Air to air active refueling system and method for generating aerodynamic radial loads at a hose-end

A method for air-to-air refueling comprising:

• deploying a refueling hose from a tanker aircraft, wherein the refueling hose includes at distal portion including a hose end and hose control unit, and the hose control unit includes a moveable aerodynamic surface extending into an airflow over the hose control unit;
• after the distal portion is coupled to a receiver aircraft for transferring fuel from the tanker aircraft to the receiver aircraft:
• sensing an acceleration associated with the distal portion;
• determining an aerodynamic force applied to the distal portion based on the sensed acceleration,
• determining a movement to be applied to the aerodynamic surface to reduce the aerodynamic force,
• moving the aerodynamic surfaces in accordance with the determined movement, and
• reducing the aerodynamic force applied to the distal portion by the moving of the aerodynamic surfaces.

A method for air-to-air refueling comprising:

• deploying a refueling hose from a tanker aircraft, wherein the refueling hose includes at distal portion including a hose end and hose control unit, and the hose control unit includes a moveable aerodynamic surface extending into an airflow over the hose control unit;
• after the distal portion is coupled to a receiver aircraft for transferring fuel from the tanker aircraft to the receiver aircraft:
• sensing a radial aerodynamic force applied radially to the distal portion of the deployed refueling hose;
• determining a movement for the aerodynamic surface to reduce the radial aerodynamic force;
• moving the aerodynamic surface relative to the airflow to achieve the determined movement;
• reducing the radial aerodynamic force applied radially to the distal portion by the moving of the aerodynamic surface;
• connecting the hose end to a receiver probe of a receiver aircraft, and
• delivering fuel to the receiver aircraft from the refueling hose, through the hose end and into the receiver probe.