1. Our phone numbers have changed.Click here for more info

6th ARS crew performs in-flight refueling for Boeing's X-32A Joint Strike Fighter

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (USTCNS) --- A crew from Travis Air Force Base helped the Joint Strike Fighter program reach a significant milestone last month when a KC-10 piloted by the 6th Air Refueling Squadron successfully performed the first in-flight refueling of Boeing's X-32A concept demonstrator.

The Travis crew teamed up with crewmembers and engineers from the 418th Flight Test Squadron here for the X-32A's 40th sortie since beginning its five-month test period here Sept. 18. The mission involved three "contacts" between the X-32A and the KC-10.

"We were honored when we were assigned this mission," said Lt. Col. Dan Favorite, mission commander from the 6th ARS. "It is honor to be a footnote in the X-32A and JSF program's developmental history."

The X-32A is one of two JSF concept demonstrators undergoing tests at Edwards AFB. The JSF program, which began in 1996, uses a unique approach to provide a highly affordable, mission effective solution to the tactical aviation needs of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and United Kingdom Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

The JSF is meant to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, the AV-8B Harrier and the F/A 18 Hornet.

The Boeing X-32 joins Lockheed Martin's X-35 to determine who better demonstrates the ability to best reach the goals of the program set forth by the Department of Defense.

The DoD is looking to establish commonality and modularity between parts of the different models, demonstrate the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities of the Marine Corps and UK versions, and demonstrate low speed and handling qualities of aircraft carrier approaches for the U.S. Navy version.

Since the X-32A is the Navy concept demonstrator, the KC-10 was required to refuel the X-32A with a drogue and probe, which required the X-32A to carefully maneuver it's refueling probe to the KC-10's "basket" receptacle that flies freely behind the tanker. Even though probe and drogue refueling is primarily performed on Navy aircraft by Marine Corps C-130s, Boeing's Joint Test Force lead pilot CMDR.

Phil "Rowdy" Yates said that the KC-10 was the best choice for this mission.

"The KC-10 is a more stable platform as opposed to the C-130s. The 10s are more flexible" Yates said. "Plus, the 'J' in JSF means joint. The ability to be refueled by multiple aircraft from different services increases the JSF's efficiency.

While aerial refueling will be inherent to the JSF's mission, this refueling mission fulfilled some of the program's short term goals; to give the X-32A greater test flexibility, to increase the aircraft's test efficiency, and to determine the capability of the KC-10 to accompany, or "drag" the X-32A on its cross-country flight to Naval Air Station Patuxent River test site in Maryland sometime next year for its next series of tests.

Prior to the flight, Yates said that this mission was not treated as an average air refueling sortie.

"I have not been this concerned about an X-32A flight since its first flight. The pilot has a lot of control inputs to get the jet hooked up. The boom operator can't guide the aircraft in like in boom refuelings."

A small array of air data instruments on the nose of the aircraft added another level of difficulty to the flight. With only 18 inches of clearance between the aircraft's nose and the tanker's basket once it is connected, an unsuccessful attempt to dock with the KC-10 could knock the basket around and cause damage to the aircraft.

Earlier initial test flights demonstrated the X-32A's ability to make contact with the tanker's refueling basket.
Tests held later moved towards transferring small amounts of fuel from the KC-10 to the X-32A.

Ultimately, the contractors' respective proposed weapon systems designs, technology maturation work and the flight demonstration results will all be considered in selecting the winning contractor sometime in September 2001 for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development production. (FROM TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE PUBLIC AFFAIRS).

Office of Public Affairs - transcom-pa@mail.mil
News Archive

Follow Us On:

Facebook      Instagram      Twitter      Flickr      LinkedIn


Connect to USTRANSCOM JECC AMC MSC SDDC
Office of Public Affairs|United States Transportation Command|Scott Air Force Base IL 62225-5357
This is a Department of Defense (DOD) computer system. Please read our Privacy, Accessibility, Use and Non-Endorsement Disclaimer Notice.