Why Navy Pilots FEAR This Aerial Refueling Tanker
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มิ.ย. 2024
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Welcome aboard! Get ready! It's time to get some gas.
Today, we are in the cockpit of an EA-18G Growler, tanking off the mighty KC-135 Stratotanker somewhere over the northern Arabian Gulf. Behold the Iron Maiden!
You will see that once my probe is connected to the Iron Maiden, I have to push the hose up to make a "U" shape to take gas. The easy part is getting it in. The hard part is keeping it there.
The sun was also a factor in this evolution. Even with my visor down, it's difficult to look into the sun and hold your position while in a turn in the basket. Just had to do some of that pilot stuff.
Thanks for the gas, fellas! Enjoy your runways and per diem.
Fly Navy!
Chapters:
0:00 Stern Conversion
0:56 Contact
1:54 Iron Maiden Discussion
4:17 Tanking in a Turn Techniques
8:25 KC-135 History
9:51: Probe vs. Drogue Discussion
10:45 Blinded by the Light
11:15 Offload Complete
If you like the video, please like, subscribe, and turn on notifications - I appreciate it! If we get enough support, we can keep this channel going.
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The Bob Ross of the Skies
I didn’t even think of it that way but he really is
with a pair of aim9x
@@agapeeternal His voice is just smooooth like butter
@@kevinw8593 I loved when he said that 😂 but his voice really is. I can always watch them when I’m feeling down.
So true brother!
"Enjoy your per-diem and your long runways," classic Navy smack! Well done, Sir!
😎
The hotels were nice! Thank you for leaving the drogue, beautifully done! Man those things were heavy, it is so weird to see it flip to the right on disconnect…The speed and forces briefly visualized in that quarter second.
Dos Gringo's song "I want to take off from a carrier" is the other side being equally "smacky"
@@aikibend You know why it does this, yes? The slipstream catches that thing and it is a cone, so it wants to be "straight" behind the probe. As soon as the forward pressure is removed, it wants to go "Aft" and straight out behind that probe. Been there, done that many times in a legacy hornet. We used to LOOOOOOVVE the KA-6. The KC-135, not so much. The KC-10 was not bad to tank behind as well.
Was at an air show years ago and got to take a walkthrough of the upper cargo area of a KC-130. Plane's flight crew were taking questions so I asked how far could they fly with a full load of fuel onboard and not needing to refuel anyone. Pilot looks at us (me) and deadpans, "I can take off from Kansas City and land in California (pauses for about 5 seconds) ... flying East." Entire bay of civilians busts out laughing. Best line ever.
My longest flight--as "cargo"--was 11-1/2 hours.
@@barrygrant2907 That's not that impressive these days, I just took an Airbus A350 flight back from Asia to the US that was 14.5 hours. The efficiency of modern engines is impressive for long haul flights.
@@tonymorris4335 It's pretty impressive in 1981 for a 1950s aircraft with old water-burning J-57s.
I saw one of those ski equipped hercs that said it CC went from New Zealand to Hawaii on one tank, and went from Hawaii to Colorado Springs no stops. Hawaii to Colorado was 11 hours according to a crew member.
Upper cargo area of a KC-130? Only one ?
As an old KC-135R crew chief, I approve of this video
As a retired KC-135R Boom Operator, we didn't like the 'Iron Maiden' either. It's a remnant of the SAC era. I flew 5 Provide Promise missions in Feb-Mar '93. All Drogue. There were times I was as nervous as the receiver pilot. Some of them were real cowboys. But, all of us landed safely with no parts missing from either aircraft.
TYFYS.
What base. We may have crossed path . I supported the Provide promise provide Hope missions out of Incirlik in 93 early winter time frame remember because we were still in the tents and our alarm clock was the AWACS and EF-111 taking off off at 4AM. btw MY LAST FLIGHT AS A 135 CREW CHIEF WAS ADROGUE MISSION HITTING F-18 from Miramar. And yes we did get a hard disconnect on one of those sorties took the entire drogue and hose.
