How to fly the oil above?

On July 22, 1948, three US B-29 aircraft took off from Davit-Mongson air base conducting flight tests around the world. During the flight, there were two landings 8 times, taking 15 days to complete 32,187km around the world. Nine years later, on January 16, 1957, five B-52B aircraft took off from California's Kasier military base, taking only three days to complete the round-the-world flight, during which time the flight took only 45h 19 '. To make this progress is thanks to the method of aerial refueling.

(Artwork: Impexol.cn) Previously, aerial refueling was done thanks to the combination of refueling aircraft and oil receiving aircraft. In the beginning, the oiling equipment was very crude and a refueling staff was sent to carry the oil tube. To refuel correctly, it must be based on the height difference between the tanker and the aircraft that needs oil. The oil tanker is on top, the plane receives the oil below.

Later, it was successfully researched and fabricated the aerial refueling bay, which helped the aerial refueling technique develop to a new stage and at the same time can refuel for up to 3 aircraft at the same time. species. Under normal circumstances, when using the oil-feeding device, there is an awl-shaped connector, the oil feeding rate is about 1,500 liters / minute. If using a flexible tube-type oil feeding device, the highest speed can reach about 6,000 liters / minute. During refueling, the pilot of the receiving aircraft was tasked with keeping the aircraft in the best flight state, keeping the distance, the height difference between the tanker and the aircraft receiving constant oil.

From the 90s of the twentieth century back, the United States and some European countries increased the improvement of refueling aircraft. In addition to renovating the engine, people also apply automatic refueling management system and automatic refueling system. This system can help aircraft get oil quickly with a large amount of oil, and at the same time, can ensure the best central position and ideal flight status. Besides, the computer calculates the best time to close - open oil box valve and oil pump. The automatic refueling system can replace the driver of the flexible tube, the crew of the receiving aircraft only has to hold the aircraft in a certain position at the oiling point. The combined system of refueling aircraft automatically catches on the automatic combination system of the oil receiving aircraft, and carries out the connecting oil pipe.

The aerial refueling for civil aircraft is also a 'reinforcement' force in the air, which is an important part of modern air combat, which is extremely important in quick work. quickly transfer troops and equipment in medium and long range.

Hoang Hoa
Science and technology number November 2006 (page 53)