He Beagle
Do you know what you are writing about?
"I have serious doubts about what the FBW would decide to do when a receiver disconnects and gives the aircraft a transient yawing moment and change in apparent drag" So how do the frenchies manage when they disconnect with their Mirage 2000, which is fully FBW ( similar conception as the Airbus one, of course )
I don't understand your sentence about AP during the turn, even if I read it three times.
and you speak about "fuel in excess" for a tanker ?
Have you ever planned transcontinental or transoceanic for a tanker + fighters package? have you ever been involved with planning tankers holdings close to the "line"?