Forum: General

I just got my new issue of Combat Aircraft and a new style of probe n drogue is in it. This pic is here:

Invalid image size

I had seen the Israel AF F-16 with a fuel tank and probe years ago, however it was static. This appears to be retractable into the CFT.

Anyone else have any photos of this??

F-16.net Sponsor

If that isn’t fake, it’s definitely Gay … along with the Skunk works patch LMAO

God that F-16 is loaded down with so much stuff it would lawn dart the moment power was lost. I wonder what % engine power it takes just to keep it airborne?

FDiron wrote:

God that F-16 is loaded down with so much stuff it would lawn dart the moment power was lost. I wonder what % engine power it takes just to keep it airborne?

Good point ... I wonder if they practice SFO's with a jet configured like that?

No reason to. All that stuff on the wings would be long gone if the engine quit.

OL

outlaw162 wrote:

No reason to. All that stuff on the wings would be long gone if the engine quit.

OL

True with Emer Jett all the rubbish will be punched ... however TPS still flys an F-15 with a heavy 600 gallon on one side!

So as they say ... sh*t happens!

Actually if you think about it, with this CFT the F-16 can tank from just about anything. USAF, USN, RAF, a boom is no longer required.

I seem to remember when I was still in the USAF, they would have called this a "Force Multiplier"....
Off Topic

But as the VarkVet can attest it was all talk. Since the F-111 could carry more then an f-15 worth of usable fuel internally, almost 18 tons.

True,
Putting the probe in the right/left CFT does not make cents Very Happy

… You have the FWD, AFT, and Reservoir tanks which is internal fuel and need to be somewhat balanced.
Unless Skunk works did some elaborate plumbing, I don’t see balance?

minimum load on an F-111E clean was 32,500lbs (fuel)

Too truce, h-bomb - what's wrong with added flexibility and force-multiplying?? And another thing.. what if AF X, e.g. UAE AF in this case, doesn't have sufficient KC-boomx support to begin with? I'm actually surprised at the excessive old-shoolers bumping this thing. Poke

The other option as was mentioned, is a retractable under-wing drogue tank.. either way, it allows more flexible, universal IFR ability for longer duration recon, peace-time patrol, etc More power to them.

I've actually been a proponent too for a fleet of perhaps 50-90 soon to be retired F-16D rebuilt under an XL concept, plus CFT, plus 4x under-wing tanks, plus CL probe IFR system. That would, lb for lb, be the most superior tactical buddy-tanker concept I could think of, and something which USAF could at least sell quite well, IMO, to NATO e.g., as a general Probe/drogue supplement... even if USAF didn't see justified worthiness themselves. Salute

Centerline, Dolly tanks and CFT's.....

.....I dont see any need to airrefuel at all. Shocked

Were will they fit all the pee bags after a looooooong flight like that?

I heard that this was actually for the F-16IN which had a requirement for probe and drogue refueling. I suspect that they were just using the UAE a/c for flight test. Anyone confirm/deny?

it looks like that

Quote:

This aircraft will feature a refueling boom that retracts from the right conformal fuel tank. The boom allows the F-16IN to operate with India Air Force probe-and-drogue style aerial refueling systems similar to those used by the US Navy. The refueling boom is now being flight tested in Fort Worth. Even without aerial refueling, an F-16IN with conformal tanks can fly from Bangalore in the south of India to Leh in the north

http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2008/articles/jul_08/f16-evolution/index.html

That’s frikking stupid
Make a Donkey Dick adapter (PROBE) and stick it in the IFR receptacle if you think you need to catch a drogue?
CFTs need to come down for any maintenance on top of the jet … ?
Make the Viper maintenance intensive and you’re going to bite yourself in the ****

Mission planning? Don’t know who your tanker is with all that gas?

OK Vark, respect your opinion and ideas your a great contributor to the forum; but........ there is a reason that aircraft that tank using the the drogue and probe method have the probe mounted near the front of the acft. The pilot has to be able to see the probe in order to fly it into he drogue; whereas with the boom method the boomer flies the boom into the receptacle. so putting a probe adapter in the receptacle wouldn't work it would be behind the pilot. Also CFTs are as easy to remove as 370s and they are sectional so if you need to get to something under the front you only have to remove the fwd section.

LGrice wrote:

The pilot has to be able to see the probe in order to fly it into he drogue; whereas with the boom method the boomer flies the boom into the receptacle. so putting a probe adapter in the receptacle wouldn't work it would be behind the pilot. Also CFTs are as easy to remove as 370s and they are sectional so if you need to get to something under the front you only have to remove the fwd section.

Logical ... but I still don't like it. I think it's cheaper to change the tanker than the fighter.

You know us crew dawgs are always whinning about something. Laughing

Forum: General

Alt F-16 refueling methode for the UAE