US maintainers didn’t like them either.
@@baremetalmafia Drogues were easy peasy don't know why so many 135 guys didn't like them. I'd rather have the Iron Maiden than having to deal with MPRS drogue pods.
@@johnshackford I went to MPRS class in the UK (it’s a Brit pod on the 135s that have them) and learned about them. U are right that they are dogshit but they are far less disruptive to the MX cycle and the flying schedule. If we had a drogue bird go down hard we had to swap to hit the line for the day. If they had all been MPRS it wouldn’t have cause any special change. But yah the pods themselves were garbage.
The constant detailed narrative is surreal. You really put us in the cockpit with all the nuisances of your flight is amazing. For people that will never get the pleasure & demands of flying in an F18, I personally thank you for inviting us into your cockpit for a quick flight. I'm glad I found you on TH-cam, huge fan!! Thanks Growler...
Cheers!
The intricate detail of even thoughts at the moment includes cognitive decisions on just what to do at a given “moment”; to build that in to memory takes repeated actions in order to accomplish this=Experience
errrr ...sir ? ..."nuisances"?? ...you mean "nuances"!? Cheers.
As a former navigator on KC-135's in the 1980's, I've seen quite a few refuelings from the boom pod but this gives a whole new perspective........especially with your excellent voice-overs. Thanks for sharing. Lots of tiny stick, rudder and throttle..........and a ton of concentration.
There are tons of carrier ops videos out there. The way you narrate yours are like "Im in the plane learning the evolution from you." As an instrument student I can't explain how calm and smooth you sound and how lucky your students must be to have you. Thank you for your time in making these, your service and letting me hitch a ride at the top tier of aviation!
Cheers.
Pail is the Bob Ross of USN aviation!
Dude..that sun is RIGHT in your eyes.
Yeah...makes it tough!
It always is. First rule of air refueling. :(
These voice overs are honestly so interesting to me. Thank you for taking the time to do this. ❤
Sure thing.
..awesome stuff. Man, I love ‘em. The dude is SO ‘passive’ sounding..BUT you KNOW he’s got it by the Ying-Yang!😊
You beat me too it
Yeah love this channel, what a Thrill to experience this !
There's something ridiculously therapeutic about these videos. Thanks.
Refueling ASMR
As if that refueling isn't challenging enough..."Lets turn!"
Why can't they just fly straight while connected?
@@randallhunt9170 think about how far you fly going 350 knots? The tanker needs to be in a predictable area.
And just for kicks, lets do it flying into the sun!
I was a Marine Corps avionics technician during the 80s and 90s...while stationed in Okinawa, I used to drive to Kadena AFB just to eat the Air Force chow. It was so much better. That's when I figured out that the Air Force put far more resources into quality of life for their service members than do the other services....and I can confirm...they did have long runways there at Kadena.
I can confirm this statement as my son got back from a deployment (Army) November 2023 in the UAE. He said it was SO much better than his first deployment in Kuwait. "The AF has me spoiled." 😂
My name is David and I am at Kadena now working. Across flight line.
I was stationed at Camp Hanson in Okinawa 86-87. I took every opportunity I could to go to Kadena for their BX and chow hall.
Ten years after separating from the Corps I reenlisted in the AF assigned to a tanker squadron. Our boomers didn’t like the d rogues either.
And the chow halls were sooo much better!
It was that way back in Vietnam. The Air Force got more resources and better living conditions than the Army. I know, my Dad told me. He was in the Air Force and assigned to a base in Vietnam in the 60s.
Alaska ANG. Great job staying in position. Although I'm Air Force with conventional boom/receptacle, we refueled mostly at night and low, around 10,000 feet. We also did a lot of no comm, no lights for our rendezvous's and refueling operations. Man, that was an outstanding post and I'm sending it to my son, Alex, who is a Souix City ANG pilot finishing up a 90 day deployment to Guam. He'll like your 135 history brief. Really well done and very awesome hardly noticeable signature move!
Cheers!
