Quick-thinking tanker crew saves F-16 pilot over ISIS-controlled territory!!

The KC-135 Stratotanker was linked up with a group of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in support of the U.S.-led coalition's air campaign against ISIS when it was approached by the F-16, the Air Force said on Thursday.

The first sign of trouble occurred when the F-16 attempted to re-fuel but was forced to disconnect from the KC-135 after taking in only 500 pounds of fuel -- an amount that fell significantly short of the 2,500 pounds that the tanker expected to off-load.

After a second failed re-fueling attempt, the F-16 pilot ran through his checklist and alerted the tanker crew that he was experiencing a fuel system emergency.

"Over 80% of his total fuel capability was trapped and unusable,"

Quick-thinking tanker crew saves F-16 pilot over ISIS-controlled territory!!

WOW! Talk about nice work! How does the fuel get trapped? pressure valve gets stuck shut or something else?
Good old Tanker bosses save the day again!

Since the Tanker had to leave the sector, did another fill the void for the A-10's? or did they have enough in rotation to deal with it until their return?


Good story!! go check it out!

a reply to: Pharyax

Happens every so often. Transfer pump goes out, valve freezes, blockage in the fuel line because there was a little water in the fuel and it froze. There are many ways for it to happen.

Over what country, again?

Would have been a shame to waste a aircraft, even worst with there being the chance of an airman captured.

improvise.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Pharyax

Happens every so often. Transfer pump goes out, valve freezes, blockage in the fuel line because there was a little water in the fuel and it froze. There are many ways for it to happen.

Hehe you make it sound so routine as if the pilot wasn't saying oh # oh # oh #.

a reply to: Vector99

As long as there's a tanker handy, and he can take on some fuel, he'll be fine. I saw a lot closer situations over the years. We had to scramble one of our jets to get 5 F-16s in because the sixth was losing fuel as fast as they could pump it in. Now THAT was an oh #, oh #, oh # flight. Heh. They locked him on to the boom and literally dragged him until he was close enough to land with the fuel he had on board.

ca reply to: roadgravelYeah, remember what happened to the Jordanian pilot who was captured. They put him in a cage and burned him alive

a reply to: Zaphod58

That is badass, just saying

a reply to: visitedbythem

I do. They don't have 'rules' for war.

a reply to: roadgravel Thank You! You are a gentleman and a scholar. There are others that do not respect life, duty and honor. They are to be ignored

a reply to: Zaphod58

was losing fuel as fast as they could pump it in

What caused the leak?

They locked him on to the boom and literally dragged him

Kind of like a tow truck in the sky?

Both of these are cool stories. The pilots get all the exposure and glory, but these support teams are incredibly resourceful and brave as well.


-dex

All's well that ends well, good job tanker crew.