How about this one??

I’ve managed to “spoke” the basket (push the refuelling probe into the spokes) but not to the extent of ruining the basket. ?It’s a bugger because the basket rises over the nose wave of the aircraft, such that as you approach, aiming the probe for the basket, your aim becomes steadily less accurate as you close.

In a single-seat aircraft you have to aim at something other than the basket, such as an aiming point on the hose unit slung underneath the wing or fuselage. ?That USMC Harrier pilot is doing just that: ignoring the basket and aiming for his cues on the refuelling aircraft. ?But you can’t creep in to the basket or the probe won’t mate with the receptacle; I reckon that the Harrier was moving at the lowest possible speed to make the connection and refuel. ?He shouldn’t have descended to disconnect, for obvious reasons . . .

In a two-seat aircraft the rear seater, who doesn’t have his or her hands on the controls, can be a little more dispassionate about it and can guide the pilot in. ?That doesn’t always work as the pilot is easily distracted and can start aiming or even lunging at the basket. ?I’ve had a navigator throw up his arms in frustration at my lack of attention to him (I found out in the formation debrief that that was what had happened). ?The Tornado in the video gets into a PIO (pilot-induced oscillation) briefly before making contact. ?You can see that he’s pumping the throttles (fuel mist at the back) before he manages to get in. ?And the excess fuel is dumped from the tail fin dump valve as he fills.

The USAF F15E has a different system: the pilot flies to a waiting point behind the tanker and the operator of the boom (boomer) flashes signal lights on the tanker’s belly (Forward, Up etc . .. ) to guide the receiver aircraft into the right position; when he’s there the boomer reaches out with the probe – it’s a flying probe, with control surfaces as well as an extension system. ?Once the receiver is connected the signal lights on the tanker’s belly are automatic. ?I fell off a KC-135 once (went too low) because I couldn’t see the lights as the tanker was flying directly into the sun.

Tanking is a challenging exercise, particularly if your heavily loaded and if it’s hot. ?In Gulf War I the Tornados were very heavily loaded and it was very hot and turbulent. ?I remember that an Italian formation of four turned back through tanking problems.

I hope that this little ditty has distracted you somewhat . . .

Chris