Posted on 10/29/2015 4:45:36 PM PDT by naturalman1975
AN Australian air force tanker jet has come to the rescue of a US F/A-18 Hornet experiencing difficulties over northern Iraq.
The RAAF KC-30A tanker was diverted to refuel the United States Marine Corps fighter after it experienced engine troubles during a combat mission against the Islamic State.
Australia has deployed six of its own Hornets along with the tanker and an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to Iraq and Syria as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State.
Mechanical failure forced the US F/A-18 Hornet pilot to shut down one of its two engines..
This placed greater strain on its remaining engine — causing it to burn up more fuel than expected for its long journey home.
Refuelling the crippled aircraft posed a challenge.
“A challenging feat at the best of times, air-to-air refuelling with an engine-out Hornet had only ever been conducted in flight testing scenarios and never before from the RAAF aircraft over a war-zone,†a Department of Defense statement reads.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Just like Vietnam with the Magpies (B-57 Canberras).
I remember in his book, Chuck Yeager liked flying the B-57. If I recall it took something like a shotgun shell to start the engines.
Bravo and well done to all the aircrew. Thanks mate!
I sure did. When I was controlling at Portcall all the B-57’s were flying out of Phan Rang. Our B-57s were the 8th and 13th Bomb Group. They were the Redbirds and Yellowbirds. They flew single ship at night north and hit the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Thanks, that is interesting.
God bless you Mate!
Strange... 2 weeks ago I recall reading an account of a similar situation involving an F-4. I would never be able to refind that link... I will try though.
The Time A Tanker Saved A Fighter That Was Falling Apart Over The Atlantic
Thank God for Australia...I know you guys got your own problems, but you sure seem like a sane country.
Yep.
There is a crazy story a Phantom burning one engine like this and the tanker actually towing the thing.
beat me to it
“If I recall it took something like a shotgun shell to start the engines”
Reminds me of the plane from the great Jimmy Stewart film Flight of the Phoenix.
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