255 - Aerial Refueling with the KDC-10

omega tau science & engineering podcast

Guest: Martin and Louis Host: Markus Voelter Shownoter: Kolja Dummann

In late March 2017 I was participating in the media day of the European Air Refueling Training Exercise, organized by the European Air Transport Command headquartered in Eindhoven. While the planned flight on the Dutch KDC-10 did not work our for technical reasons, I recorded a follow-up interview with tanker captain Martin and boom operator Louis. We discussed a number of details around air-to-air refuelling in general and the KDC-10 in particular. The episode begins with an overview of aerial refueling that I recorded myself.

Here is the page of Matthias Grägel with air-to-air pictures taken during EART 2017.

Refuelling Videos

• RNLAF KDC10 at Eindhoven
• RNLAF F-16 tries to refuel over Afghanistan in heavy turbulance
• RNLAF F-16AM refuelling with KDC-10 RNLAF
• Exercise EART 2015 Tanker meet at Eindhoven Airbase
• E-3 AWACS popping up dangerously
• A Day in the Life of US Air Force Aerial Refueling Aircraft : KC-135 Stratotanker Refueling F-16’s
• Inside Air Force’s KC-10 Extender Aerial Refueling Tanker
• F-16 Jets Refuel In-Flight + Boom Interphone
• Mid-Air Refueling: F16 Pilots Are Cool
• Mid-Air Refueling: C-17 Globemaster
• F-15 Eagles Inflight Refueling: Pilot and Boom Operator Comms

Pictures KDC-10

These pictures are (c) RNLAF

Pictures KC-135

Pictures KC-767

Pictures A-310

Introduction to Aerial Refueling by Markus

00:01:08

Air-to-air Refueling | Flying boom method | Probe-and-Drogue method | A-6 | F-18 | Buddy Refueling | And I forgot to mention the KC-130 :-) | Boom-drogue adapter units | KC-135 with hose | List of Tankers

Introduction of Guests

00:15:57

McDonnell Douglas DC-10 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11

Mission Planning

00:16:47

Air tasking order (CAOC - Combined Air Operations Centre | ATC - Air traffic control) | Link 16

Refueling

00:24:02

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker | McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender | Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | Boeing E-3 Sentry | E-8 AWACS Air Refueling gone wrong

Flying the KDC-10

00:47:22

Boeing KC-767 | Airbus A330 MRTT (omega tau 252 - Red Flag)