Israeli Air Force KC-707 Reem 264 refuelling an F-15B Baz with two F-15As in formation.
Israel Air and Space Force Boeing KC-707 Re'em 264/4X-JYH (c/n 20721) arrives at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, on August 7, 2013. The aircraft, assigned to 120 Squadron based at Nevatim, passed through Mildenhall on its way home from Greenville, Texas, where it underwent a series of upgrades with L-3 Communications. The large number of aerials on the upper and lower fuselage suggests the aircraft is equipped for roles other than aerial refuelling. Reem 264 was the first Israeli KC-707 to be painted in this dark grey colour scheme.
KC-707s on the flight lines at Air Base 28 Nevatim, home of the IAF Heavy Transport Wing.
No. 120 Desert Giants Squadron is the only unit to fly the KC-707 in the Israeli Air Force.
Three F-16C Barak fighters behind KC-707 Reem 275.
All of the Israeli Air Force KC-707s are powered by Pratt S Whitney JT3D turbofan engines.
An IAI-developed retractable boom with various cowlings removed for maintenance.
Reem 275 takes off from Air Base 28 Nevatim on a training sortie.
Air Base 28 Nevatim is home to the Israeli Air Force C-130 and KC-707 fleets.
IAI designed the retractable boom for all Israeli Air Force KC-707 Reem tankers.
Pilot director lights used for signalling to the receiver aircraft are fitted under the KC-707’s rear fuselage.
IAI's KC-707 tanker conversion included installation of fuel tanks in the former passenger cabin.
The KC-707 boom operator’s station is located in the aft cabin.
Left: A schematic diagram of a KC-707 Reem tanker.
Right: Another schematic diagram of a proposed twin-engine replacement for the KC-707.
The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron ‘Green Bats’ based at Nellis AFB, Nevada provides regular trade to the Travis-based KC-10s. A Green Bats F-16C refuels from a KC-10A Extender over California.
An F/A-18A Hornet assigned to No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force refuels from KC-30A A39-005 over the Pacific Ocean near the island of Guam during this year's exercise Cope North.
A CC-150 Polaris from 437(T) Squadron (part of 8 Wing at Trenton) is escorted by a CF-18 Hornet from 425 Squadron (3 Wing at Bagotville).
The CC-150T’s early in-flight refuelling trials were carried out by 4 Wing at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.
The heart of the KC-10 Extender is a 36ft long air-refuelling boom which is the primary system for transferring fuel to receptacle-equipped receiver aircraft.
Appropriate markings on the wings of the boom of a KC-10A.
KC-10A Extender 86-0034 receives fuel from another KC-10 on a training flight from their home station of Travis AFB in northern California. Travis is home of the 60th Air Mobility Wing.
Top: The air-refuelling operator compartment, located in the lower aft portion of the KC-10’s fuselage, is fitted with two windows on either side.
Below center & Far left: Wing air refuelling pods are fitted to 20 of the 59 KC- 10A Extenders currently in US Air Force service.
Right: All 59 USAF KC-10s are fitted with a hose drum unit (with drogue mounted) located on the underside of the aft starboard fuselage.
KC-10A 86-0034 returns to its parking spot at Travis following a local training mission.
An airman installs safety wires on the engine mounts of a KC-10 Extender engine.
This shot shows the boomer's seating position in the air-refuelling operator compartment, which is located in the lower aft portion of the KC-10’s fuselage.
The KC-10's cavernous cabin has space for 27 pallets.
The pilot and co-pilot pay close attention to their tanker aircraft as they move into the pre-contact position.
US Air Force KC-10s have analogue cockpits.
The KC-10 flight engineer’s station is fitted with an abundance of switches and dials for monitoring and controlling the aircraft’s systems.
Air-to-air refuelling of a Tornado ECR from 50° Stormo during qualification trials with the AMI Test Wing.
Off the coast of Libya at 1800hrs an RAF Tornado GR4, call-sign ‘Psycho 08’, arrives off the starboard wing of ‘Hoser 70’. During the 15-minute ‘hook-up’ the RAF and RCAF crews chatted over the intercom; the RAF crew passing on their recent strike mission details which were relayed to the Combined Air Operations Centre at Poggio Renatico, Northern Italy. The Tornado would return once more to the tanker during its sortie before returning to the RAF’s forward operating base at Gioia del Colle, Italy.
