"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles) 01/19/2016 at 09:41 • Filed to: BRAAAAAAPPPPP, A-10, Thunderbolt, Air Force, Inherent Resolve, planelopnik, mad props

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A-10 Thunderbolt II gas and go with the help from KC-135 crew members of the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

You can also watch a B-1 Lancer sip fuel from the boom of the KC-135 below.

McMike > Chris Clarke 01/19/2016 at 09:49

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Woah @ 1:50

ttyymmnn > McMike 01/19/2016 at 09:55

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Woah? How about Code Brown.

McMike > ttyymmnn 01/19/2016 at 10:03

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Yeah, I think I remember there were crew injuries in the E3 from that one.

TheHondaBro > Chris Clarke 01/19/2016 at 11:23

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I can watch that gif forever.

pfftballer > Chris Clarke 02/04/2016 at 21:03

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My god I love those A10s. The fucking Harley Davidson of military aviation.

pfftballer > ttyymmnn 02/04/2016 at 21:08

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What caused that?

ttyymmnn > pfftballer 02/04/2016 at 21:15

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I’m not entirely certain. Aerial refueling is always a tricky affair, even though it is pretty routine. Turbulence, overcorrection, or pilot-induced oscillation . I’m not a pilot, but my armchair analysis points to PIO.

pfftballer > ttyymmnn 02/04/2016 at 21:21

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IIRC the boom operator flies the plane during these operations? Is that true?

ttyymmnn > pfftballer 02/04/2016 at 21:31

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No, the boom operator flies the boom. It’s the pilot’s job to hold a straight and steady course. The flying boom was a great advancement in aerial refueling. With the older probe and drogue system, the tanker deployed a long hose with a basket on the end, and the receiving pilot had to maneuver the probe into it. It can be very difficult. With the flying boom, both aircraft fly in formation, and the boom operator “flies” the refueling probe into the receiving aircraft. The Navy and Marine Corps still use the probe and drogue, as do much of Western Europe. The USAF mostly uses the flying boom.

pfftballer > ttyymmnn 02/04/2016 at 21:50

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Thanks man!

ttyymmnn > ttyymmnn 02/04/2016 at 22:22

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My pleasure.