Has anybody ever managed Aerial refueling?

[Skyler4856]

KMP should simplify things.

[Callisto]

I've now added a second attempt video - in some ways , this is a success!

[Killerdude8]

Well, Here's my Attempt, I never managed, The planes are just wobbly as all hell.

It was a nightmare of furious clacking to get as close as I did.. :c

[Osprey]

I gave it a go, but wasn't able to get there because of the back thrust from the refueling craft...

Here's my attempt! <bold>NOW ADDED A SECOND ATTEMPT - much more succesful!</bold>

Excellent videos, loved the Kerbal radio chatter as an awesome addition to the audio track. Very classy.

[zarakon]

It was probably before the forum wipe, but I remember someone made a modular aircraft that could dock with copies of itself on the sides, top/bottom, and maybe even front/back. I think he managed to snap 3 of them together in midair, but could have theoretically done a lot more

[makinyashikino]

What about KMP? Wouldn't that work?

[makinyashikino]

It was probably before the forum wipe, but I remember someone made a modular aircraft that could dock with copies of itself on the sides, top/bottom, and maybe even front/back. I think he managed to snap 3 of them together in midair, but could have theoretically done a lot more

Do you mean

guy?

[Lazro]

That's very cool, nice attempt! Gonna have to try that.

I agree with Twreed87, you want the docking ports so the small one docks onto the back of the larger one. Or you could use IR and have a port on the fuel plane on an extendable arm that puts the port behind but below the fuel plane (kinda like they do in RL).

Where you able to switch craft with the throttle up? That used to be possible (I flew two craft side by side to orbit like this once), but when I last tried to do it the game prevented me from switching when the throttle was up, and sometimes its fussy about switching inside the atmo. Did you find a way to disable these rules?

I found a neat trick-If you release a command module (a cockpit, decouple a probe core, EVA a kerbal) then you can easily switch between them. It's a bit hit or miss as to whether the craft in question disappears though...

[SeventhArchitect]

Lazor systems, set an altitude, go after the plane, AND ACTIVATE DOCKING.

[Dirt_Merchant]

I did this flying both craft by hand and just switching back and forth between them as needed. yeah I'm really mod heavy, but the important ones here are FAR, Pwings, Proc Parts, DR, KAS. The system showed both my crafts as being docked, and control inputs to one affected the other, but on that slack line with two wildly different handling aircraft was a bit wild. Also, I couldnt get the fuel to actually transfer for some reason, even though all the parts (I think) in the system were crossfeed enabled... might have missed one but not sure...

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[samiamthelaw]

Aphobius knocked this one out of the park.

[Skyler4856]

How about sub orbital refueling,

It seems like it would be considerably easier....

Edited May 10, 2014 by Skyler4856

[Northstar1989]

Some suggestions:

First of all, carry out the refueling at high-altitude, in level flight. That way, small changes in throttle will more gradually alter your velocity- making it easier to get in position. There's a reason they don't refuel near sea-level in the real world...

Second, use KAS winches with docking ports on the end of them to achieve docking. That way, you can trail the winch behind the refueling tanker aircraft (the winch end and docking port will be subject to drag independent of the rest of the craft- so it will trail behind, being pulled by the tension in the cable), and pull it in closer or let out more slack to more easily dock two aircraft It will also allow you to switch to "undock" mode as necessary to make trim adjustments, etc., and then back to docked mode to actually transfer over the fuel.

Third, use MechJeb. The ASAS function along will help IMMENSELY with making very small adjustments to trim, and keeping the tanker in level-stable flight while you pull up the other plane behind/below it... I also hear the Translatron could be useful- though personally I've never used that feature for *anything*

Regards,

Northstar