And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
U.S. Marines CH-53K helicopter refuelling while transporting an F-35 airframe between test sites in Maryland, NJ, April 24, 2024.
Still amazed that mid-air chopper refueling is a thing. "Hey, let's take this horizontal buzz-saw topped craft, have it follow behind our plane, and we'll trail a hose full of gasoline behind us for you to catch."
Refueling inflight allows the tanker to rendezvous with the receiver at a certain point at a certain time. Both come from different directions and after refueling go about their merry way. This ability gives combat rescue or combat infiltration/exfiltration helicopters an ability not shared by other nations.
Yes, air space is a contested arena and helos are big, slow targets. But they are still valuable assets in our nation's defense. Dave
All these folk gotta get stick time in, and there's not Commies to shoot at. It's like the city works dept. Dig a hole. Fill it in. Can't have all these highly paid people standing around, y'know.
Back in the late 80's we (Navy) were so short on flight money, us 46 drivers were logging simulated IFR flight time in 53 simulaters. After logging our time, the operater asked if we wanted to try anything. We looked at each other and said Aireal Refuel. We ended up TUMBLING through the sky and breaking out in a stinking sweat.
This was the Navy F-35C test article CF-1 being transferred from Pax River MD to Lakehurst NJ for ground based tests. At this point CF-1had been stripped of its engine, outer wing panels, and mission systems, so it wasn’t going to fly itself.
Had afriend who was the navigator aboard Marine Corps C-130's. He said when you are refueling CH-53, with a sling load, the helicopter is going flat out as fast as it can go and the C-130 is barley above stall speed! He said it is a wild feeling!
Still amazed that mid-air chopper refueling is a thing. "Hey, let's take this horizontal buzz-saw topped craft, have it follow behind our plane, and we'll trail a hose full of gasoline behind us for you to catch."
ReplyDeleteNasa flew a space shuttle on top of a 747. Don't know why they couldn't have done something similar instead of this Rube-Goldberg configuration.
ReplyDelete-lg
Refueling inflight allows the tanker to rendezvous with the receiver at a certain point at a certain time. Both come from different directions and after refueling go about their merry way. This ability gives combat rescue or combat infiltration/exfiltration helicopters an ability not shared by other nations.
DeleteYes, air space is a contested arena and helos are big, slow targets. But they are still valuable assets in our nation's defense.
Dave
All these folk gotta get stick time in, and there's not Commies to shoot at. It's like the city works dept. Dig a hole. Fill it in. Can't have all these highly paid people standing around, y'know.
DeleteThat's nuts.
ReplyDeleteThat is superior airmanship which each of the branches showcase in their particular areas.
DeleteDave
Back in the late 80's we (Navy) were so short on flight money, us 46 drivers were logging simulated IFR flight time in 53 simulaters. After logging our time, the operater asked if we wanted to try anything. We looked at each other and said Aireal Refuel. We ended up TUMBLING through the sky and breaking out in a stinking sweat.
ReplyDeleteWhat could possibly go wrong with millions of $$$ on the line? Could the plane not be loaded on a cargo aircraft? (Wings tilted or removed.....?)
ReplyDeleteWhy, when you can carry it with a helicopter built to carry cargo and no need to dismantle.
DeleteThis was the Navy F-35C test article CF-1 being transferred from Pax River MD to Lakehurst NJ for ground based tests. At this point CF-1had been stripped of its engine, outer wing panels, and mission systems, so it wasn’t going to fly itself.
ReplyDeleteHad afriend who was the navigator aboard Marine Corps C-130's. He said when you are refueling CH-53, with a sling load, the helicopter is going flat out as fast as it can go and the C-130 is barley above stall speed! He said it is a wild feeling!
ReplyDeleteThat's the most stable flight this F-35 has ever experienced, and the one most likely to end well.
ReplyDeleteube019jeb
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