Quick question that, I admit, sounds a little silly but it is a genuine, serious question:
Has there ever been a civil scheduled (or charter) flight which has utilised air to air refuelling?
There is something in the back of my mind telling my I heard something about this being tried out at some point in the distant past. I had a quick trawl through the internet but was unable to find anything supporting or disputing my thought.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Dan
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
Not to my knowledge...
Air-to-air refuelling is a very risky operation. In a civil role, I'm sure the costs (especially the additional liability of the operation itself
) would outweigh any potential benefits. Military pilots are specially trained to do it, and get regular practice on it.
Air-to-air refuelling is a very risky operation. In a civil role, I'm sure the costs (especially the additional liability of the operation itself
) would outweigh any potential benefits. Military pilots are specially trained to do it, and get regular practice on it.RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
I can think of and can find evidence of no present or past civil airliners outfitted to receive fuel in flight.
I'm old enough to have a fairly long memory.
Anybody else?
I'm old enough to have a fairly long memory.
Anybody else?
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- Starlionblue
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RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
Agreed with Avioniker. This has never been done in the form we think of it now.
However there was a service that used the piggyback concept, in which a larger aircraft carried a smaller one on its back. The smaller one would separate mid-flight and fly the rest of the way, while the larger one would turn back. I can't remember the name of the aircraft though.
Air to air refueling was discussed at length in another thread, with the conclusion that it is currently far too expensive and dangerous for civilian use.
However there was a service that used the piggyback concept, in which a larger aircraft carried a smaller one on its back. The smaller one would separate mid-flight and fly the rest of the way, while the larger one would turn back. I can't remember the name of the aircraft though.
Air to air refueling was discussed at length in another thread, with the conclusion that it is currently far too expensive and dangerous for civilian use.
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- HapppyLandings
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RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
And... With aircraft like the 772LR you get all the range you need
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- Viscount724
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RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
| Quoting Avioniker (Reply 2): can think of and can find evidence of no present or past civil airliners outfitted to receive fuel in flight. I'm old enough to have a fairly long memory. Anybody else? |
In-flight refuelling experiments involving flying boats of BA predecessor Imperial Airways were conducted in the 1930s. Several sources mention that Transatlantic passenger flights were operated for about one month using inflight refuelling but the start of World War II ended this service.
http://www.rafmuseumphotos.com/pictu...flight-refuelling-trials-1939.html
That operation is mentioned in the following links.
http://www.plimsoll.org/Southampton/...alAirways/Inflightrefuelling.asp#1
http://www.imperial-airways.com/Short_s-23_empire.html
| Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 3): However there was a service that used the piggyback concept, in which a larger aircraft carried a smaller one on its back. The smaller one would separate mid-flight and fly the rest of the way, while the larger one would turn back. I can't remember the name of the aircraft though. |
You're thinking of the following. A few experimental flights were made to Montreal carrying mail only.
http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/short_mayo.php
http://www.plimsoll.org/Southampton/...irways/MaiaMercuryexperiment.asp#1
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- Starlionblue
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RE: A2A Refuelling Civil Aircraft
Thanks Viscount724. That's the one!
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