AMI Leonardo HH-101 CEASAR successful AAR
 

rifornimento tanker record sei ore in volo per HH101


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a752ce863.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....69ff87e29.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....07bc07cd8.jpeg

A bit high in that last shot. Lucky they didn't take the probe tip off.

They would have done if they were doing 250 knots.

What point are you trying to make? How could you take probe tip off?
A 101 can't do 250kts...
Surely for RW AAR if you're a bit high then less chance of taking drogue off with rotors...

The tip of the probe on a Merlin is actually angled down, so with the 'pole' angled up in this image the tip itself is actually level.

Too high or too low could lead to excessive bending moment on the probe, even if the tip is in the correct orientation.

Admittedly, a longer probe, but...

Perfectly normal
 

pic 1 is in pre contact
Pic 2 is at contact
Pic 3 is in refuelling position, in line with wing tip dump pipe ( normal for RW AAR behind a KC130 )
​​​​​
nice to see it being done in service though

DM

I have done AAR courtesy of the 551st but I wouldn't consider myself an expert by any means. However, sitting a bit high would help keep the helicopter rotors out of the C-130's downwash, which can be quite intense, especially if refuelling from the starboard side. As per the CH-53 video, turbulence leading to PIO can be very dangerous. The Americans lost another CH-53 some years ago, in a similar accident when the main rotors contacted the hose.

It's surprising that the RAF didn't convert a few short J models into special ops aircraft including tanking given the Chinook and Merlins that could have had AAR...

£££££££££££
 

see above

DM

The Merlins have always had an AAR capability, and the first HC4 roll-out had the probe refitted. the problem comes from the Airtanker agreement and who can AAR UK military aircraft.

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicop...128245.article

Air Tanker only have exclusivity if they can provide the facility. Can the Merlin tank at 260 KIAS ? (Hose limit on pod) or 180 (FRU limit).

The RJ manages AAR without Air Tanker .

no low speed drogues on a UK tanker
 

and none planned is the issue. Refuel speed must be somewhere in the 120-130kts range as thats the drogue limit. Technically UK Merlin is cleared for AAR but without a Kc130 fleet or pods on the Atlas there is no hope of CHF getting to use the facility, let alone retain currency. Shame but unless we can obtain enough access to foreign tankers (very unlikely imho) it just ain't gonna happen
DM