AAR Approaching Tanker

If there's only one plane going to the tanker would it still have to go to the observation area or could it go straight to pre-contact?

You can go straight to pre-contact if nobody else is there.

Thank You.

I would advise that you just make a habit of always joining up in the observation position and then moving over to the pre-contact position. If for no other reason than it is the proper thing to do but a better reason is to prevent yourself from a midair collision should you misjudge your approach speed, which is probably why that procedure is a requirement in RL. :thumbup:

Plus, a little extra formation flying never hurts!

I always go straight for the basket myself. You're not a train, if you misjudge, you're thankfully in 3 dimensions ;)

Like others have said, my latest technique is to join up the on the right wing of the tanker. I fence out when I get within the vicinity of the tanker, and the forming up the wing helps with controlling overshoots IMO. Once in a stable observation position, I quickly go heads down to configure for refueling (bring up fuel page, door/probe etc.). Once I'm "fully ready" I clear behind and transition to pre-contact... get my call and go for it. I repeat the process in reverse on the left wing before departing/fence in.

Would be interesting to get some RL tips on this, but that seems to be what's working for me.

I didn't know you could go straight to the right wing. Have always found only the left available if it's just a one ship. Two ship yes. Am i missing something here?

Like others have said, my latest technique is to join up the on the right wing of the tanker.

The correct observation area is on the LEFT wing. Heads down, get your drink, spit out the straw, check right, slide back, slide over to the RIGHT wing. Wait for Dash two or say goodbye.

The correct observation area is on the LEFT wing. Heads down, get your drink, spit out the straw, check right, slide back, slide over to the RIGHT wing. Wait for Dash two or say goodbye.

That's not what I'm reading in online NATO documents (ATP-56B), and that's not what's depicted in the DCS A-10's Flight Manual. They all describe a "Quick Flow" procedures at a Right-to-Left deal. Where are you getting this information? And probably more importantly, what Branch and what Aircraft?

Looks like you can either join on the wing, or lead can proceed directly to pre-contact. Seems a whole lot of text describing the process, I bet it's different based on conditions/ what is briefed. Seems a lot of planning can go into this procedure.

That's not what I'm reading in online NATO documents (ATP-56B), and that's not what's depicted in the DCS A-10's Flight Manual. They all describe a "Quick Flow" procedures at a Right-to-Left deal. Where are you getting this information? And probably more importantly, what Branch and what Aircraft?

Looks like you can either join on the wing, or lead can proceed directly to pre-contact. Seems a whole lot of text describing the process, I bet it's different based on conditions/ what is briefed. Seems a lot of planning can go into this procedure.

Retired USAF boom operator here. Don’t worry about quick flow...that is an expedited method to get fighters on & off the boom in a hurry by having them stack up behind the boom. In fact, at one fighter bade I was assigned to, the fighters pilots didn’t want to do quick flow because they thought it wasn’t safe. Join up on the left wing, slide over to precontact (astern, according to ATP-56B or the US SRD) and transition to the right wing for post AR. Of course, if you are flight lead or single ship, you can proceed direct to precontact.

Thanks for the info Brad.

I, too, form up on left, refuel, and then go right. In the F-14. And that's what Jester tells me to do as well. Though I don't always listen to him. I actually had to shut him up when learning to tank as his calls were too distracting.

Retired USAF boom operator here. Don’t worry about quick flow...that is an expedited method to get fighters on & off the boom in a hurry by having them stack up behind the boom. In fact, at one fighter bade I was assigned to, the fighters pilots didn’t want to do quick flow because they thought it wasn’t safe. Join up on the left wing, slide over to precontact (astern, according to ATP-56B or the US SRD) and transition to the right wing for post AR. Of course, if you are flight lead or single ship, you can proceed direct to precontact.

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

I move to precontact position in order to set the correct trim for the particular airspeed and conditions, especially with Tomcat, Harrier and Warthog.

https://community.infiniteflight.com/t/tanker-talk-air-to-air-refueling-procedures/171137

Typically a left to right flow is the norm. But if there are other fighters already on the left, you could bring your formation up to the right side and wait your turn until the other flight was finished.

it can be hard to judge speed and not overtake the tanker if you come from behind. I always try and come from left. Unless you are locking the tanker up with radar that is. You risk frying the refuelers doing that though,.