FILL HER UP PLEASE









  If you own one of these then most likely you are going to need some of these.





The Mighty Victor



The Lockheed Tristar


 Tankers, Force Multipliers, Gas Station in the Sky, or whatever you want to call them. They come
in one size,.. 'king big! Nothing ever started life as a "tanker" so its a bit like the evolution of the
flying game as an aircraft becomes obselete in it's present role what else can we find for it to do?

 Many years ago when the world wanted to go long distances and drop nuclear bombs on
everybody the RAF had it's eletist group of weapons carriers,  the "V Force" which comprised 3
huge bombers the Valiant, Victor and the delta winged Vulcan. All 3 had a go at the tanking role
but the mainstay was the Handley Page Victor.

 During my 10 years on the mighty F4 Phantom our number one tanker was the Victor and many
hours were spent with the probe jousting at the flailing basket to get fuel. For a simple task you
would think everybody would employ the same technique...... not so! 

 In order to get some fuel there is a set procedure that is followed either with full radio or silently
"on the lights" so as not to let the opposition know where we are and what we are doing. Game
plan find the tanker then conduct your own intercept on it making sure you know where everybody
else is. Join on the left side and then come forward so that the tanker can see you. Sometimes this
has proved difficult but normally you get the signal and depending how many hoses tanker boy is
trailing you either take your side, if he is trailing two wing hoses or you go behind the center line
hose which is bigger, more stable, and delivers more fuel.

 Once in position you then follow the light signals in front of you. Now to get the probe in the
basket! For those of a non aviation upbringing everything is cycling in space and of course when
man is at the helm there can be some almighty cock ups! Wait behind your basket with about a
 3-5 foot offset then when the lights indicate you may make contact put on about 2% extra power
and obviously you will move forward and inch closer to the basket. Some people use the E2
compass (a worthless magnetic reserve compass mounted high on the consol) and place that on
the hose between the basket and the tanker and just fly the compass up the hose and you will
make contact. Others use the Nav and follow his voice commands as he is sitting behind the probe
and can see where it is tracking (the probe is basically behind the pilot's right ear!) Once contact is
made, a little more power to drive the hose forward which will now rewind and you keep pushing
until you are within the correct color bands as marked on the hose. At the right point the lights will
come on and fuel will flow into your tanks. With the F4 your total fuel with all the tanks fitted is
21,500 lbs of gas but more normally 17,500 lbs and the gun on the center line where the big tank
could go.



On the center hose 

  To disconnect just ease back on the power very slightly and hold the nose position and as the
tanker moves away the hose will extend and then pull off the probe. Now drop down and move
to the right, give a cheery wave and depart at the speed of heat. 



Nasty Business!

 When we go on long distance sorties or on detachment to far away places we have one tanker
with two fighters and if it is really long distance the tanker himself may get refueled...... nasty
business, like watching 2 porcupines making love!..... or he may be replaced at a "RV" with another
to help you to your destination. The tanker will keep topping you up so that you always have
enough fuel to make a diversion...... handy if you are mid way across the Indian Ocean or coming
round the top of the world to Canada.



Cyprus.....

 Our most standard run was out to one of my most favorite places in the world,....Cyprus. The
Island that has it all, great food, duty free booze, nice people, year round sun and fun, fun, fun!
Water sports if that's your bag, snow skiing in the winter and they drive on "our" side of the road!
(British).

 Send 10 Phantoms out with 5 Tankers and then the next day the Tankers take the departing
Squadron who have just finished their 4 weeks home to the UK. Only problem in all this was our
dear friends the French. NON!



Dawn in the Med

 So, quick top up over East Anglia then across France, refuel again somewhere around Nice then
again abeam Crete and then hopefully you could leave the Tanker and clear off at warp speed
dumping all the fuel he has just given you so that you are light enough to land. The memories of
the Sun coming up over the Mediterranean and seeing Cyprus and breakfast on the horizon was
always something special having escaped the grim UK winter weather.
LOVED IT! 




Thank you, see you in the bar!


TONY DOWN