Air refueling can effectively prolong the combat time of aircraft and increase the combat radius. It is a force multiplier for aviation operations. Even if the US aircraft has a large combat radius, they also attach great importance to air refueling technology. After all, many times, fighters are basically a force multiplier. Regardless of fuel consumption, when there was almost no gas, he left the battlefield to find an aerial tanker.
However, aerial refueling is not easy. Except that the US Air Force is fortunate enough to use hard-pipe refueling and delegate the task of docking to aerial refueling crews, all other countries use hose refueling without exception.
This is the time to test the skills of pilots.
At this time, the Figure 22m bomber has deployed its wings, and its speed has been reduced. At an altitude of 8,000 meters, there will be almost no complicated and changeable air currents, and it is flying steadily.
In the middle of the nose, the fairing automatically opened, and inside, an aerial refueling probe was stretched out.
For general fighter jets, the aerial refueling probes used are all located on the right side of the nose. The pilot's line of sight is the most convenient to look forward to the right. However, this huge bomber is in the middle of the nose.
Because it is big.
It was originally a side-by-side two-seater layout, with two pilots sitting in front, and Captain Pugachev took over control of the aircraft.
The fuel has been used up. If the air refueling fails this time, they will not only mean that they cannot complete the mission, but also almost mean that they cannot return to the flight.
Below is the Pacific Ocean, endless. If there is no fuel, they will just parachute and cannot guarantee their own lives. If they are not on the route of a sea ship, even if they find an isolated island, they will probably die there.
They have no choice but to succeed this time.
The front refueling machine releases an aerial refueling pipe. This kind of hose, as the aircraft flutters, is like dragging a kite. The last one is the refueling cone. This tapered sleeve must be accurately docked with your own refueling probe. It's like walking a tightrope in the air, it's acrobatics.
Pugachev was steady and steady, pushing the lever with his hand, constantly adjusting it back and forth. Although the fuel cone in front was beating constantly, he still approached a little, little by little, and suddenly, he cheered slightly. , The huge bomber leaped forward and steadily topped the cone sleeve.
After going up, under pressure, the internal pipeline was automatically opened. This time air refueling finally started.
For the aerial tanker in front, just continue to fly steadily, maintaining a certain altitude and speed, but for the bombers behind, it's all right if you don't put it on.
As the fuel continues to enter the body, the bombing opportunity will gradually become heavier, the speed will gradually slow down, the fuel pipe will gradually straighten, and eventually will be broken. This time the refueling failed.
Therefore, they need to constantly adjust and increase power to offset the increase in weight of the aircraft, which requires a pair of extremely dexterous hands.
Pugachev operated the plane steadily, facing each other steadily. The hose refueling speed was not fast. They needed to fly in this way for more than 20 minutes.
This is a long process.
When the fuel was full again, Pugachev was already tired, and now he has been flying for almost ten hours.
The weapon operator in the rear compartment is the most leisurely. The navigator Borisov is still determining his position, far away from the mainland, and there are oceans everywhere. Under such circumstances, navigation is full of unknown variables.
"Goodbye." Pugachev shouted over the radio as the air tanker turned a big circle in the airspace ahead and embarked on the return journey.
On this ocean, there is no need to deliberately keep the radio silent. After all, the radio they use is less than 500 kilometers away. After reducing the power, it is almost nothing more than the communication between the two parties, and it will not cause anyone's trouble. note.
"Good luck and avenge our brother." An echo came from the headset.
revenge! That's right, they are going to kill the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, and they are going to avenge the brothers who were killed!
The four people in the cabin worked up their energies again. They had nearly ten hours left on their voyage, and they had to persevere.
Time is slowly passing by.
Finally, the Queen Elizabeth escaped from the terrible storm zone of Cape Horn.
At this time, they can still look behind and see the large dark clouds, one after another, continuous, some like giant palms, some like Halloween masks, and faces like octopus, as long as they are covered Those dark clouds will cover, and there will be violent winds, huge waves, and constantly swept over, mixed with roars, roars, and the earth-shattering loud noises from the impact of the waves.
Now that sea area has finally left its side, the sailing of the aircraft carrier is stable again, and on the deck, the second batch of Tomcat fighters have already ejected and took off.
There were not many catapults this time, only two, and the pilots of these two planes were the most skilled, because now the sun has set in the west.
The sun lazily shone on the sea, dyeing the sea golden yellow, and soon after a round of full sun, it will slowly sink into the sea.
It's almost night.
For British naval aviation, almost all of them can catapult and take off at night, but there are very few that can land at night.
Landing during the day is full of danger, and landing on the deck at night is an unforgettable experience, and the pilot has to endure tremendous pressure.
Even in the US Navy, not all pilots can do this.
Therefore, the pilots who catapult and take off must be the most skilled.
Nathan can't always go to heaven. The last combat mission is fortunate to say, but now it is the most common patrol mission. If he goes up, the British navy will be empty.
Captain Clive sat in his cockpit and looked at the surrounding sea in a calm mood.
Several years ago, when he went to the U.S. Navy and invited Nathan, he knew how good Nathan was. Now, Nathan has become their wing captain, and Clive has also changed from a former ensign. As a captain, as the most skilled naval carrier-based pilot, as a veteran who has served on the aircraft carrier for more than five years, he has had more than one hundred night landings, and his level is definitely the best. This patrol was performed by him and his wingman.
As the steam filled the deck, the Tomcat fighter spread its wings and flew into the sky. Behind him, the wingman also ejected into the air.
On the deck, people were crowded, they began to quickly remove the water stains on the deck, so as not to freeze at night, in cold areas, the catapult steam icing is a terrible problem, let alone just in the sail The waves have been on the deck. (End of this chapter)