A Russian Air Force (VVS) Ilyushin Il-78 tanker aircraft with its two hose and drogue refuelling devices extended is followed by two Sukhoi Su-24 attack jet aircraft simulating aerial refuelling, flanked by four smaller Yakovlev Yak-130 trainer/fighter aircraft, from the celebration flypast during the Moscow Victory Day Parade of 2010.

This is a list of tanker aircraft used for aerial refuelling of another aircraft whilst in powered flight.

Refueling methods

Main article: Aerial refueling
Looped hose
The first commercial method employed a hose which was held slack in a trailing half-loop behind both aircraft. The receiving aircraft flew just below the tanker and deployed a steel line, which the tanker caught with its own grappling line and drew in. The tanker then connected the first steel line to the refueling hose and paid it out as the receiving aircraft reeled it back in.
Probe-and-drogue
The tanker trails a flexible hose with a stabilising drogue on the end and the receiving aircraft manoeuvers to insert a short probe into the receptacle in the drogue.
Flying boom
The tanker extends a hinged telescopic boom with aerodynamic control surfaces on its end. An operator "flies" it to match up with a receptacle on the receiving aircraft, which then moves forwards to make the connection.
Wing-to-wing
A hybrid method in which the tanker trails a flexible hose from a wing and the receiving aircraft catches it in a hooked receptacle under one of its own wings.
Buddy refueling
An aircraft type is fitted with both supply and receiving hardware, so that one aircraft can refuel another of the same type.

Gallery

These images illustrate various aerial refuelling methods.

  • First successful mid-air refuelling in 1923.
    First successful mid-air refuelling in 1923.
  • Looped hose refuelling during round-the-world flight.
    Looped hose refuelling during round-the-world flight.
  • Helicopter with refuelling probe approaching the drogue trailed by a tanker.
    Helicopter with refuelling probe approaching the drogue trailed by a tanker.
  • Probe inserted in drogue for refuelling.
    Probe inserted in drogue for refuelling.
  • Buddy refuelling.
    Buddy refuelling.
  • Flying boom refuelling.
    Flying boom refuelling.
  • Flying boom refuelling at night.
    Flying boom refuelling at night.

