What do you mean by Refuelling and Defuelling?

byMaged Saeed AL-Hadabi 12/05/2020. Aircraft refuelling operations means the overall process of loading the aviation fuel inside the aircraft. But defuelling means the process of removing fuel from aircraft and be disposed of or stored as agreed between the airline and fuel supplier operator.

How long do refueling planes stay in the air?

Flugzeuginfo.net notes that the range of a Boeing 747-200 is 12,700km – equating to a maximum of 14 hours of flight at cruising speed. Of course, the VC-25As are modified, and their range will vary slightly from this. Air Force One is rarely pushed to its limits without aerial refueling.

Why kerosene is used in Aeroplane?

Kerosene maintains a low viscosity during flights thanks to its low freezing point. This means it will keep the plane running as it should and won’t clog up the engine. Kerosene is much cheaper than gasoline, making it a more affordable option for airlines.

Why are aircraft earthed before it is Refuelled?

We ground an aircraft during the refueling process to ensure that the plane and the refueling apparatus are at the same electrical potential and to dissipate the electrical charge that is generated by the fuel transfer process.

What is fueling and defueling of an aircraft?

Defueling the aircraft may be accomplished by either suction, pumping or a combination of both. Suction defueling is accomplished through the pressure fueling adapter and does not result in a completely empty fuel tank. Pumping is accomplished through the drain valves located in each of the upper main wheel wells.

How hard is aerial refueling?

Although some veteran pilots may be accustomed to the practice, it’s never routine or easy. Aerial refueling remains one of the most difficult maneuvers in aviation. Indeed, it has been key to the success of many U.S. military operations.

Do planes refuel after every flight?

Yes commercial planes almost always refuel after each and every flight. While this does take time, it can easily be accomplished when the plane is being serviced in other ways.

Do jets burn kerosene?

Jet-A powers modern commercial airliners and is a mix of extremely refined kerosene and burns at temperatures at or above 49 °C (120 °F). Kerosene-based fuel has a much higher flash point than gasoline-based fuel, meaning that it requires significantly higher temperature to ignite.

Why is kerosene used instead of petrol as a jet fuel?

With its higher flash point, kerosene offers higher octane ratings to achieve greater power and efficiency when compared to its gasoline counterpart. In fact, this is the main reason kerosene fuel is used in airplanes.

Why is fuel stored in wings of aircraft?

Why is Fuel Stored in the Wings? There are several reasons fuel is stored in the wings but the main three reasons are to balance weight, counter-stress and reduce wing flutter.

Is air refueling safe?

What makes aerial refueling particularly dangerous is the relatively close distances that need to be maintained between the two aircraft. Plus, the fuel being transferred has the potential to dump into the intake of the receiving airplane. This, needless to say, would lead to some very bad consequences.

What is fueling in aircraft?

Aviation fuels are petroleum-based fuels, or petroleum and synthetic fuel blends, used to power aircraft. They have more stringent requirements than fuels used for ground use, such as heating and road transport, and contain additives to enhance or maintain properties important to fuel performance or handling.

What are the two types of aircraft fueling methods?

There are two types of Jet A fuel normally used for aircraft fueling: Jet A and Jet A-1.

Is aerial refueling safe?

Why do people Refuele in the air?

Primarily, aerial refueling adds to the combat radius of attack, fighter and bombers aircraft, and allows patrol aircraft to remain airborne longer, thereby reducing the numbers of aircraft necessary to accomplish a given mission.

How long does it take to fill a 747 with fuel?

In normal refueling configuration two trucks (one truck each wing) being used which serves 4 pressure nozzle and takes 30 min to refuel 56,553 US gallons. So standard fueling time for this aircraft estimated about 50 min.

Can commercial planes refuel mid air?

Civilian aircraft: Commercial and private airplanes are not designed for air-to-air refueling. 2. The presidential plane: Air Force One can be refueled in flight. 3.

What is air refueling and how does it work?

Because the receiver aircraft can be topped up with extra fuel in the air, air refueling can allow a takeoff with a greater payload which could be weapons, cargo, or personnel: the maximum takeoff weight is maintained by carrying less fuel and topping up once airborne.

What is the history of air refueling?

Two dedicated air refueling units were formed on June 30, 1948: the 43d Air Refueling Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and the 509th Air Refueling Squadron at Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico. The first ARS aircraft used FRL’s looped-hose refueling system, but testing with a boom system followed quickly in the autumn of 1948.

What is the best method of refueling aviation fuel?

Both methods of refueling are effective in transferring aviation fuel. The flying boom is more natural to connect because it is flown to the receiver aircraft and the pilot hold the hose in position. Some tankers can hold up to 29,000 gallons of gas. The flying boom can pump the fuel faster as much as almost 900 gallons per minute.

What is AAR refueling?

Aerial refueling, also referred to as air refueling, in-flight refueling (IFR), air-to-air refueling (AAR), and tanking, is the process of transferring aviation fuel from one military aircraft (the tanker) to another (the receiver) during flight.