During the Kosovo conflict the USAF policy (at least initially) was to offload 'spare' fuel from the off task tankers to a 'reliability' tanker (usually a KC10) orbiting over the Adriatic, enabling fuel to remain airborne and 'on task' and the returning tankers to leave the area on a suitable minimum.
This reliability tanker would then be available to off load at short notice to any 'extra' task or replace a no show tanker! Damn good idea, except for the poor reliability tanker crews who stayed on task for sometimes up to 10 hours just burning a hole in the Ozone over the Adriatic!! Every now and then the boredom being shattered with a refuel up to maximum AUW and coffin corner! Difficult to say the least and on one occasion resulted in an over run and boom going through the skin!! Refuels to max AUW stopped very soon after.
Of course it did mean that the reliability tankers had to have the ability to receive fuel. A lesson the USAF seem to have learnt, with I understand, a requirement for the replacement tanker aircraft (whatever it/they may be) to have a receptacle.
Last edited by Udonkey; 10th Feb 2011 at 06:13.