Air Force Aerial Refueling Methods: Flying Boom Versus Hose-and-Drogue

摘要

Decisions on the composition of the Air Force aerial refueling fleet were made decades ago, when the primary mission was to refuel long-range strategic bombers. Modifications have been made to many of these tanker aircraft (KC-135s and KC-10s) to make them more effective in refueling fighter aircraft. This report, which will be updated, examines the balance between two different refueling methods in today's refueling fleet - 'flying boom' and 'hose-and-drogue'.