roadsman, interesting trip as to the routing..If they went direct,it would have been across Indonesia,and as `Confrontation` was `ending` it would have required a lot of `Diplomatic negotiations`,.Distance is approx 1900 nm,and possible prevailing headwinds of about 10-12 kts needed a G/S of about 140kts,plus fuel for `Island holding`..
If they went North to avoid Indonesian airspace,then it would have been approx.2000+nm,and a G/S of 150 kts required..Might have required a `top-up`,splash-and-dash at `Butterworth`....
I know that oil could be transferred internally to the engines,but could one transfer oil or fuel from the Hold upstairs to the tanks...?
Perhaps `Shackman can elaborate...?
I managed to `blag` a co-pilot trip at AAEE in 1969,working the `engine-room`/throttles,calling out rad-alt height, when doing a 30-35000lb ULLA drop on Salisbury Plain whilst the Captain was trying to maintain 10-15 foot `wheel-height over the undulating range..it was believed to be the heaviest ULLA ever dropped at the time....