One more bit of data.

 

Refueling a recon Tornado (fuel range 1700 nm). At the time of refueling, its fuel status goes from 462 nm to 2081 nm. The automatic refueling routine worked (didn't use ALT-r).

 

The tanker was a VC-10 transport.

 

Again, we see the common result that, when all of a tanker's fuel is given to one plane, it loads up to its limit, but that limit is larger than what the plane can physically carry.

 

This has been observed across a variety of units, scenarios, game versions, and so forth.

 

Should this at some point be reported as a game defect?

Again, we see the common result that, when all of a tanker's fuel is given to one plane, it loads up to its limit, but that limit is larger than what the plane can physically carry. This has been observed across a variety of units, scenarios, game versions, and so forth. Should this at some point be reported as a game defect?

 

I would think of it as an issue or problem if the code were really depicting 'fuel' rather than 'range'.

 

It is normal for an aircraft to get better range from the same load of fuel under economical conditions.

 

Consider, for example, that all of the recipient aircraft have already taken off (with their payload) and climbed to altitude - a process that typically gulps fuel - and are now cruising at altitude in their most economical state.

 

The fuel they now receive from the tanker will be much more 'valuable' - in terms of range afforded to the aircraft - than fuel sitting in their tanks while they were on the ground.

Should this at some point be reported as a game defect?

 

One could report it as a game defect but it would probably never get fixed since it is intentional and getting rid of it would mean planes falling from the sky. You are seeing some 'spare' range added for takeoff and landing operations that the rest of the code otherwise wouldn't be able to handle.

Thanks, Brad and Tony, for clarifying the point on "extra" fuel transfer.

 

But never fear, I will raise other issues.

 

I have a really weird refueling issue that I will soon be posting in the "defects" section.

[

For certain long-range missions, especially involving multiple refueling, it will be necessary to ensure that the tankers are in individual groups, because you will probably want to run the tanks dry before manually requesting more fuel, and the automatic procedure doesn't do that.

 

Yep, they way I use is to set up several patrols to the target area with enough tankers to get to the next fuel stop and then some (one never knows when the use of 'burners will be advisable). sometimes it's possible to have the first patrol return to base, refuel and then take off again to support the return flight.

 

Not to cause headaches for TonyE or CV32 but I post here under the heading of gee whiz information.

 

Back in the 50’s and 60’, in the good ‘ole days of SAC (Strategic Air Command for the non USAF types), the Air Force had a small amount (17) of KC-135B tankers. These tankers were capable of being refueled in-flight, like the bombers they would escort. They were expected to fly up to if not into Russian territory in the event of WW3 along with the bombers. Just a interesting fact for all you war-gamers.

 

In reality, the KC-135 tankers have access to all the fuel they carry (except for the KC-135Q) and they can use all their fuel for themselves without refueling any other aircraft. I have never tested it and am not sure if the tankers would refuel themselves if you sent them on an extended mission in the game, hmmmm…..might need to try it. The way it should work, would be the tanker should reach a point where it would no longer be capable of refueling other aircraft.

 

Oh yeah, the Q model was the tanker used with the SR-71. The fuel used in the SR’s (JP-7) was incompatible with the fuel used by other jets (JP-4 and now JP8) so a tanker could not use the same fuel as the SR-71.

Another discussion of Harpoon tanking limitations is here:

 

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2165704

 

Basically, if the tanker has a "short" range, then it will "dump" its "tanking" fuel well before you might expect.