| "Cold"
Refueling |
| Most
all of our operational sorties started off with refueling right
after takeoff. We took off without a full load of fuel. Take
off with a full load of JP-7 was possible, but not practical.
Fuel leakage, tire and break heating, abort criteria and single
engine performance were stacked all stacked against you the
closer you were to a full 80,000 pound fuel load. With no weather
radar on the SR-71, most crews were anxious to establish secure
radio contact with the tankers. All our tankers were required
to be established in the air refueling track 30 minutes before
our time of arrival, to evaluate the weather and determine if
the track needed to be moved. |
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Soon
after takoff, the RSO began to establish ranging and bearing on
the tanker with the ARC-50 radio. The rendezvous was basically left
up to the lead tanker crew to accomplish - we merely flew on course,
straight towards the ARCP (Air Refueling Control Point) at 0.9 Mach,
and monitored his progress during the final stages of rendezvous.
After visual sighting the lead tanker, we maneuvered the SR-71 to
place the end of the air refueling boom about three feet outside
the front window. It was up to the refueling boom operator to make
the hookup. While you were in the final stages of refueling with
the lead tanker, the second tanker was slowly maneuvering into position.
After release from the lead tanker, the hookup process was repeated
with the second tanker.
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Radio
Silence!
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The
climbout and departures were radio silent - we spoke to no one!
The monitoring radar control facility identified the SR-71 by
our IFF ( Identification Friend or Foe) code appearing on their
radar screen. Air traffic controllers cleared the airspace around
us so there was no need for radio transmissions. If they had
to call us or give emergency instructions, we acknowledged by
pushing the identification feature of the IFF rather than making
a UHF call. |
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| Even
though the tanker crews were briefed previously , we reminded them
before disconnecting which direction the accel started out and told
them on which side the SR-71 would clear them after refueling. Once
clear of the tankers, the pilot selected roll autopilot and "AUTO
NAV" to start the aircraft heading on course to begin the accel.
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Return to Sortie
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| ©
Copyright
Richard Graham |
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