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In reply to the discussion: First test flight on Boeing 727. [View all]trof
(54,256 posts)And most of the ones I refueled from were excellent.
The FAA blocked out a restricted refueling area and you had to stay within it.
It was a big racetrack pattern.
I forget the dimensions. Maybe 10 or so miles on each side.
Of course this meant you couldn't just fly straight and level for the entire refueling.
At some point you'd reach the end of that straight side of the track and have to TURN AND STAY HOOKED UP all at the same time.
The tanker pilot and crew were responsible for navigation and keeping you all within the designated area. And it really helped when he made nice, s-l-o-w, steady banking turns.
If we were in clouds and I couldn't see the horizon beyond the tanker,If the guy was really good, it would be hard for me to tell if I was straight and level on in a bank, except you had to add a bit of power in a turn to maintain altitude.