Great Video Of An F-18 Tanking In Turbulence

boingboing:

by Susannah Breslin

This is a video of a Navy F/A-18 Hornet tanking from Air Force KC-10′s and KC-135′s (the KC-135 is particularly challenging– pilots call it the “Iron Maiden”). In turbulent weather, especially at night, tanking can be even tougher than landing on the ship. The basket is heavy, and it can damage the plane if it strikes it, to include shattering the canopy. One can only imagine the amusement of the tanker crews (to whom we’re very grateful) as they watch us flail around on a bumpy day.

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Created by Lieutenant Commander Spencer Abbot, who shot this footage from the cockpit of an F/A-18 Hornet with a fiber optic camera stuck to his helmet.