3 ms·
I wonder why it is designed so that the tanker controls the aircraft being refueled, rather than the other way around?
by nhod 3y ago
I wonder why it is designed so that the tanker controls the aircraft being refueled, rather than the other way around?
- bigyikes 3y agoIf one tanker is refueling multiple aircraft, coordination via the tanker would be easier, maybe?
- ArnoVW 3y agoNot a domain expert but i would imagine that the smaller an aircraft the more responsive it is. Conversely, small aircraft are more subject to turbulence, so they also need more correction to see stay in a straight line
- aejm 3y agoThink about it this way: you essentially have two different “problems” you’re trying to solve simultaneously, flying the tanker and flying the plane being refueled. As other comments have pointed out, the plane being refueled has much higher control authority and responsiveness, compared to the generally larger tanker. Also, given the two aircraft are flying in near identical environmental conditions because of their close proximity. The “easier” of the two aircraft to fly is the plane, not the tanker. So your control algorithm (or pilot) flies the tanker and the plane just matches its control inputs plus a position offset.
- dharmab 3y agoA single tanker can simultaneously refuel multiple aircraft: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FSJ9Hqgz9T0 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FSJ9Hqgz9T0
- the_third_wave 3y agoBecause the tanker is less manoeuvrable than the planes being refuelled. Because the tanker can refuel more than one plane at a time.