RAAF crews from Amberley Airbase have spent a month perfecting air-to-air refuelling trials in the US.
A KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport from 33 Squadron provided refuelling support to a USAF Boeing RC-135 and A-10C Warthog.
Conducted from Edwards Air Force Base, California, the RAAF detachment worked with base personnel from USAF 418th Flight Test Squadron from 412th Test Wing.
Flight Lieutenant Jordan Smith said hundreds of contacts were made.
“A total of 412 contacts were successfully made between the KC-30A and RC-135 over eight sorties,” he said.
“The RC-135 works well as a receiver for the KC-30A as they are relatively stable in contact position and the fuel offload rate is reasonable for its size.”
The A-10C Warthog is considerably slower than many aircraft but the KC-30A also performs well at slower speeds, with 34 successful contacts made through one sortie.
The A-10C can fly at low speeds to loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time.
It is capable of austere landings and can operate under 303.3 metres with 2.4km visibility.
Their wide combat radius and short take-off and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines.
Using night vision goggles, A-10C pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.
The RAAF detachment consisted of one qualified test pilot and four flight test engineers, a flight test system specialist, two contractor flight test air refuelling operators and other personnel from 33 Squadron, including aircrew and maintenance personnel.
Fl Lt Smith said the first flight after months of planning was worth the wait.
“It has been pretty much my sole focus for a couple of months, with a number of issues that almost stopped the program progressing.
“It was just great to see a RC-135 in the KC-30A cameras moving into the contact position.”
Following the trials, the KC-30A and Boeing RC-135 air-to-air refuelling data will be processed to make the final flight test assessments of the pairing for the USAF Flight Test Report.
Fl Lt Smith said learning from these trials strengthens the partnership between the two nations.
“It is always a rewarding opportunity to work in a bilateral arrangement, operating out of Edwards Air Force Base and alongside the 418th FLTS.”
Notable events at the Edwards base include Chuck Yeager’s flight that broke the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, test flights of the North American X-15, the first landings of the Space Shuttle, and the 1986 around-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager.