Iron Maiden’s were the bane of my existence, anytime during brief they told us that’s what we were getting, I just sunk in my seat.
Back and shoulders always killed after going off these. Never got used to em and always tensed up.
Pail these voice overs are next level. For those of us that don’t know all of the intricate details of flight and these maneuvers/procedures, these voice overs are absolutely fantastic. I appreciate all the effort that goes into this. Thank you thank you. I love the patented “signature move.”
As an aviation enthusiast, I sincerely appreciate your channel.
I got to ride on a KC-10 a long time ago and watch another one come up behind us and take on some fuel.
It was an intense maneuver, but this right here is whole other level of intensity.
Got a chance while in AFROTC, to watch over the boom operator's shoulder while he was refueling a B-52. It was a few years before I got behind a stick, and was something I'll never forget. Some nice flying there, brother!
Another great video. From a former boom, it was always difficult resisting the temptation to assist the receiver pilots in maintaining that sweet spot. Always cool to see the receivers perspective too.
I recently discovered Pail. Wow! This is gripping viewing. The asmr cool, confident, competent without bravado or ego. The detail is the mark of a professional at the top of his game. More please!❤
Welcome, Davis. New video Saturday. Best one yet. Check out the community tab. Cheers!
Tanking 50 years ago was probe and drouge basket from another A-4 or an A-3. This is a revelation to me the ole guy. thanks for sharing the technique. I am impressed!
Cheers!
My dad's cousin was a navigator on a KC-135 whose crew won the McKay trophy during the Gulf of Tonkin incident. F-8s desperately needed fuel but couldn't connect to the KC-135. So the KC-135 refueled an A-3 which simultaneously refueled the F-8s. His name was Dean Hoar. He died in a Cobra Ball crash in the early '70s near Hawaii. My middle name is Dean after him.
This videos are next level. It's so interesting to see the day-to-day work of a fighter pilot instead of the usual "dogfights" clips. Thanks !
Thanks. New Jam coming out Saturday. Stay tuned. I hope you like it.
you don't realize how difficult this maneuver really is, great description an video
Here I am sitting at home white knuckling it through a video, even though the calm voiceover explains the procedure.
Indeed, nothing but respect. that racetrack turn was nerve wracking.
As someone who flies for fun, and does forms for fun as an air to air photo pilot and photographer, I found myself locking onto where you were on the boom, as if I was in your seat. My neck feels for ya. I love these videos. Shows just how technical forms can be.
Us maintainers called it 'The wrecking ball'. Many an afterflight had canopy and windscreen gouges, bent AOA vanes and pitot probes or dinged up door 3's and radomes.
Another outstanding job with the voiceover! Love the way you added some history of the KC-135. Keep up the good work and thank you for your insights.
It looks incredibly difficult. I didn’t realise you had the capability for such fine power control. Really interesting; excellent narration. Thank you.
Thanks!
Powered by four GE F108 engines. A real workhorse for the USAF which I’m proud to be managing. Great video! Thanks Pail!
I'm here for the signature move and the casual 'long runways' banter. Beautiful.
🫡
Very Nice! I've never cheered so much for a "U", lol!!! "Give me a U, give me a U, Yes"! 🎉 Thank you so much. A true pleasure hearing your Voiceovers.
Fly Navy ❤
Just wanted to leave a couple of notes. After enjoying your vids so much I find myself "wiggling my fingers & toes" when I feel anxious 😊 Thank you it really helps!
Also The US Navy Blue Angels have arrived here for the MCAS Air Show this weekend in Beaufort, SC. Really Excited !
I appreciate the comments about the per diem and long runways. It's quite a feat, how the USN has perfected the drogue method of buying gas. It requires you to use more piddle packs, though, seeing that you don't have to stop as some FBO and buy gas and take a potty break.
Oh, and thanks for doing an excellent job keeping the warriors on the ground safe.
I think I was watching this video with as much concentration as you were flying it !! Started to breathe normally again and flex my shoulder muscles after the disconnection !! Great video, highly informative.
