Bad Day for the AWACS
- Thread starter Pasargad
- Start date
rausda27
Well-Known Member
Hit an air refueling the other night on 112 HWE... Thought I'd ask a question that often comes to mind.
Sometimes the boom can appear to be more ham fisted than normal, pushing the receiver around and making it difficult to stay in the envelope. The pilots try to compensate for the push down as soon as we plug, but there's only so much nose up you're willing to give in that particular position. The other night was one of those nights.
Just curious, from the tanker side, is this something we notice due to different techniques from boom ops? I would find it hard to believe that the boom weight alone from hands free booms would cause it, so are some booms intentionally pressing down to make sure the boom "sticks good?"
Sometimes the boom can appear to be more ham fisted than normal, pushing the receiver around and making it difficult to stay in the envelope. The pilots try to compensate for the push down as soon as we plug, but there's only so much nose up you're willing to give in that particular position. The other night was one of those nights.
Just curious, from the tanker side, is this something we notice due to different techniques from boom ops? I would find it hard to believe that the boom weight alone from hands free booms would cause it, so are some booms intentionally pressing down to make sure the boom "sticks good?"
It even does that to a heavy receiver? Ive been booted around in the fighter some, usually a boomer in training, but I didn't figure a boom is that strong to push you guys around. I've also had the feeling of getting "towed" by the boom too.....pulling me along when I hadn't exactly matched the tankers speed.