Vortices and Air-To-Air Refuelling...
 

Maybe be one for the military guys.... but I've been thinking... how do aircraft handle vortices/downwash when air-to-air refuelling !? Something that's been arousing my curiosity for ages... hope it's not an obvious/stupid question. Cheers guys,

NB.:confused:

AAR
 

As a [very ] fortunate chap, I was lucky enough to be in a VC10 both giving and receiving fuel. All I felt as a pax was a slight vibration, but the belly of t'other VC10 was a "little" close.
The pilots say that there's nothing untoward, except in turbulence...:eek:
As to Tristars, sorry I've not flown in one yet [hint, hint]:D
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

Refuelling position is normally below downwash and inside tip vortices - unless you wander........................

Use whatever control input is necessary!

When refueling from an A-7, for example, the rudder of the receiving aircraft (A-6, for example) was very close to the jetwash, and at least one of the wings was in a wing vortex from the tanker. It took almost full rudder and a handful of opposite aileron to compensate.