A Russian Air Force Il-78M with a TU-95MS Bear bomber
A Russian Air Force Il-78M Midas refuels an Indian Air Force A-50EI Mainstay airborne early warning aircraft during flight trials in Russia.
NPP Zvezda's UPAZ-1 pod can transfer 1,000 litres of fuel per minute to tactical aircraft such as the Su-24 Fencer and Su-27 Flanker.
UPAZ Aerial Refuelling Pod
A Russian Air Force Il-78M assigned to the 203rd Aviation Regiment takes off from Ryazan-Dyagilevo AB.
The UPAZ-1 air-refuelling pod is clearly visible on the aft fuselage of this Il-78M Midas taking off from Ryazan-Dyagilevo AB on a snowy winter's day.
A early version of the Il-78M Midas seen at Zinchuk AB in the Ukraine.
Two Su-24M Fencer bombers with an Il-78M.
An Su-27UB Flanker plugged into the port side drogue of a Russian Air Force Il-78M Midas.
An Il-78M’s digital cockpit.
The Il-78M’s cargo hold measures 320m3.
Baking in the Italian midday sun, the Polaris crew open both forward passenger doors to help cool down the aircraft’s interior. Within a few hours this tanker would be off the coast Libya, refuelling NATO fighters.
Polaris 15001 - primarily used to transport members of the Royal Family, the Governor of Canada, and other dignitaries - received a new paint scheme in February 2013 of Arctic white, ocean blue and maple leaf red to better reflect Canada’s national identity.
A single Polaris provided air-to-air refuelling for the CF-18s of the Blue Force during Exercise Maple Flag XLII.
Two Polaris tankers, 15004 and 15005, were deployed to Trapani-Birgi as part of Canada’s Sicily Air Wing. During Operation Unified Protector, the RCAF accomplished 10% of all AAR, a remarkable accomplishment with just two aircraft deployed to the theatre.
One of two wingtip pylon-mounted Cobham Mk.32B hose-and-drogue refuelling pods. At present CF-18 Hornets are the only RCAF aircraft that can receive fuel from the CC-150T.
Members of 437 (Transport) Squadron supported six CF-18 Hornets as part of Operation Ignition, Canada’s contribution to NATO Airborne Surveillance and Interception efforts to meet Iceland’s security needs.
Several highly experienced RAF tanker pilots have undertaken exchange tours with the RCAF to pass on their knowledge of air-to-air refuelling. Here a mixed British and Canadian crew are pictured on a combat sortie off the coast of Libya in 2011.
Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A A39-001 seen on takeoff from the Airbus Military's facility at Getafe. Clearly visible is the Aerial Refuelling Boom System (underside of aft fuselage) and the wing-mounted Cobham 905E refuelling pods.
KC-30A A39-005 over the Pacific Ocean on an air-refuelling mission from Andersen AFB, Guam during exercise Cope North in February 2013. All Royal Australian Air Force KC-30As wear No.33 Squadron’s badge featuring a Frigatebird on the tail.
Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet A44-217 formates on the port side wing of a KC-30A prior to air refuelling during exercise Talisman Saber 2013.
A KC-30A at RAAF Base Amberley, home of No.33 Squadron.
A Pilot’s eye view of a KC-30A’s drogue from an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned No. 1 Squadron.
Australia’s KC-30As are fitted with a comfortable all-digital flight deck.
A KC-767A refuelling two 4° Stormo TF-2000S from the Smiths Aerospace wing pods.
A KC-767A over snowed mountains in central Italy.
The rigid boom below the aft fuselage and the cameras used for air-to-air refuelling positioned between the main landing gears;
Close-up of the Smiths Aerospace IFR pod.
Two rearward facing Remote Air Fueling Operator stations are located behind the KC-767’s cockpit.
The KC-767's cockpit has a state-of-the-art avionics suite, dominated by six colour MFDs;
