CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) —
“This being the primary time we operationally refueled with a KC-46, we had been in a position to get some good video for coaching and improvement,” stated Maj. Anthony Belviso, CV-22 plane commander. “We had been additionally in a position to get some understanding of what it feels prefer to fly behind the jet, and work on some totally different refueling strategies and practices.”
One of the crucial famend plane within the Air Power’s fleet, the CV-22 tiltrotor plane combines the vertical flight qualities of a helicopter with the gas effectivity and pace of a set wing airplane. This mix makes it the perfect plane for conducting infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for particular operations forces throughout lengthy distances.
A brand new functionality the KC-46 brings to the desk is a hose and drogue system in the identical centerline place because it’s refueling growth pipe for fixed-wing plane.
“This functionality permits the KC-46 to the refuel the Osprey and different drogue appropriate receiver plane with none modification,” stated Maj. Benjamin Chase, KC-46 plane commander. “That is vital as a result of it allows flexibility in mission planning and limits the quantity of upkeep it takes to organize for air refueling, particularly in comparison with most plane within the legacy tanker fleet.”
The KC-46 isn’t the one plane the CV-22 can obtain gas from whereas flying. Nevertheless, its superior refueling, communications and defensive programs, vary and huge gas storage capabilities make it a perfect system for getting CV-22s the gas they want, even in or close to contested environments.
“The CV-22 is particularly designed for lengthy vary missions, and once you add on high of that an aerial refueling functionality you’ll be able to lengthen that distance to the purpose the place you’re solely restricted by how lengthy the crew is ready to fly,” Belviso stated. “The KC-46 can get sufficient gas to get a number of CV-22s that a lot additional each into and out of fight.”
“The 22 ARW has showcased the potential of the KC-46 to function out of austere places in latest workouts,” Chase stated. “That is distinctive amongst tanker plane and replicates the sorts of environments the KC-46 to function out of when refueling the Osprey in real-world missions.”
One other benefit of CV-22s with the ability to refuel from KC-46s is that it permits for sooner refueling throughout real-world missions.
“Usually, an MC-130J plane must go as much as a tanker to get gas, then fly to us and provides us that gas, and must repeat that course of a number of occasions,” Belviso stated. “As a result of KC-46s can refuel us immediately, we will go straight to them and get all the things carried out rather more rapidly.”
With the profitable coaching mission, each Chase and Belviso stated it could present the information and real-world expertise the Air Power’s KC-46 and CV-22 fleets want to make sure the 2 airframes may work nicely collectively for a very long time to return.
“The refueling of the CV-22 marks one other success in this system,” Chase stated. “It actually paves the best way for assist of the Osprey and different plane sooner or later.”