List of aircraft

military tanker aircraft used to refuel other aircraft in flight
Tanker
aircraft 		based
on 		aircraft
propulsion
method 		Fuel
supply
method 		Operators Date entered use Current
status 		Qty Notes
Airbus A310 MRTT Airbus
A310-300C		 2x turbofan jet probe and drogue Canada / France / Germany 2004 operational 6 Two for Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), known in service as CC-150T Polaris
Airbus A330 MRTT Airbus
A330-200		 2x turbofan jet probe and drogue United Kingdom 2011 production/ operational 7 KC2
5(+2) KC3		 In Royal Air Force (RAF) service, it is exclusively hose-and-drogue, and is known as Voyager KC2 (two under-wing hose and drogue) and Voyager KC3 (two under-wing hose and drogue plus under-fuselage centreline high capacity hose and drogue), with no self-refuelling capability. 14 aircraft have been delivered: seven KC2, five KC3 and two fitted out as KC3.
Airbus A330 MRTT Airbus
A330-200		 2x turbofan jet flying boom Australia / Saudi Arabia / Spain / United Arab Emirates / Singapore Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet production/ operational 61 Versions operated by the Australian (designated KC-30), Emirati, Saudi air forces and the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet are equipped with both a flying boom and hose and drogue refuelling units.
Airbus
A400M
Atlas		 Airbus
A400M
Atlas		 4x Europrop TP400 turboprop probe and drogue Spain / Germany / France 2013 operational
Airco DH.4 Airco DH.4 propeller gravity flow hose United States 1923 retired 1 US Army Air Service trials at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California.[1]
Avro Lancaster Avro Lancaster 4x propeller probe and drogue United Kingdom 1948 retired Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL).[2]
Avro Lancastrian Avro Lancaster 4x propeller probe and drogue United Kingdom 1948 retired 4 Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL), two Lancastrian tankers were based at Shannon, Ireland; the other two in North America, at Goose Bay, Labrador, and Gander, Newfoundland.[2]
Avro Lincoln Avro Lincoln 4x propeller probe and drogue United Kingdom retired Purchased and converted by Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL).[2]
Avro Vulcan K.2 Avro Vulcan 4x jet probe and drogue United Kingdom 1982 retired 6 Conversions as interim until VC.10 tankers ready.
Blackburn
Buccaneer S.2		 Blackburn
Buccaneer
S.2		 2x turbofan jet probe and drogue United Kingdom retired Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Boeing
KB-29M		 Boeing B-29 Superfortress 4x propeller probe and drogue United States 1948 retired 126 The world's first aerial refuelling units were created; the 43d Air Refueling Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and the 509th at Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico. Earlier KB-29M versions used a 'grappling hose' system, later models used a true probe and drogue. One KB-29M, redesignated YKB-29T (nicknamed 'Triple Nipple'), was modified to have another two refuelling hoses on its wingtip.[2]
Boeing
KB-29P		 Boeing B-29 Superfortress 4x propeller flying boom United States 1948 retired 100+ [2]
Boeing
KB-50		 Boeing B-50 Superfortress 4x propeller probe and drogue United States retired An improved model of the B-29 Superfortress.
Boeing
KB-50		 Boeing B-50 Superfortress 4x propeller flying boom United States retired A B-29 derivative.
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter 4x propeller flying boom United States / Israel retired Based on the B-50, itself another B-29 Superfortress descendant.[2]
Boeing
KC-135
Stratotanker		 Boeing
367-80
(Dash 80)		 4x jet flying boom United States / Turkey / France / Chile / Singapore operational Boom can be fitted pre-flight with a drogue adapter. AdlA C-135FR/KC-135R Stratotankers use the probe and drogue system and are in the process of being replaced by Airbus A330MRTT 'Phenix'. Singapores KC-135's have been by A330MRTT's and were sold to Meta Aerospace in the USA.
Boeing MQ-25 Stingray Boeing MQ-25 Stingray turbofan probe and drogue United States in development aerial refueling drone
Boeing 707 Boeing 707 4x jet probe and drogue Canada / Israel / Spain / Italy / United States operational New built and conversions of airliners with multi-point refuelling system pods. Israel allegedly converted ex-airliners with booms from withdrawn KC-97's. Two for RCAF as CC-137 Husky, Spain and Italy have retired their 707 tanker aircraft. Omega Aerial Refueling Services operates two in the United States.
Boeing KC-33A Boeing
747-100		 4x jet flying boom Iran 4 KC-33A is a modified Boeing 747 which lost in the USAF bidding competition to the KC-10 Extender. Four sold to the Iranian Air Force, one operational remaining.
Boeing 767MMTT Boeing 767 2x jet probe and drogue Colombia operational 1 Multi Mission Tanker Transport (MMTT) conversion by IAI for the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC), a 767-200ER fitted with two ARP3 refuelling pods under the wings, and cargo door.
Boeing KC-767 Boeing
767-200ER		 2x jet flying boom Italy / Japan operational 8 With cockpit updates, was (eventually) the winning entry in the USAF KC-X competition.
Boeing KC-46 Pegasus Boeing
767-200ER		 2x jet flying boom United States production USAF designation for Boeing's updated winning KC-767 entry.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet 2x jet probe and drogue United States Equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling as 'Strike tankers'. Taking over tanking duties after the S-3 was retired from service.
Consolidated
B-24 Liberator		 Consolidated B-24 Liberator 4x propeller United States 1943 retired Used for flight tests with a B–17E receiver.[2]
Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard jet probe and drogue France Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Dassault Rafale Dassault Rafale 2x jet probe and drogue France Buddy-buddy refuelling.
