevant to each. The chapter concludes with a brief look at future technologies and the long‐term outlook for the aerial refuelling tanker.