Aerial refueling system, apparatus and methods

Apparatus for an in-flight refueling system between a first aircraft and a second aircraft, the first aircraft providing fuel to the second aircraft while said first and second aircraft are both in flight, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a drogue having inner and outer surfaces;
• b) a hose having a first end configured to be mounted on the first aircraft and a second end connected to said drogue;
• c) one or more trigger devices positioned at a predetermined location on said drogue;
• d) one or more signal emitting devices on said drogue, said one or more signal emitting devices switchable between off and on positions;
• e) one or more roller elements positioned on said drogue and biased radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said drogue whereby movement of said one or more roller elements radially outwardly causes said one or more signal emitting devices to switch from one of said off and on positions to the other of said off and on positions and produce a signal;
• and
• f) one or more signal receiving devices configured to be positioned on said first aircraft, wherein said one or more signal receiving devices is configured to receive the signal when a probe fitted on the second aircraft is fully coupled with said drogue,
• wherein said signal is emitted only after said one or more signal emitting devices is switched from one of said off and on positions to the other of said off and on positions for a threshold length of time.