C-130 pictures

Discussion in 'Warfare / Military' started by Up On the Governor, Jun 8, 2011.

  1. Herkdriver

    Herkdriver New Member

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    Well for one thing, tankers with booms can be converted to hose and drogue...while
    the hose and drogue tanker can't be converted to boom.

    In a nutshell, the decisions on the composition of the Air Force aerial refueling fleet were made decades ago, when the primary mission was to refuel long-range strategic bombers.

    Air Force KC-135s and KC-10s have booms, therefore require boom operators....
    though an MPRS modification allows them to use hose and drogue from wing pods
    or at the end of the boom...for lighter aircraft.

    A boom can transfer 6,000 lbs of fuel per minute, whle the hose and drogue can transfer between 1,500 and 2,000 lbs.

    Long range bombers needed lots of fuel, at the time the Air Force made the decision to re-fuel
    primarily with booms; and booms transfer the fuel at a faster rate.
     
  2. GoSlash27

    GoSlash27 New Member

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    Yeah, I gotcha.. but that decision was made back in 1949. I don't get why we're still building tankers and fighters to this day using the same system. Not that it's inferior, but because it's not universal.
     
  3. talonlm

    talonlm New Member

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    Because the decision is still valid. American boom-style aerial refueling tankers gives the United States Air Force logistical and operational advantages few (if any) other air forces can match. Compatibility with foreign (even allied) air forces is not enough of an argument to counter that advantage.
     
  4. talonlm

    talonlm New Member

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    Because the decision is still valid. American boom-style aerial refueling tankers gives the United States Air Force logistical and operational advantages few (if any) other air forces can match. Compatibility with foreign (even allied) air forces is not enough of an argument to counter that advantage.
     

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