Aerial Refueling Receptacle Floodlights-Spoiler and Fuselage, Nose Mounted

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Aerial Refueling Receptacle Floodlights-Spoiler and Fuselage, Nose Mounted

W. L. Finsness / R. I. McMonagle / E. M. Sedenquist

A floodlight illumination system, in structural combination with a fuel-receiving aircraft having an aerial refueling receptacle, that permits efficient and effective in-flight night refueling of the aircraft. The illumination system comprises: a selectively lightable, retractable aerodynamically shaped spoiler mounted on the nose of the aircraft which illuminates the top surface of the refueling receptacle, and, two similar (i.e., symmetrically shaped and dimensioned), selectively lightable fairings mounted on the port and starboard sides of the hose of the aircraft, parallel to airflow lines, with one fairing illuminating the port side surface of the refueling receptacle, and with the other fairing illuminating the starboard side surface of the refueling receptacle. The result is adequate and glare-free lighting of the refueling receptacle of the receiving aircraft, which, in turn, allows the operator of the refueling boom of the refueling aircraft to refuel the receiving aircraft without the loss of depth of perception, and without the glare, which ordinarily occur when a receiving aircraft is conventionally illuminated for in-flight night refueling. (Author)