Holy crap! That's bonkers!
The explanation makes precision so much more paramount. All you pilots should be seriously proud. What you're doing is freaking fascinating! 🤙
Cheers!
That's intense. What skills you pilots have is incredible. Nice video and explained very well. Keep up the great work.
Phenomenal skills, stick and power. You make this look so easy!! Love your narration Pail, simply the most informative flying vids on TH-cam.
Fly Navy.
I'm pretty sure Pail could read a book whilst carrying out this exercise!
The insight into these flights you provide with these voiceovers is really interesting and valuable, thank you!
Enjoy your per diem and long runways- priceless😂😂😂😂
That was really cool. I see why pilots preferred the KC10 when going on West PAC.
Thanks for sharing Pail! Fly Navy!!
I’m in awe of your physical and mental ability, to concentrate so hard while manoeuvring the aircraft. I’ve tried doing this on my flight sim and as yet have failed miserably. Great video. 😎
Great work mate , absolutely love the commentary , it's a great insight into how you guys operate , it's comforting to have you guys as allies appreciate all you do in keeping the skies safe :)
thanks for giving a little insight into what goes on in a pilot during flight! I love these voiceovers! Keep going as these are very interesting!
Thanks, will do!
Its interesting to see the KC-135 in action. Been a mechanic for the 135 for several years but never get to fly on it.
Your work brought my Dad home every time! Thank you! (He flew AF bombers with nucs.)
They've been around. I worked on em them when the avionics had a bunch of vacuum tubes. Same with the Buff's.
These voice overs are amazing. Keep them coming
Super informative. I really like the voiceovers explaining what is happening throughout the video, like we were there with you! I've had the opportunity to ride the KC-135 on refueling sorties, AR-602, and the AZ National Guard - Coppers. The view out the KC-135 rear window is tremendous!
Former “squid” here! Excellent video and narration. I found myself holding my breath during this. Thank you for serving. Fly Navy
Fly Navy!
I doubt most of us watching that video could maintain your formation accuracy if we were riding tricycles on a flat roadway. Amazing flying skills in both aircraft. Breathtaking to watch.
Thank you. I am home,recovering from a stroke,(lived) my 15; year old son is considering the Navy to fly. I am trying to get him hooked on the channel. So far, so good!
I did! Currently, my left hand and foot are paralyzed. Getting them to work again? Let’s call it a Hobby?
@cseivard Well wishes and prayers for a speedy and full recovery. God bless, Rob
GET WELL VERY SOON SIR! 🤗👏👍🇺🇸🫡
Thank you so much for your service and these videos! Outstanding!
It's amazing how long the kc135s have been flying. It's older than the kc10 but they are retiring the kc10 fleet shortly. The kc10s were brand new when I was stationed at Dover Afb in early 80s. I loved the original paint job on the kc10.
Full sun glaring in your face!! Excellent job!! Love your channel and THANK YOU YOUR SERVICE!!
That looks crazy intense! Love the voice over.
It's always a delight to hear your voice. Greetings from Germany :)
Cheers!
Thank you very much, I appreciate your work with caps & narration!!! 💞💞💞 I've learned so much more about tanking in these two days. Love to fly with you!! 💜💜💜 It's incredibly calming to listen you narrating!! 😊
I was a boom operator on the 135 for 20 years. You did a perfect job on this AR. Mad props to the probe and drouge rececivers. The envelope is so much smaller than typical boom AR’s. Loved the perspective from your end. Perfect on the history of the tanker.
TYFYS.
Just found these on Thursday and binged all of the Voiceovers then, so I'm glad to already see a new one up! Someone in a different comment called you the bob ross of the navy and i think they might be onto something. Keep it up, pail!
Thanks for watching.
Love the voiceovers! They really help me understand what’s going on and learn more about the navy. Hopefully soon you’ll hit 100k subscribers.
Fingers crossed.
