AARA9 question

[bones13]

Hi,
I've been tracking mil air over East Anglia for around 6 months using 360radar and I have seen many a tanker in towline 8 refuelling but never in towline 9 which is just off my location. I hope this ain't a stupid question but I was wondering why? For example last Wednesday RC 135 TROIC 12 left mildenhall with support from tanker QUID 211. They routed north easterly to towline 8 to tank and then TROIC 12 headed south towards Great Yarmouth and routed to NAVPI through towline 9 before heading off into Europe. Why go up to towline 8 to tank only to come down again and route through another refuelling area which is on the way to their mission? Why not tank on the way in towline 9?
Andy.

[graham luxton]

This is for low level operations only - ie, MC-130/HH-60/CV-22, 2,000ft AMSL to FL50.

[bones13]

Thanks Graham I thought there had to be a reason why and you’ve explained that for me.