FighterControl

In 1945 some Lancasters were to be converted to a tanking role for other Lancs in the proposed Tiger Force that would join the Americans in bombing Japan. Since then Victors have refuelled Victors.

I read that most front line fighters & attack a/c could be equipped to AAR similar types and that the FAA did this with Buccaneers. Have any RAF single or two seat a/c carried out buddy refuelling please? I believe a suggestion was that when Tornado entered service, normal attack missions would be flown in three ship formations with one of them refuelling the other two and returning home.

The Luftwaffe have used their Tornados to buddy refuel other Tornados, I'm not aware of the RAF or BAe or AAEE doing it but maybe.....

Six Luftwaffe refueling images here

https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comme ... ing_album/

Certainly RAF Buccaneers could buddy, Italian Tornados too. Can't recall seeing RAF Tonks being so equipped or any other type thinking about it..

I seem to recall the RAF had a plan to use ex Victor HDUs on some Tonkas post 1993, however I supspect that plan went into the round filing cabinet.......

Tim

Some Tornado GR1's during the first gulf war was modified to carry a refuelling pod which was "borrowed" off the Germans but it was never used has there was enought Victors/VC-10/Tristars based out there.

Most or some of the Tornados modified became Tornado GR1B's

Somewhere I have a photograph taken by DERA of an RAF Buccaneer dry contacting with a Tristar. I believe it was ZD950 which was still at Marshalls of Cambridge. I think this was 1989 or 1989. There were issues with the airflow from the front of the Tristar and of course, limited fuel available from the 'little to the big!' So Yes A&AEE were conducting trials.

The Tornado GR.1B designation was used for the Tonkas that replaced the Buccaneer in the anti shipping role with 12 and 208 from 1993.

Tim

Surely a Tornado GR carrying any useful load trying to refuel off another would just ensure a very quick mutual defuelling of both aircraft!

Hi,

French Navy (Super) Etendard also used Buddy system.

Was also displayed during IAT'85.

Pieter

As an A/Fitt/E (Electrical and Electronic) on Victor K1 & K1A tankers, I was more than conversant with every switch and procedure of their air to air refuelling - and the subsequent exercise to the southern hemisphere.

I then spent some 7 years on Buccaneers, and cannot recall any installation of a refuelling pod on this aircraft.

norm3392 - This be the one you are referring to!

I suppose we shouldn't overlook that our VC-10s and Tristars could themselves refuel midair - as well as offload their fuel. Something our current tankers can't do nor most of America's (if any?).

KC-10s can be the receivers of A/A refuelling and so can the 8 KC-135RTs

Vulcanone wrote:I seem to recall the RAF had a plan to use ex Victor HDUs on some Tonkas post 1993, however I supspect that plan went into the round filing cabinet.......

Tim

I do not see where a HDU would fit.

The Tornado GR-1B was able to carry the buddy pod, and I can recall seeing them do so on several occasions. Their profile in the Anti Shipping role was for a four-ship to conduct the mission with 2 a/c carrying 2 Sea Eagle ASM's each and the other 2 a/c to provide AAR.

It was a standing joke on the Sqn that it took 4 Tornado's to do the job of 1 Bucc.

208 Sqn never operated the GR-1B, it's place was taken by 617 Sqn


Sea Vixens could also "Buddy" refuel
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ng_arp.jpg

effects wrote:

Vulcanone wrote:I seem to recall the RAF had a plan to use ex Victor HDUs on some Tonkas post 1993, however I supspect that plan went into the round filing cabinet.......

Tim

I do not see where a HDU would fit.

Not without removing the engines!

It wouldn't even fit inside a Vulcan and had to be tacked on to the rear fuselgae with a lot of ECM kit removed too.

Some years ago there was an exercise to deploy to Cyprus direct where at least one Bucc refuelled a Tornado. Can't be more specific but I can recall seeing a pic of it in some publication.

It wouldn't even fit inside a Vulcan and had to be tacked on to the rear fuselgae with a lot of ECM kit removed too.

That was the fuselage HDU unit. The wing HDU's were smaller and hung from pylons and about the same size as the big jugs on Tornado's.

Indeed that is what I was referring to. But forgot to mention Wing pod...

And Yep I was rather tired when adding 208 instead of 617...


Tim