Great experience riding along,
There I was sitting in front of my computer basically not breathing until you've disconnected from that drogue. Phew... I do not know how you guys do it. Incredible video 😎
Just watching your videos one really can't understand how hard fueling really is but now with your VO wow now I can, and also the diff. in both types, yikes Pail you make it look so easy! I really like the history you add, thank you again for all of your hard work for us, have a great day...Polly!
Thanks, Polly.
Aired at 1:30am where I am but I've caught it 3:30am. Well worth watching at that time of the morning😃.
WOW, white knuckle stuff, I bet you did a couple of big signature moves after you disconnected. Boom operaters 👏👏👏good job. Loved that there was some "matchy matchy" going on with the colors on the boom with your eagle decal. Light refraction on the boom?
Seriously though, these insights into routine manouves are amazing. What an amazing career you have had so far. How the heck do you top that?
Again thank you for sharing . Can't wait for the next one🤗
Never disappointed with your vids; excellent footage and informative and relevant narration. I work with -135s, albeit in a non-flying capacity, and have heard the "Iron Maiden" referred to as "The Wrecking Ball" too :) Keep up the great work!
It's so nice knowing that you know booms can't lock the boom. I can't even tell you how many 18 pilots ask me to lock the boom. Its easy to keep steady, usually, but nobody likes the hard drogue
I love the voice over. Interesting and educational. Even though I will never fuel up my glider this way 😊
Excellent video. Ex-USAF guy here and you did a better job of explaining the techniques involved with the probe and drogue than I’ve ever seen in one place. Well done.
I was lucky enough to fly with a few F-105 guys earlier in my career and uniquely (to my knowledge) that aircraft was equipped for both the boom and probe and drogue, though the USAF almost always used the boom. On occasion they’d have to take fuel from the drogue and every one of them said it was terrible getting into the basket and staying on it long enough to get a full load of gas. Hats off to the Navy and USMC who make it look easy (I know it’s not)!🇺🇸
Cheers!
The Iron Maiden is one BFFO (big flying f__ing object). Love the voice over and I can see I'm not the only one. There is something to be said about being blinded by the sun when operating a vehicle.
one of the best refueling videos out there. As a crew chief on both KC-10 and KC-135, the 135 was the easiest, except when it came to putting the drogue on...but we got where we could do it in about 30 min. Thanks for sharing with us.
TYFYS.
Daylight in flight refueling is pure concentration...night ops have to be even more so.
Thank you for the detailed explanation as usual , Pail
no signature move with the Iron Maiden! That's respect!
Many years ago I was a Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Signaller on the Long Range Maritime Patrol Shackleton aircraft which, for the uninitiated looked a lot like the wartime Lancaster but was, in fact developed from the Wellington Bomber. We were from number 37 squadron stationed in Aden at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsular but at the time I'm referring to had landed at Isfahan in Iran in the course of an international exercise titled, as far as I can remember Nejed meaning Rescue.
I got chatting to a member of the crew of a USAF C 97 which was also on the ground there waiting, like us for the next phase of the exercise. When I asked him what his crew role was he explained that the aircraft had previously been a KC97 air to air refueler but had been converted to or back to the transport role. To quote his words "Well I was the boom operator only now we aint got no boom" so apparently he was 'enjoying' a free ride.
In a previous incarnation I had been an airframe fitter and had been trained on the airborne refuelling system on the RAF Victor and Valiant jet bombers so although our system was different I had some idea what his role had been. Later in my career I became a pilot and flew transport aircraft.
To anticipate another question, this was in the early 1960s when Iran was still ruled by the Shah and friendly to western countries; hence our participation in the exercise.
this is another record of the most amazingness of all videos ever published...and I dont even want to think about the years of training, intelligence and discipline to even come to this point, to be in the situation to shoot this vid...like we say in Austria "Wahnsinn" and really very very good work! Thanks for sharing and cheers from Vienna! :D
Cheers and thanks for watching, Alex.
So much good info, a great voice, and unmatched footage of EA 18 flight.
That looks stressful as hell, but you made it look fairly easy. Kudos to your skill as an aviator!
