100 Years of Aerial Refuelling

[mancman]

This week the US Air Force marked 100 years of aerial refuelling. Next month's RIAT has a Skytanker theme. So here's a few photos to celebrate aerial refuelling. Feel free to add your own.

XL231 Victor K.2 RAF June 1977 Woodford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

XL164 Victor K.2 RAF July 1985 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

ZA143 VC-10 K.2 RAF July 1985 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

ZD952 Tristar KC.1 RAF July 1989 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

XV213 C-130 RAF July 1985 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

C-135F French AF St Mawgan June 1985 by Andy Bird, on Flickr

695820 MC-130 USAF May 1997 Mildenhall by Andy Bird, on Flickr

KC10 Extender USAF Mildenhall 1995 by Andy Bird, on Flickr

91511 KC-135 USA Aug 1981 St Mawgan by Andy Bird, on Flickr

[garyscott]

Ahhhh . . . Those first 4 shots sure bring a tear to the eye.
darn beautiful.

[paddyboy]

Hi Andy

I can hear the sound of those Conway’s right now

A great, memory-jerking set all round

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Lunespotter]

Thanks for posting, love the Victor at Woodford

[F3]

Very nice set Andy. I also like that 1st shot of the Victor but also that C-135F as have never seen one. I'll see what I've got to add as I was @ the 1st Skytanker themed event back in the '80s.

[TimFoo]

Love the C-135F at St Mawgan, I think we used to get them Tuesday and Thursday most weeks in the early 80's....

[Knife 04]

Great post Andy with some brilliant subject matter.

A couple from me from the previous 'Skytanker Meet' at Fairford in 1985
KC-10A - 84-0192 & 'Sky Tanker 1985' by Darren Currie, on Flickr

Etendard IV P - 107, Flottille 16 & Super Etendard - 32, Flottille 14 by Darren Currie, on Flickr

EC-135H - 61-0285 - 10th ACCS, RAF Mildenhall refuels 3 x 20th TFW F-111s by Darren Currie, on Flickr

KC-135Q - 58-0129 - 9th SRW Beale AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

HC-130N refuels HH-53C - 67th ARRS - RAF Woodbridge by Darren Currie, on Flickr

KC-135A - 62-3560 - 509th BW - TDY 11th Strategic Group by Darren Currie, on Flickr

best

Darren

[Stratocruiser]

A truly excellent post provoking great memories
I have to say that one frame is missing that being the lovely KC-97L Strats
Thanks for sharing such great pics

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, a great selection of shots and schemes. The French C-135 in bare metal scheme is nice to see. Comment has been made about the KC-97 and yes, it would be good to see some of them. About thirty years ago, I was at a show at Buchel in Germany and a pair of Tornadoes performed a FR demo using the buddy system.

[capercaillie]

Loving the C-135F and Victor in camo
A few
KC-130F Hercules 148898/BH VMGR 252 US Marine Corps by Paul Downes, on Flickr

US Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker 62-3515 305 ARW Grissom AFB by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Tristar K1 ZD951 216 Squadron RAF Brize Norton by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Victor K2 XL188 55 Squadron RAF Marham by Paul Downes, on Flickr

KC-10A Extender 83-0075 2BW US Air Force by Paul Downes, on Flickr

MC-130P Hercules and MH-53M 67SOS and 21SOS/352SOG US Air Force RAF Mildenhall by Paul Downes, on Flickr

KC-135R Stratotanker 63-8003 351ARS/100ARW US Air Force RAF Mildenhall by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Victor K2 XL190 55 Squadron RAF Marham by Paul Downes, on Flickr

KC-130J Hercules 168071/BH071 VMGR-252 US Marine Corps MCAS Cherry Point by Paul Downes, on Flickr

KC-135R Stratotanker 58-0118 100 ARW US Air Force RAF Mildenhall by Paul Downes, on Flickr

KC-767J 97-3603 404 Hikotai Japanese Air Self Defence Force by Paul Downes, on Flickr

[F3]

Great idea for a thread. My offerings incl. a couple from the first Skytanker event in '85. The Finningley ones all appear in the book.

Vulcan K.2 - Finningley '82 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Vulcan K.2 XH560 55 Sqn. - Mildenhall'83 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

55 sqn Victor on approach circa 1983 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '85 - Skytanker line - up 33% by Michael Britton, on Flickr

IAT '85 - KC 135 Spirit of Indiana 33% by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Rare shot of VC10 B in tactical camo Ch.Fenton (1) by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Linton - Buccs Buddy AAR demo circa '86 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

23 Sqn F3s + VC10 - Finningley '89 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Finningley - Gulf War Flypast '91 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

VC10 + Harriers by Michael Britton, on Flickr

[SW Sky Blue]

Excellent selections chaps

[Sparky 119]

Those were the days when we were allowed to go on such things with the RAF. It was certainly impressive to go nose to tail with another VC10


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jWyfeZ]Air to Air in the 90's

[pg1610]

Boeing KC-767A Italian Air Force MM62228/14-03 by NTG842, on Flickr

Boeing KC-767A Italian Air force MM62228 by NTG842, on Flickr

Boeing KC-767J JASDF 07-3604 by NTG842, on Flickr

Boeing KC-46A Pegasus USAF - United States Air Force 19-46063 by NTG842, on Flickr

[Rob666]

Those were the days when we were allowed to go on such things with the RAF. It was certainly impressive to go nose to tail with another VC10


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jWyfeZ]Air to Air in the 90's

Lovely, what a experience and very nice pictures being posted such a skill and even more so at night and bad weather brown trousers stuff.
Rob

[F3]

Just a couple of the more exotic tanker types caught down the years.

Boeing CC137 - CAF RIAT '96 by Michael Britton, on Flickr

Ex Indra Dhanush - IL-78 Midas on approach by Michael Britton, on Flickr