- Thread starter
- #41
Nonskimmer
Captain
You're not a man? 
A question concerning aerial refuelling.
- Thread starter Nonskimmer
- Start date
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Last time I checked I was!
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
yes but anything could have happened between then and now, i suggest regular check ups........
I check myself atleast 3 times a day. Well atlest I get a hands on exam from my wifey assistant one of those times!
HealzDevo
Staff Sergeant
As I said I think the Boom method is something to do with fuel flow rates. Fuel is meant to flow more quickly, making it suitable for larger aircraft. The drogue method however, means that up to three aircraft can be refueled at once, depending on their size, however, there are severe restrictions on aircraft size that can be refueled by this method. A B-1, B-25 or E-4 AWACS would just gobble up fuel just as fast if not faster than the drogue method could give it to the aircraft.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
HealzDevo said:
You're right about the boom with its larger flow rate. If a drouge had to be used it's just means more refueling time. During the refueling operation you want to get in and get out ASAP.
Good points. I want to hook up with some USAAF Blackhawk guys and go up when they get refueled. I think it would be a pretty hairy time.
HealzDevo
Staff Sergeant
I hope this has solved the mystery for you. It isn't so much that the two systems are totally different in all ways but just that the fuel demands for one force are different from another, as are the aircraft available as tankers. I would not like to try to land a 707 tanker on a carrier, it would be as impossible as landing a B-25 Mitchell on a carrier was during WW2. There was a large aircraft with a lack of useable landing space, available.
The only reason they did not do it after the Doolittle raid was because they did not have the fuel to get back to the Carrier.
evangilder
"Shooter"
Not exactly. There were 2 reasons. 1 it was determined that landing on a carrier was very difficult and 2 it would have forced the Navy to loiter in unfriendly waters waiting for their return. That would also have forced them to use radios to tell them whether they were returning or not and give away their position.
The Navy was nervous enough about getting that close to the Japanese mainland. Hagning around waitinng would have been suicide.
The Navy was nervous enough about getting that close to the Japanese mainland. Hagning around waitinng would have been suicide.
I know it would have been difficult however I always thought the main reason was the carrier was not going to get close to the Japanese mainland and therefore there would not have been eneogh fuel especially in the stripped down Mitchels.
evangilder
"Shooter"
The plan called to take off between 400 and 600 miles from the Japanese coast. The closer the better. From Tokyo, China is another 1200 miles, Vladivostok, 600. If carrier landings could be more easily executed and the Navy was not nervous about loitering in bad-guy land, it may have been better that way.
I certainly agree. They may have all gotten home then.
evangilder
"Shooter"
True, but I can see why the Navy wouldn't want to hang out waiting. 2 flat tops are prime targets for the bad guys.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
and there was barely enough room to take all of the B-25s off, trying to lad all of them on that flight deck would be rather akward, even with arrester hooks......
evangilder
"Shooter"
Good point Lanc. It would have been real tight for landing. Plus with the -25s on the deck, if the carrier was attacked, they would either have to take off again so the fighters could come up or the carrier would be a sitting duck.
evangilder
"Shooter"
Always a possibility. They ended up losing them anyway. Though that was not in the plan.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
the only advantage of doing that is getting the crews back, but they were going on to china anyway so it's no real advantage.........