I was Air Force for 11 years and almost signed up for this job. I changed my mind after seeing how these Airmen, Aviators depended on us. Wether you are Air Force, Navy, Army or Marines, THESE GUY'S do work for a living. Some serious WORK. Thank you all for all you do. Balls of Steel.
Cheers!
Dude! Magnificent work. Great flying. Cheers
Thanks Pail! I learn so much flying with you.
Wow intense 11 minutes! You’re verbal descriptives are like the fine brush strokes of an artist on a great big canvas in the sky. Thank you. 🫡
Cheers. 🫡
These voice overs are great! I have a grandson who works on these KC 135 tankers. Good to see it from the other end! Lots of skill involved on your part getting gas! Thank you so much for these videos and thank you for what you do!
Glad you enjoyed it!
USMC Equivalent to an AE - We super appreciate not hurting that AOA cone. It's the worst thing to replace on that Jet. Wings are easier.
Your narrations are so compelling and educational... thank you for sharing.
Growing up, I used to watch in awe while B-52s would get fuel from KC-135s! They used to both be stationed out here, but they moved the BUFFs and kept the tankers, which is still cool to see.
Rock solid platform while in contact. Good times 🤩
Loved your parting comment: "Enjoy your per diem and long runways!" You're the best!
You had me concentrating on that boom so much i didn't notice the go-pro until you mentioned it. And the subtlety of that dig was brilliant. Go Army.
Another fascinating video and voice over. All the best Pail
Great job. Glad you are our side!
Well done, Sir! Like watching a tie-breaking final shot at The Masters! Soothing announcer voiceover, with an underlayment of white-knuckled tension.
😂
Thanks for the description of the process.
I was a zoomie in the early '80s and took a hop on a KC from Japan once. I got to lay in the boom operators position and watch the coast of Japan slide away from under me. Awesome view.
Another thing I remember is that you stepped down into the position from the starboard side of the aircraft, which created a bit of a cubby hole on the port side. On this flight that cubby hole was crammed with rattan/wicker furniture. A customs agent casually looking into the boom operators' position would not notice that without crawling down there. And from what I remember of the customs inspections of military aircraft that I experienced, they kind of just went through the motions.
Awesome to watch, awesome to listen to. Can't wait for the next one!
Cheers 🤘🏼🍻
This is undoubtedly the “BEST” in depth information about in air flight Refueling I have ever seen and heard! This wonderful Pilot is extremely knowledgeable about the inflight Refueling Process and he gave the most awesome education of this magnificent procedure I have ever witnessed.
Thank You Sir, for your informational information and wisdom about this process. You Sir, are the maximum envy of every person out there, wishing to be there with you right this very moment.
My Sincere Gratitude for Your Magnificent Video and all I can say is, “KEEP’EM COMING OUR WAY! FLY SAFE AND A SINCERE THANK YOU FOR SERVICE FOR OUR GREAT NATION!
GO USA 🇺🇸 🫡
Cheers!!
Thank you for all you do!!!
How nice of the KC crew to fly directly into the sun
Really enjoy your channel videos! All the best! I'm old enough to remember seeing KC-97 Tankers refueling B-47 Bombers flying almost directly over my house in New York State.
THANK YOU for your service, thank you for the super video.
Excellent explanation!!
Excellent video. Thanks for the narration.
Great learning video and enlightening information. Makes me appreciate military pilots much more. Thank you for your brave and courageous service.
I’ve been an avid watcher of your videos since you started the channel. I’ve had a fascination with modern naval aviation and have always watched videos to try to pick up on small details which may seem mundane to the pilots who post such videos. When you started your voiceovers, it was an answer to a longstanding wish of mine (and I know of many others out there). Getting information on little details in the videos through voice narration is perfect!
The closest I can get is “flying” in a simulator which is great fun and getting to watch your videos helps get closer to “being there”.
Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks again. Cheers!
That was amazing. It took way longer than I expected. I was starting to tense up just watching it. 😂
Me too!