Trajectory Analysis of Basket Engagement during Aerial Refueling

In this paper trajectory analysis for the aerial refueling basket for a modern fighter aircraft is presented. The under study aircraft has a probe and drogue arrangement for aerial refueling. Thus the aircraft has to be carefully positioned behind the extended refueling basket is such a way that positive engagement of refueling basket and probe takes place accounting for the complex flow field around the aircraft as it approaches the refueling basket. In the current study an initial location of the refueling basket has been selected such that, the aircraft flow field have minimal aerodynamic effects on the basket at this location and, then the basket is allowed to move towards the aircraft using Six Degree of Freedom Solver with appropriate boundary and limiting conditions. The initial location of the basket is iteratively improved until engagement of refueling probe and basket is achieved. Further optimization of initial location and some worst case scenarios have also been simulated. The results indicate significant effect of aircraft aerodynamics on basket trajectory. An optimum initial basket location that results in positive engagement with the refueling probe has been determined.