de Havilland Sea Vixen de Havilland Sea Vixen 2x jet probe and drogue United Kingdom retired Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Douglas
KA-3B
Skywarrior		 Douglas A-3 Skywarrior jet probe and drogue United States retired Dedicated tanker variant of the Skywarrior. Primary US Navy tanker from the Vietnam War until retirement prior to Desert Storm.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Douglas A-4 Skyhawk turbojet probe and drogue United States retired Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Douglas C-1 Douglas C-1 propeller gravity flow hose United States 1929 retired 2 The C-1 was a single-engine transport, 6,445-pound biplane, transformed into tankers by installing two 150-gallon tanks for off-loading, and a refuelling hose that passed through a hatch cut in the floor.[2][1]
Embraer
KC-390		 Embraer C-390 Millennium 2x turbofan probe and drogue Brazil Cobham air-to-air refuelling system.
Grumman
KA-6D
Intruder		 Grumman A-6 Intruder 2x jet probe and drogue United States retired Dedicated tanker variant of the Intruder. Attack variants of the A-6 also capable of buddy-buddy tanking.
Handley
Page
HP.54
Harrow		 Handley
Page
HP.54
Harrow		 2x propeller looped hose United Kingdom 1939 retired 3 Three Harrows were operated by Flight Refuelling Limited, and refuelled Short Empire flying boats on transatlantic services, two from Gander, Newfoundland and one based in Foynes, Ireland.[2]
Handley Page
Type W		 Handley Page
W.10		 2x propeller looped hose United Kingdom 1935 retired 2 Early trials and demonstrations by Flight Refuelling Ltd using a piston engined biplane.[2]
Handley
Page
Victor		 Handley
Page
Victor		 4x jet probe and drogue United Kingdom 1965 retired 30 B(K).1A, K.1, K.1A and K.2 variants in Royal Air Force service, operated by No. 55 Squadron from RAF Marham. A number of Victor tankers saw action during Black Buck raids of the 1982 Falklands War, refuelling the Avro Vulcan bombers multiple times during each bombing run. Fleet retired October 1993.
Ilyushin Il-78 Midas Ilyushin Il-76 4x turbofan probe and drogue USSR, India, China
Lockheed HC-130 Hercules & KC-130 Hercules Lockheed
C-130
Hercules &
C-130J
Super Hercules		 4x turboprop probe and drogue Canada / Indonesia / United Kingdom / United States Variants: Royal Canadian Air Force modified C-130H, Indonesian Air Force modified KC-130B, Royal Air Force modified C-130K, United States Marine Corps modified C-130F.[1]
Lockheed
KS-3B		 Lockheed S-3 Viking 2x turbofan probe and drogue United States retired The former primary US Navy carrier-based tanker, equipped for buddy-buddy tanking.
Lockheed
TriStar
K1/KC1		 Lockheed
L-1011-500
TriStar		 3x turbofan probe and drogue United Kingdom 1986 retired 6 Two K1 and four KC1 variants operated by No. 216 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Brize Norton. Fleet retired 24 March 2014.
LTV A-7
Corsair II		 LTV A-7
Corsair II		 jet probe and drogue Greece / United States retired Equipped for buddy-buddy tanking in US Navy and Greek Air Force service.
McDonnell
Douglas
KC-10
Extender		 McDonnell
Douglas
DC-10		 3x jet flying boom Netherlands / United States operational Also has a retractable hose and drogue that can be selected in-flight. Can be fitted with two underwing pods (similar to the KC-135's MPRS) capable of simultaneously refuelling two receiver aircraft (Wing Air Refueling Pods or WARPs). The Royal Netherlands Air Force operates one out of originally two KDC-10s; former civil aircraft modified to a standard similar to the KC-10. The remaining KDC-10 will be withdrawn by the end of 2021. After overhaul, it will follow the other KDC-10 to be operated with Omega Aerial Refueling Services.
Mikoyan
MiG-29K		 Mikoyan
MiG-29M		 jet probe and drogue USSR Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Myasishchev
M-4-2		 Myasishchev
M-4 bomber		 4x jet probe and drogue USSR retired
Myasishchev
3MS-2		 Myasishchev
3M bomber		 4x jet probe and drogue USSR retired
Panavia
Tornado		 Panavia
Tornado		 2x turbofan probe and drogue retired Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Sukhoi
Su-24M		 Sukhoi
Su-24		 2x jet probe and drogue USSR Equipped for buddy-buddy refuelling in the Russian Air Force with the in-flight refuelling pod (Russian: universalny podvesnoy agregat zapravki – UPAZ)[3] container as 'Strike tankers'.
Sukhoi
Su-33		 Sukhoi
Su-33		 2x jet probe and drogue USSR Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Supermarine
Scimitar		 Supermarine
Scimitar		 jet probe and drogue United Kingdom retired Buddy-buddy refuelling.
Tupolev
Tu-16N		 Tupolev
Tu-16 bomber		 2x jet probe and drogue USSR
Tupolev
Tu-16Z		 Tupolev
Tu-16		 2x jet wing to wing USSR
Vickers
Valiant B(K).1, B(PR)K.1		 Vickers
Valiant		 4x jet probe and drogue United Kingdom retired The Valiants had removable tanker system in the bomb bay. Operated by Royal Air Force.
Vickers
VC10
C1K, K2, K3, K4]]		 Vickers
VC10		 4x turbofan probe and drogue United Kingdom retired 27 C1K (13), K2 (5), K3 (4), and K4 (5) variants served with the Royal Air Force, operated by 10 Squadron, 101 Squadron, and 1312 Flight. Fleet retired 20 September 2013.
Xian
H-6U		 Xian
H-6		 2x jet probe and drogue China People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China.
Xian
YU-20		 Xian
Y-20		 4x jet probe and drogue China People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aerial Refueling". www.CentennialOfFlight.gov. U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Richard K. Smith (1998). "Seventy-Five Years of Inflight Refueling – Highlights, 1923–1998" (PDF). www.AirForceHistory.HQ.AF.Mil. Air Force History and Museums Program – United States Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
  3. ^ Gordon, Yefim; Dexter, Keith (2002). Polikarpov's Biplane Fighters. Hinckley, Leicestershire: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-141-5.
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